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Originally Posted by hansendata4 Hi everyone, just wanted to let you know how Gidget is doing. She is doing really well actually. She still only weighs about 14oz., but she is so much better. We still think she has a liver shunt, but our vet has said with her size there is nothing they could do right now anyway. She is on a strict (sp) diet, which she doesn't like at all, but she does eat. The only thing is that she doesn't drink a lot of water. We always add quite a bit to her food to keep her hydrated. Everyone of you who helped me through that very difficult time with her I want to thank. This website was definately a blessing to me.  |
I am so happy to hear the little Gidget is better! Hydration is so very important and I just wanted to share this little trick that we used with Toto. Fortunately, Toto loves water and drinks it like a camel!
She recently went through a little "bug" that caused her not to want to eat nor drink. Normally I would have rushed her to the vet but since it started the beginning of a long weekend, we pretty much had to wing it. I wasn't nearly as concerned that she didn't eat as I was that she wouldn't drink. I keep broth in my freezer for her at all times to use with her food. I gave her 3 tablespoons about every 20 minutes and each time she would lap it all up and lick her bowl clean! After 1 day, her diarrhea was about 80 percent better and she was actually eating! This is just an idea to get liquid into little Gidget and because of her medical problems, you would probably want to check with your vet. I told my vet later what I had done and he heartily agreed. The following is the way I prepare broth for Toto:
I always make it fresh .... boil a chicken using lots of water and a little olive oil and about 1 tablespoon parsley. I drain off all the broth, strain it
twice through a wire strainer [the kind that looks like window screen] or until it looks like very weak lemonade. I then freeze it in little 1 cup packages and freeze them. I use my Food Saver and it keeps it airtight and fresh. I never add salt or anything other than the parsley and olive oil and sometimes I don't use the olive oil. This broth isn't greasy/oily and I have tasted it and it's pretty much tasteless to me but there's something in there that Toto absolutely loves! I can add a couple of tablespoons to anything and she will eat it!
Good luck with Gidget and please keep us updated!