Young kitten won't eat due to chemical burn in mouth....any and all advice appreciated!

[brandi]

My little guy is apprx 7-8weeks old, Ive had him since he was apprx 3 weeks old and up until the accident he has always had a healthy appetite. On Saturday he came into contact with a household chemical, our vet suspects bleach which resulted in a trip to the vet and an over night stay....and also really bad chemical burns in his mouth =( He came home today and seems to be very interested in food but anything he attempts to eat he spits out almost as soon as it hits his mouth...Ive tried everything I can think of, canned kitten from our vet and dry kitten is readily available, I also boiled a chicken breast, shredded it and allowed it to cool before offering it to him he tried a couple of bites and wouldnt eat any more, I added a teaspoon of mashed peas, again he tried a couple of bites and wouldnt eat any more, I tried the canned food he is used to and mixed it with the chicken and peas, he seemed very interested in it but only tried it once, he pawed at his mouth gave me the most pitiful look, and walked away from it...Im in tears as I write this and in desperate need of any and all advice....thanks so much everyone!

 

[Willowy]

I would give him chicken or turkey baby food (or you could puree some meat yourself). If he still can't lick it up all pasty like that, you can water it down so it's more like drinking. If he really can't lick up even that, you'll have to syringe-feed him. . .cats can die from not eating for even a day or so. Poor little guy. . .I hope his mouth feels better soon!

You can also get some Hill's A/D from your vet. It's a very pasty canned food made especially for sick pets.

 

[stephanietx]

Did the vet give him anything for pain?  That would help, but please make sure it's not Metacam.

 

[brandi]

Thanks to both of you =) She did not give him anything for pain, she prescribed calfate(sp), used to coat their mouths and tummys. ( my two little ones, our little girl Blayze is able to eat with minor complications)Thanks so much Willowy I took out the puree I had made earlier added more water to it and offered it again so far he has ate a little over a teaspoon =) All advice is still welcome, we are in for a long recovery!

 

[feralvr]

.... I am sorry for your babies... Agree with above and making a puree for your baby. Pure meat baby food, Hill's A/D (from the vet), and even canned healthy kitten food mashed up with a little warm water. You will have to syringe feed this baby if he does not eat on his own. I am sorry, as I know that will be hard on you... my thoughts are with you and your little guy. Keep close watch and call the vet right away if you are unsure about anything as he might need fluids if he won't eat or drink. I hope his mouth recovers quickly. Please keep us updated. We care so much and want to give you support. :cross: for you little ones

 

[jennyr]

I am so pleased they pulled through the initial accident, but sorry you have a followup problem. I would also go for syringe feeding at this point - he is not getting enough to sustain him. Also, try unsalted cream cheese - we call it fromage frais or fromage blanc in France, which good delis should have. Give it to him on your finger to start with, very cold from the fridge. That will cool his mouth and not hurt, and it is good for kittens. You can do the same with Greek style (low lactose) yoghourt, up to a couple of tablespoons per day. Or he might take goat milk, very cold. It is also low lactose.

 

[ruthyb]

I can't offer any additional advice to what everyone else has offered,I agree to try cold fromage frais though and the coldness should definitely help. I really hope he gets better soon.xx

 

[brandi]

Thanks so much everyone, for your kind words and all of the advice! Using the unsalted cream cheese and cold goats milk blended with softened kitten food worked well, started with the syringe after the first one he finished the whole bowl on his own!!! Very Very cold is definitely the trick, I left a second bowl of cold food on the counter and he has been back several times!!! We had to make another trip to the vet today, this morning I noticed my little guy's ears were crusty, I got a cool wash cloth and started to wipe them off, almost as soon as I wiped his ears clumps of skin and hair came off with the wash cloth exposing a bloody mess, I just lost it, DH called the vet while I held my little guy in tears(I have to add that the harder I cried for him, the louder he purried) The vet gave him an ointment and sent us home...during the whole vet exam my little guy never stopped purring! He has been renamed from Knox to Leo because he has definitely had the heart of a Lion! Thanks again everyone!!!

 

[miagi's_mommy]

Aww poor baby! I hope he is feeling better soon. What an awful experience for you and him! Glad he seems to be improving.

 

[jennyr]

Oh poor baby! I can't imagine how awful it must be for you to see him like this, but thank goodness you got him eating.

 

[brandi]

Thanks again everyone for the support, he is so much better now! His appetite is back and he is eating great as long as its cold!!! His ears seem to be better though washing them with soap and water daily is no cakewalk lol!

 

[feralvr]

So relieved to hear this good news :happy3:!!!! Hope Leo ( perfect name :bigthumb continues to improve and feel better, and those ears too, poor baby.... :cross:

 

[just mike]

Thanks so much everyone, for your kind words and all of the advice! Using the unsalted cream cheese and cold goats milk blended with softened kitten food worked well, started with the syringe after the first one he finished the whole bowl on his own!!! Very Very cold is definitely the trick, I left a second bowl of cold food on the counter and he has been back several times!!! We had to make another trip to the vet today, this morning I noticed my little guy's ears were crusty, I got a cool wash cloth and started to wipe them off, almost as soon as I wiped his ears clumps of skin and hair came off with the wash cloth exposing a bloody mess, I just lost it, DH called the vet while I held my little guy in tears(I have to add that the harder I cried for him, the louder he purried) The vet gave him an ointment and sent us home...during the whole vet exam my little guy never stopped purring! He has been renamed from Knox to Leo because he has definitely had the heart of a Lion! Thanks again everyone!!!

I am so glad he is doing so much better.  I was stumped by this one.  Never had this problem and so sad your little guy had to go through this.  You too !!  I've learned a lot from this thread but hope to never have to go through it myself.  So happy it's working out well

 

[jennyr]

So glad he is doing OK. Post us a picture when you can.

 

[tangoking]

Give him some raw beef liver

 

[feralvr]

Give him some raw beef liver

I would not recommend this at all - especially since the kitten's are not eating raw and are not used to raw. Raw beef liver could cause a tummy upset if they are not used to it....

 

[brandi]

Thanks everyone! Jenny I Will post some pics probably tomorrow, Dh took some really good ones of him tonight! I can't wait believe how fast he is growing! He has hustling started a semi-raw diet we just started transitioning all of our cats over! Thanks again everyone!