Ben is breaking my heart...I don't know what else to do.

[levi68]

He's just not thriving. He's eating but only with encouragment. He has no energy. He just sits or sleeps. He stares at me with his big dark eyes as I talk to him like he knows exactly what I am saying. He broke 8oz just to dip back down again.

I am giving KMR mixed with RC development kitten. I add electrolytes ever other feeding. His diarrhea is better, I haven't seem him poop for the last 24 hours but momma is still cleaning. She even tries to eat it out of the litter box!

I don't want to give up but ... it just breaks my heart to see him so listless.

He's alert and will walk but he's still so thin.

I've read that this kitten glop is good:

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1 packet Unflavored Knox Gelatin[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2 Egg yolks (ONLY the yolks)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2 Tbsp. Full fat Plain Yogurt(not low fat)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1 Tbsp Mayonnaise(not low fat)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1 tsp Light Karo Syrup (light meaning in color-not the dark Karo syrup) OPTIONAL[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1 can Evaporated milk (not condensed milk), evaporated Goat Milk or 2 cups fresh Goat's Milk (my preference)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]8 oz (one cup) Boiling water [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Do I keep fighting  [font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]to save him or is it kinder to let him go???[/font][/font]

 

[catsallaround]

Is this the kitten who is a month old or so?  Have you tried doing just the milk?  I had a kitten thrive till solids were introduced.  She had a suspected liver shunt and was euthanized as she was pretty bad.  If premature this kitten is still growing slower then his real age.

If he is not suffering let him be he may surprise you.  I hand raised some kittens and my Ben was not doing so hot but he took a turn around and started to keep up.  He is now 9 years old and pretty healthy.
 

 

[levi68]

Yes, he is four weeks on Sunday. Seemed premature at birth and has had a horrible go of it with his momma's illness.

He has always been a really good eater but never seemed to be able to digest and use the nutrients given to him.

I've always been able to feel his ribs and spine. He's like picking up a bird.

His sister Jenny is the opposite. She is a perfect four week old.

His brother Argo, who also was not well, has caught up to the other two for the most part.

They are all at that awkward stage where they haven't mastered eating off a plate but want to chew the syringe. They used to suck it back easily.
 

 

[catsallaround]

I know what you mean by not feeling like they should.  I have raised a few.  most did not end well as they were already outside for who knows how long.

Have you tried a different milk on him?  I ended up using some off brand for one of my kittens who just didnt seem right.  He was about 4 or so weeks(they were free to good home 6 week olds rolling eyes)  His brother was fine on royal canin babycat but he was not for a few more weeks.

 

[levi68]

My girlfriend has a goat farm. The milk would be unpasteurized..fresh from the goat. I'm just afraid to get the diarrhea started again.

 

[mewlittle]

He's just not thriving. He's eating but only with encouragment. He has no energy. He just sits or sleeps. He stares at me with his big dark eyes as I talk to him like he knows exactly what I am saying. He broke 8oz just to dip back down again.

I am giving KMR mixed with RC development kitten. I add electrolytes ever other feeding. His diarrhea is better, I haven't seem him poop for the last 24 hours but momma is still cleaning. She even tries to eat it out of the litter box!

I don't want to give up but ... it just breaks my heart to see him so listless.

He's alert and will walk but he's still so thin.

I've read that this kitten glop is good:

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1 packet Unflavored Knox Gelatin[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2 Egg yolks (ONLY the yolks)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]2 Tbsp. Full fat Plain Yogurt(not low fat)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1 Tbsp Mayonnaise(not low fat)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1 tsp Light Karo Syrup (light meaning in color-not the dark Karo syrup) OPTIONAL[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]1 can Evaporated milk (not condensed milk), evaporated Goat Milk or 2 cups fresh Goat's Milk (my preference)[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]8 oz (one cup) Boiling water [/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Do I keep fighting  [font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]to save him or is it kinder to let him go???[/font][/font]

Take him to a vet ASAP

 

[catsallaround]

Have you asked vet for something to stop that from happening?  I was thinking another brand of kitten milk.  I have not bought milk in a while so not sure what is available.

I have had luck giving fortiflora to one kitten.  He needed a jump start to start eating again on own.
 

 

[levi68]

Take him to a vet ASAP

He's been to the vet more times in the past two weeks that I can remember. She won't do anything except perhaps fluids. Unfortunately, this is a foster and I have already racked up almost $1000 in vet costs for them and the momma.

I had them in over a week ago and three were given fluids and put on sulfa at my request but vet said "they are all probably going to die anyway". The only reason I would take him in, is to euthanize at this point. I don't want him to suffer.

He doesn't appear to be in pain or distress, so I will carry on and wait for him to either improve or decline.

 

[levi68]

Have you asked vet for something to stop that from happening?  I was thinking another brand of kitten milk.  I have not bought milk in a while so not sure what is available.

