[Gpdd] Health: Macie

[ME]

Unfortunately, that sounds like what I've experienced.  Hand feeding  
will keep them around a bit longer (several months to a couple  
years), but that requires a commitment of daily feedings.  Since  
she's already lost about 30% of her body weight, it would take many  
feedings to get her back up (I've done as many as 8 feedings every  
two hours to try to get one to gain weight ... as long as they're  
eating some, 3-4 feedings daily will often maintain weight).

After years of syringe feeding, I've found the best way to hand-feed  
is to just use their usual dry pellets.  It's not as messy and they  
generally eat more.  I take one in my fingers and get it past the  
incisors and gently shove it into the back of the mouth.  At first,  
only use pellets that are at most 1/4" long until you get the hang of  
it.  You need to get the piece far back in the mouth or they spit it  
out.  They will tell you how much water they need, but I generally  
give 0.2 ml after 5-10 pellets.

On Jul 15, 2009, at 6:54 PM, dogcatpiggymom at yahoo.com wrote:

> Macie is 2 1/2 years old and has gone from 2 lbs. 3 oz to 1 lb. 9 oz.
> She doesn't look "right" and the vet can't figure it out.  She is  
> still
> eating well, though.  I just don't know what else to do.
> Thanks all.
> Joanne
> Spicy, Merri, Maci, Teddy, Baci, Sweetie