syringe feeding and stress
 

Does anyone have tips for calming my baby down for feedings? After a seizure due to hypoglycemia a few days ago I am now syringe feeding every 2-3 hours. He will eat a VERY small amount on his own so we start that way but he has to get more. I know that stress can be a factor in their not eating as well as the hypoglycemia so any help to make it easier on him and myself for that matter would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

How much are you trying to give him every 2 -3 hours? He should only need 10-15cc....dont let him eat FIRST! You syringe feed him first!!! Then if he wants anymore, you let him eat that on his own. He should be hungry enough to tolerate 10cc every 2-3 hours....be sure you mix the Karo with the dog food so you dont have to struggle with THAT too....do you have anyone that can hold him while you feed? If so, they hold him, close to their chest, and you use the assistants chest to stabilize his head....you can either open his mouth and squirt a little feeding on his tongue far enough back that he swallows it, or you can insert the tip of the syringe into the side of his cheek, far back, and deposit a little there...it will go into his mouth between the space in his teeth at the back of his jaw.....if you do NOT have help, you put the baby on the kitchen counter, "trapped between your body and your forearm, with his head facing your dominate hand holding the syringe....you secure the head against your stomach, open the mouth with your non dominate hand, and squirt the food into his mouth from the syringe in your dominate hand. Just dont squirt it tooo far down his throat and choke him!!!

Normally it is just me. I am feeding him about 12 cc's. I made "puppy chow" my vet suggested: boiled chicken, rice, egg yolk, cottage cheese, and karo syrup. I am also syringe feeding him pedialyte. I will try it with him on the counter for his next feeding and see if that is easier. My poor little guy. I want to be sure that I'm doing everything I can do to help him and keep his stress level down so he can recover quickly.
Thanks again

It was much easier to feed him on the counter, thank you. He was still not happy about it. Just need him to be unhappy enough about it to eat on his own I guess.

You sound like you are doing fine...just struggling to get the baby fed! It is amazing how a tiny little dog can out maneuver an adult, probably over 100#!!! If you have to do it on the counter, just DO NOT FOR ONE SECOND RELAX YOUR GRIP IN HIM ....HE WILL HIT THE FLOOR AND IT WILL ALL BE OVER BUT THE HOLE DIGGING! He will get used to eating....and he will not be so stressed out! You can add a tablespoon of chicken baby food to that chow mix....he will like that alot....they usually love baby food chicken, and even lamb! If you are doing this every 2-3 hours, he will get thru this and it wont be long....you will be able to syringe feed him, and then he will start to eat on his own....put some chicken baby food in a saucer and see if he will eat that AFTER YOU SYRINGE FEED HIM....he may lick that up.....leave it down where he can get to it.... and he may lick that up before his next feeding....you can gradually (maybe in another week or so) strt to add some of that grated up chicken, mixed in with the baby food chicken, and dropped by tablsp. onto a saucer and get him used to that.....(You still continue to feed with the syringe!! but if he starts to eat that spoonful from the saucer between the syringe feedings, you can wait to syringe feed him every 3-4 hours....and the more he eats from the saucer, the more space between the syringe feedings...every 4 hours,,,,every 4-5 hours.....if you see him eating the entire tablsppon from the saucer, put 2 tblsp. on the saucer...

Update on the baby and your attempts at feeding????

He's doing a little better every feeding it seems like. A little more energy than he had the time before. Still keeping his "play" time to a minimum though. Feeding is getting better except for the pedialyte he just glares at me and locks his little jaw. He ate about a half a teaspoon out of his bowl this morning but no interest since then. Progress is progress I guess.
I am so glad I found this site you guys have been an invaluable resource to a new mom who had quite a scare. Thank you.

Hi there any updates on Jasper?

I am thrilled to report that Jasper is doing great today. He is syringe feeding every 4 hours now (10 mls) and then eating about a teaspoon on his own right after and also drinking a small amount o.his own. Beautiful bright pink gums and lots of happy puppy energy. Still limiting his play time as much as possible but he seems to be trying tp make up for lost time.
This is one greatful mommy!

wonderful news...

I am thrilled to report that Jasper is doing great today. He is syringe feeding every 4 hours now (10 mls) and then eating about a teaspoon on his own right after and also drinking a small amount o.his own. Beautiful bright pink gums and lots of happy puppy energy. Still limiting his play time as much as possible but he seems to be trying tp make up for lost time.
This is one greatful mommy!

Smart phone my foot...sorry for the repost.

hahaha

That is really great news!!!! Yippy Jasper:)

thats such great news! I know how stressful this can be, but it will pass soon

My roommate this morning, "you look less like a character on Beetlejuice today so I'm guessing you got some sleep?!"
Awkward non-compliment, lol

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS MOMMA!!!! Dont you feel like you have really accomplished something of incomprobable value??? YOU HAVE HELPED SAVE A LIFE!!! You hang with it!!! You will be thru this in short order and Lordy, will YOU feel fabulous!!! And your precious little baby, who depends on you to do the very best for him....how grateful will he be!!!!!:thumbup::thumbup:

SO glad that your baby is doing better:love: Thanks for the update:D

LOL hey take what you can get. I know it's been stressful but I agree with YorkieMom1 You helped save a life:D