I have had luck giving fortiflora to one kitten.  He needed a jump start to start eating again on own.
 

KMR is what the vet sells. I don't know of any other. I will ask the shelter if they have some fortiflora and the vet. I have tried it once, and the kittens loved it. Can I order online or is it a Rx?

 

[Willowy]

I just hate to give up on kittens, ya know? :/ As long as he's not suffering, just give him a chance, keep trying. You never know when they'll fight through and be fine.

I had a litter of 4 malnourished kittens--well, one had already died when I took them, and one died a few weeks later. The surviving 2 were tiny, I called them my mini-cats. I took them to a low-cost spay/neuter clinic at 6 months, and I was afraid they wouldn't make the 3-pound weight requirement! And then. . .they grew. They're both normal-sized cats now, and healthy. So you just never know.

 

[clynn11]

Oh hun, I know how you're feeling I wouldn't give up on him just yet, continue doing what you're doing unless he seems to be suffering. You're doing all you can <3

 

[catnamedpanda]

Granted we never knew exactly what was wrong with Delilah or Penelope and they were 6 weeks when they really declined. Ben reminds me of them, they had coccidia and were malnourished. Delilah felt like a bird too for a long time, like she might just break when I picked her up. But I fed them a mixture of a kitten glop, a/d food, and this stuff called viyo the vet recommended. If he can handle the wet food, I would syringe feed him that with some form of milk. If you can look into viyo or something similar it might help. It is full of vitamins and nutrients. I wouldn't give up unless he is suffering. You never know he might just surprise you.

 

[levi68]

Thank you... I get so anxious. When Lewis was dying and it was 1:30 in the morning. All I could do is lay him with his momma. I had horrible nightmares that night. Trying to do surgery on dying kittens and other strange things that only dreams can conjure up.

He's so precious. I just ordered some FortiFlora online. Holy expensive. Amazon Canada wanted $70 for a pack of 30.

I bought from a U.S. site, and will get 2 pkg's for less money.

Thanks for the encouragement. I needed it.

 

[catsallaround]

I know there is GNC and 21st century milk replacers.   See if the vet will give a sample of forita flora.  Is there no other vet/shelter vet?  How sad. 

I am pretty sure it was rx and now it is not.  But the sooner the better so I would try to get it locally.  I see it listed online with no rx info needed to buy.

My take has always been if what I am doing is not working and it is life/death I will try something and hope it gives a shot.  Maybe use the goat milk or it as a base if you can find a kitten replacer recipe.  You only need to get him strong enough to get going on kitten food so a short time won't be to bad IMO.

 

[levi68]

I have some a/d food here. Would that be better than the development? I bought it at the vets.

Is the kitten glop you fed, the same as the one I posted above?

 

[levi68]

I'm in Canada, so not sure if the same things are available. There is another vet that works with the shelter. We are in a small town, so not much variety.

I think I'll go try and get the ingred for the glop. I'm not sure about the Karo syrup. I've never seen that before but maybe I just didn't notice it. Would it be with the other syrups? Like Aunt Jemima and maple syrup.

The maple trees are running here...what about using the actual run off of the trees?

 

[catnamedpanda]

The kitten glop recipe is very similar to what I used but it did not have egg yolks. I would use the one you have though, the egg yolks are very nutritious and he could use the help. I am not familiar with the RC development. I have always fallen back on a/d for sick kittens, but if the developmental has plenty of fat and calories and can be easily blended with the milk so it is smooth to syringe feed you could stick with that. If the vet does not have viyo maybe a nutrical supplement of some sort?

As for the karo syrup that is just a brand for corn syrup. As long as it is corn syrup you will be fine. It is stocked with the other syrups in the stores here.

 

[catsallaround]

A/d is GREAT!  so little goes a long way.  only issue I noticed at end with my liver shunt baby was it came out same as it went in as her body was getting worse

Karo gives and instant boost to the body.
 

 

[StefanZ]

My girlfriend has a goat farm. The milk would be unpasteurized..fresh from the goat.

Splendid!. Both processed and raw goat milk are useful, but raw is better if you can get it.

I saw an old tread on this thema, with several experienced forumists participating, among them Hissy... They preferred the raw.

This recipe for kitty gloap seems OK, esp if you can get in some goat milk variation instead of evaporated cow milk.

Good luck!

 

[kris78]

If he doesn't appear to be in pain keep trying. You've done an incredible job helping little ben, and he's still fighting. He's managed to get to 4 weeks old despite what your vet said. He's luchy to have been born in a place where he gets so much help and attention.

And I can totally relate to how expensive things can get. I'm in the same position with my pregnant cat, who was neglected by a neighbour. I've spent an absolute fortune on her over the past month, but I don't regret a penny of it (even though I'll be broke soon )