Lost Flipper to Unknown Predator

[Duckworth]

Just got back from the vet with Nipper. Nipper’s bill is more stable than when she was first injured. Nipper has lost about a pound since she was injured. The vet recommended

1. Reducing the antibiotic dose in case it is causing nausea and impeding eating;

2. Putting Feisty Girl in with Nipper instead of with Flipper to see whether that will help her start eating;

3. If neither of those works or Nipper worsens, call the vet at home tomorrow for a prescription for an NSAID to help manage pain and inflammation; and begin tube feeding.

The vet wants to see whether 1 and 2 work first because they would be less traumatic for Nipper. An NSAID could cause more stomach upset, so he wants to try without it first.

I put Feisty Girl in with Nipper and it was like a joyous reunion. Nipper bobbed her head happily, so I’m hoping that will get her back to normal. Flipper has always been a bit of an outsider, so I’m hoping that she will be okay with being in her own section of the bathtub.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I hope this gets Nipper back to eating. Did the vet clean her up where the blood was and clogged nare?

 

[Duckworth]

I hope this gets Nipper back to eating. Did the vet clean her up where the blood was and clogged nare?

No. He felt that it would be too traumatic for her and that she would do better if allowed to slowly dissolve it when she dunks her head in her water. I am also continuing to use a warm washcloth each time I dose her antibiotics. Nipper does continue to groom herself, so I’m hoping that she will gradually rub some of it off that way, too.

 

[Duckworth]

I have had food dissolving in water in the fridge for a couple of days and I warmed it to room temperature and was able to get two or three ml of food syringed into Nipper’s bill in conjunction with giving her antibiotic dose. I know it’s not much, but it was all I could get her to take. She seems much happier being with FG. I haven’t seen her eat, but she is definitely drinking.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hopefully her appetite will pick up soon.

 

[MissChick@dee]

I have had food dissolving in water in the fridge for a couple of days and I warmed it to room temperature and was able to get two or three ml of food syringed into Nipper’s bill in conjunction with giving her antibiotic dose. I know it’s not much, but it was all I could get her to take. She seems much happier being with FG. I haven’t seen her eat, but she is definitely drinking.

Maybe some super soupy wet feed? Mash peas with water?

 

[Duckworth]

Maybe some super soupy wet feed? Mash peas with water?

So far, I’ve tried soupy wet feed and soupy wet feed with canned chicken. I’m going to get some peas tomorrow and some more dry kitten food that I can grind up. I will also try to get her to take some more liquified feed tonight.

 

[Duckworth]

I found a larger syringe and was able to get Nipper to take about 4cc of liquified feed tonight. She seemed to like it, but wouldn’t eat any of it out of the container. I’ll try again tomorrow.

 

[Duckworth]

Nipper took about 5cc of liquified feed by syringe this morning. I think she may be eating a little feed from the dish, too. She is preening like crazy, so she clearly hasn’t given up on herself.

 

[casportpony]

Thanks for the update and I hope she improves.