Thursday, March 11, 2021

Decelerating

Tucker is doing better. Last night was an improvement on recent evenings, when it seemed that he could barely breathe. His breathing, which had usually turned rough after sunset, was easier than it had been, and he didn’t salivate much at all. I think he was able to sleep some during the night. His nose is still clogged but not entirely plugged, I think. He even ate a little soft food. I have a wide variety available for the menu here, and I have been trying to tempt him with everything, regardless of its effect on his diabetes - first things first. He appears at the moment most to favour some of the relatively cheap hard-food I lay in for the outsider cats. I don’t foresee a difficulty in returning him to better quality later.


My roly poly was in a generally cheerful mood last night, too, purring more.


I will probably have to continue feeding him some food by syringe. The kidney medicine in powder form could be added to his food but even in good times, Tucker rarely eats enough at one sitting to account for his entire dose. Mixing it with soft-food, therefore, won’t get it all into him. I now mix it with a small portion of Recovery and then put it in a syringe. That way, he gets it all. He doesn’t mind it and it is over quickly. This method used just for his medicine will be less work for both of us than the four feedings a day he has been receiving for the past two weeks (seven on days when I am home), just to keep some nutrition going into him.


And I bare in mind that his ordeal is not over yet. Optimism is good, but is best indulged in the same way one steps from a car: not to be done until the ride has come to a complete stop.


14 comments:

  1. What great news to hear that Tucker is improving. Way to go, Tucker!! Paws and fingers crossed that this improvement will continue and that he'll be completely well in no time.

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  2. We sure hope the progress continues, come on Tucker, you can do this.

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  3. Continued success for Tucker I hope is in the works. It sounds promising for now and it's nice he's eating some on his own. It's kind of nice that you're Cozy Cafe cat food has caught his attention. I'm sure at this point all the nutrition that he can get is important. Hope the weekend goes well for Tucker and Renn and Neville. Lynn

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  4. Poor Tucker. I am sending lots of purrs in the hope that they will help.
    Purrs, Julie

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  5. OH Tucker...keep on keeping on sweet boy! XXXXX

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  6. Purrayers that Tucker continues to get better !

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  7. Ah! Bless! At least he's getting there..
    Hopefully over the next few days he'll be
    much more himself..!x

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  8. I am glad that there is some improvement for Tucker and hope it continues. I don't know what it is about the cheaper food, but if Eric or Flynn were under the weather they both would turn their nose up at the better offerings and go for the cheap stuff.

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  9. We're glad to read that Tucker is improving and hope that trend continues. We're sending purrs and prayers. 💖

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  10. C'mon little Tucker, a small step forward each day ... OK?

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  11. I am catching up! We are glad Tucker is doing better. You are a jewel. We know about cats appetites. Kozmo was quite unwell this week. It is amazing how much of the cheap crunchies he would eat! (also he went nuts for the kippered sardines). We are ppurraying for Tucker.

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    1. I'd forgotten about sardines. I don't have any here but I can get some. Right now, he is being syringe-fed about 200 mL of Recovery (high-nutrient convalescent food) a day. It's not enough to fatten him, but enough to keep him going.

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