This is what we go through daily in order to give these kittens a chance at fighting this fatal disease - FIP. I try hard not to emotionally react but sometimes I have to leave the room in order to regain my composure. Even my husband breaks down sometimes to. The medication is acidic, and this is why it is so painful for them, and this day was better than most days. Anytime that I have to reinject them I have to change the needle because the needle frays after one stick (you can't see it though). I learned that all needles do this, and this is one reason it is more painful than it needs to be. I also try and love on them before and after that way they understand I am not hurting them on purpose. I have noticed over time with Lovergirl that this has made a big difference in her reaction to the next day's injection. I also try to distract from the pain as much as possible and Tigger likes to bite so I try to give him the blanket or something he can take his anger out on. I used food before with Lovergirl, but I found that this was a bad idea because it became a trigger for her when I tried to give her food later in the day. If they are not cooperative when they come out of the cage, I put them back in just to try and calm them down.
We have been treating Lovergirl for a little over two months, and we just started Tigger last week. They have to be on this medication for 84 days and then go through a waiting period for 60 days before they can be deemed cured. They both get gabapentin two hours before the injection but as you will see it doesn't work for Tigger too well. This is hard to watch. But worth their lives.
