I don't think I'm doing it well enough...

[Heidi n Q]

I'm trying to force feed my Malibu kitty (gray/tan classic tabby) and I don't think I'm getting enough into her.

She was diagnosed with Hepatic Lipidosis (fatty liver) when her blood test results came in on Friday. That day I picked up a half dozen cans of Hill's a/d and the vet asked me to try to get 1-1.5 cans into her a day. I've only managed about a half can a day.
I'm feeding about 15-20ccs per feeding and she is spitting out about 3-5ccs, maybe more. I feed her about every 3 hours, except when I sleep at night (about 6 hrs).
I think I can feel her spine being less prominent, she was cleaning herself a little this morning and when I pet her she will raise her tail and her rump and purr a little. I can tell she is getting bored in the MBR but she still sleeps a lot. She has tinkled once/day, but no solid waste yet in the potty box.

When should I begin to see a difference? (when will she want to eat on her own?)
Would a vet be able to put in a feeding tube I could do here at home?
...I might be able to get more into her that way. She does not vomit. I'll call our vet tomorrow and ask about options...

Vet sent me a copy of the lab report today:
bold = excessive high or low
* = low, but still in normal range

Test, Malibu's number ~ Reference Range
Chem 27
Alk. Phosphate, 594 ~ 0-62
ALT (SGPT), 627 ~ 28-100
AST (SGOT), 470 ~ 5-55
CK, 451 ~ 64-440
*GGT, 0 ~ 0-6
*Amylase, 695 ~ 505-1285
*Lipase, 26 ~ 10-195
*Albumin, 2.4 ~ 2.3-3.9
Total Protein, 6.8 ~ 5.9-8.5
Globulin, 4.4 ~ 3.0-5.6
Total Bilirubin, 5.0 ~ 0.0-0.4
Direct Bilirubin, 2.8 ~ 0.0-0.1
BUN, 27 ~ 15-34
Creatine, 1.4 ~ 0.8-2.3
Cholesterol, 144 ~ 82-218
*Glucose, 84 ~ 70-150
Calcium, 10.3 ~ 8.2-11.8
Phosphorus, 4.5 ~ 3.0-7.0
*TCO2 (bicarbonate), 15 ~ 13-25
*Chloride, 115 ~ 111-125
Potassium, 4.5 ~ 3.0-7.0
*Sodium, 147 ~ 147-156
A/G ratio, 0.5 ~ 0.4-0.8
B/C ratio, 19.3
Indirect Bilrubin, 2.2 ~ 0-0.3
NA/K ratio, 33

CBC Comprehensive:
WBC = 7.8, 4.2-15.6 (normal range)
RBC = 7.68, 6.0-10.0
HGB = 11.2, 9.5-15
HCT = 31.0, 29-45
MCV = 40, 41-58
MCH = 14.5, 11.0-17.5
MCHC = 36.0, 29-36
Neutrophil SEG = 57, 35-75
Neutrophil Bands = 0, 0-3
Lymphocytes = 18, 20-55
Moncytes = 2, 1-4
Eosinophil = 23, 2-12
Basophil = 0, 0-1
Auto Platelets = 244, 170-600

[Heidi n Q]

I just gave Malibu her last feeding before I go to bed. I weighed her and she is 8.5 pounds. Maybe I'm doing "okay" with the feedings? Last Wednesday she weighed 8 pounds when I took her to the vet for her exam and blood draw.

Here is a pic of her from last winter when she weighed 11 pounds:

[OrangeJulius]

Gained .5 pounds in less than a week that's awesome. My boyfriend and I took turns during the night. I didn't have a full night's sleep. I think you should feed every 3-4 hours even during the night, I know that's tough, but she will gain faster and you could get in another 5-8cc at that time. She's only throwing up 3-5cc that's awesome!! houdini was throwing up almost half her breakfast.

This will take time. She might eat on her own in 2 weeks or 6 weeks.

The feeding tube, a surgery they perform at the hospital, that comes out her side. They would keep her there for a few days to make sure she has no reactions and that she is keeping down some food. When she is ready they would send her home and give you a large syringe to pump in food, (they should give you a fattening prescription food). You would feed every few hours or so. The feeding tube has to be in for 4 weeks, it takes about that long for the muscles to heal. Houdini pulled hers out on her own at 4 weeks, they didn't have to put it back in because she was eating on her own. I can't remember the cost of this surgery, in-patient, fluids, I'm guessing $2000-$2500.

[Heidi n Q]

Oh, she's not throwing anything up. The 3-5cc that she loses is due to her spitting it out after I've syringed it into her mouth. It is mostly splashed out when she licks her mouth to swallow and I wipe it off her mouth.

Last night she was very energetic. She cried and wanted OUT. She climbed the windows under the blinds and kept me awake for quite a while. She walked over me, snuggled with me and cried at the door because she wants out. I am sure she is bored to TEARS with being in the BR. I'll start letting her out into the rest of the house during the day, but I have to be able to control the front door to prevent her escaping.

When I got up this morning, she was sitting in front of the water bowl. Hadn't eaten any of the dry food, but I am hoping she drank.

I checked labels last night and want to call the vet to get the Eukanuba high calorie canned cat food instead of the Hills. E is almost double in protein and fat than H. If I can only get a half can into her, I want the E which will benefit her best.

I guess I'll have to forego the feeding tube. The cost is too high.
Thank you very much for the encouragement.
h

[OrangeJulius]

Good no vomit and active. I think she's getting much better. You can call and get a quote, most vets will quote a surgery over the phone.

Have you tried just leaving a spoonful of wet food? And see if she'll eat that. And just pick it up after 30 minutes, so no bacterial growth will harm her. I would toss whatever she doesn't eat.

[Heidi n Q]

No, I haven't left any canned food out for her. She never was very interested in canned food, even before she got sick. She preferred to lick the juice from the can instead of eat the food itself.

She has even refused cooked chicken and turkey...foods she usually would jump through hoops for...

I called all over town and surrounding counties, no one has the Eukanuba. I found it online, but I have to wait for the husband to bring the Visa home from work with him.

Gotta go, 4pm feeding!
h

[BoscosMum]

This is all new to me...I hope she continues to gain.

[jennifer2]

Are you trying to get the food in the back of her mouth (throat) or the cheek pouches?
I've never had to deal with fatty liver, but I have had to syringe feed in the past and found they spit out less if you get the food in the cheeks (between the back teeth and cheek).
Hope she continues to do better
Jennifer

[Heidi n Q]

Originally Posted by jennifer2

...I have had to syringe feed in the past and found they spit out less if you get the food in the cheeks (between the back teeth and cheek).

No, I thought she'd spit it out easier if it was outside the molars. I've been squirting it at the back/roof of her mouth. I gently grasp her over the top of her head and use my finger/thumb at the corners of her mouth to pull her head back and open her mouth. When she opens, I squirt into the upper back and then gently hold her mouth closed with my hand to encourage her to swallow without spitting it out.

I find if I squirt in small amounts, she spits out less. I mixed the Eukanuba with the Hills tonight, to begin transitioning over...and the E is MUCH thicker than the H. I had hubby enlarge the opening of the syringe after the 10pm feeding. I'll find out how we do with the larger opening at midnight...
h

[jennifer2]

Try the cheek pouch, if it doesn't work go back to what you were doing, nothing lost. I think with mine, I triggered a gag reflex or something when I tried to get it in the back of their mouth, because they would just start spitting it all back out.