Help with Orphaned Kittens- 6 of 9 died

saydrah

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I posted this in health and nutrition but I'm having trouble getting any replies so since the kittens are only six weeks I am putting it here too.


Okay, so the kittens turned six weeks this week. They are both still alive (knock wood) but out of the nine, only one other besides my two is surviving. General Mao, the smaller black kitten, is not gaining weight at the rate I'd like him to, but does still have a full belly and is eating and drinking. He also had some very soft stools and diarrhea and was lethargic.

I took him to my own vet and she suspected parasites, but he tested negative for everything- she prescribed a prophylactic dewormer anyway, and after one dose he produced a solid stool and seemed more energetic. A Giardia ELISA also turned up negative.

Monster, the grey tabby, seems (knock wood) fine. He is gaining weight and VERY playful! General Mao does not really play much, but sometimes bats at string or wrestles with his brother. Mostly he sleeps, begs for cheese, and washes himself.

All four of the most recent kittens to die had fluid in the abdomen on an X-ray. No other diagnostics for FIP were done such as tapping fluid or a biopsy of an organ or a necropsy, because the rescue cannot afford it.

Call me a crazy optimist, but I do NOT think that this is FIP- so many so young should not be dying from exposure to FIP! Most cats develop antibodies after exposure but do not develop infection, from what I have read. It should be closer to a one in ten chance of lethal infection after exposure, correct? This is what I've read.

So I've taken temporary custody and obtained permission to use my own vet for the kittens. I am treating them as mine until further notice- and if they make it to the right age, I may or may not adopt them out from home, but I certainly won't be returning them to a shelter situation or taking them to a pet store due to the stress it could cause. I have permission from my foster coordinator to keep them if they live and I want to keep them (I just miiight be getting attached...)

I need to know what else besides FIP could cause fluid in the abdomen. I am beginning to wonder if the kittens in the other foster home were exposed to something there, but she has fostered cats (though adults only) previously with no trouble. Their little immune systems were pretty down when we got them, though, so maybe something got to them that didn't affect healthy and less stressed adult cats? I have thought of parasite load getting so huge it caused fluid leakage from the intestines, but Mao tested negative for all parasites and Giardia. I'm starting to get a little crazy and think that maybe we have a new parasite that responds to the prophylactic dewormer but does not show up on a test!

I've also considered Feline Distemper, but they'd have either died or beaten it long before the last kitten of the six that died passed this weekend. Feline Panleukopenia is a possibility, but it doesn't seem to present with the same symptoms- the onset of illness with the four whose x-rays showed fluid on the abdomen was VERY rapid, with the latest one going from normal to gone in less than 24 hours. Both kittens tested negative for FIV and Fel-Leuk, though if they were exposed to it in the other foster home maybe? But not so many or so quick!

Does anyone have any ideas?

Please send good thoughts for my two babies. I still have pictures if anyone wants to see....
 

cocoalily

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I have no ideas, but I'm definitely sending vibes and prayers their way. I hope things start to look up soon! And please do post pictures!
 

hissy

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Yes there are a lot of reasons for fluid in the abdomen- trauma, injury, worms and other parasites, infection somewhere in the body. I would put the kittens on probiotics pretty quick. Don't waste time using plain yogurt with active cultures, your spit has more active cultures than a teaspoon of plain yogurt. I would also give the smaller one a little bit of Karo syrup before he feeds. You said they were dewormed, were they also deflead? Are they anemic? Are the gums pink and happy or pale white and streaked.

You can PM me if you like and I will give you more suggestions about what to do.


Good luck
 
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saydrah

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Karo Syrup? Why Karo syrup? They didn't get a treatment for fleas but we are in Colorado where fleas are unusual and I haven't seen any on them. I don't know if they are anemic- I only just took custody, haven't done any bloodwork other than Fel-Leuk/FIV testing. Their gums look fine to me and did to my vet on Friday. What probiotics should I get and where?
 
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saydrah

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Here are some pictures of General Mao (black) and Monster a couple days after they came home. They're a little bigger now, but not much.









 
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saydrah

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Okay, apparently none of the pictures of General Mao want to work. Hmm. Stupid TinyPic. I'll take some new ones when I can.
 

beckiboo

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Originally Posted by Saydrah

Karo Syrup? Why Karo syrup? They didn't get a treatment for fleas but we are in Colorado where fleas are unusual and I haven't seen any on them. I don't know if they are anemic- I only just took custody, haven't done any bloodwork other than Fel-Leuk/FIV testing. Their gums look fine to me and did to my vet on Friday. What probiotics should I get and where?
Karo syrup just in case the lethargic kitten has low blood sugar. In a pinch, regular pancake syrup works fine. (I know this from experience!) Sometimes if a kitten or cat has not been eating, and they are stressed, they will be lethargic and slow moving simply because their blood sugar is low. Rubbing a small amount in their mouth will perk them up pretty quickly if that is the case. Then the kitten will have more energy to eat a good meal.

I had a litter who showed negative for worms on the first check, and the next day they showed positive. I think its great that the vet wormed them anyhow. And that the kitten's poo improved after worming!

If the gums look pink to you, the kitten is probably not anemic.

Hissy is very experienced in kitten care. Please do take her up on her offer of help. She has the experience and instincts to really help.
 

sandycoles

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put them on a good broad spectrum anti biotic and feed them a kitten food that is high quality and has lots of fat content try it i had a litter of 8 kittens all were fine till they were 5- 6 weeks old then every 2 days one died i was down to 5 and brought them to the vet she tested for worms and parisites and came back negitive so she put them on an anti biotic that was strong but at the same time would not hurt them and it is a broad spectrum so it will kill what ever virus it could be and put them on medical wet kitten food to beef them up so far none have died and are gaining weight like crazy.
 
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saydrah

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I talked to Hissy and she is GREAT! She gave me some good suggestions that have helped.



That is General Mao, the kitten who was having trouble- that's the day I got him.



Here the kiddos are sharing a hug and a MEW about a week later.



And more hugging.

General Mao is doing better- I will definitely not breathe a sigh of relief for a while yet, but the dewormer seems to be helping. I have not seen any worms in his feces, but I'm sure that something is coming out because he has gained half a pound since he started the dewormer
It is definitely still touch and go as the kids are not even quite 7 weeks yet. The one other left in the litter seems okay so far, too. General Mao also has an adoptive home waiting if/when he makes it to proper neutering weight.

Monster is (knock wood) still seeming fine. Both are naughty and noisy, though Monster is the biggest and most playful of the two still- but after all his picking on Mao, when they played together this morning Mao pinned HIM on his back! They get baby food to up their hydration and their protein intake, and I'll be starting a probiotic as Hissy suggested. Their food already has some probiotics in it, which is probably already helping. I'm making sure to give General Mao some relaxation time where his brother can't get to him and pick on him so as to lower his stress level, although you can see from the hug pics that they do love each other, so I am not separating them entirely- just for a few hours a day to let Mao get some peace and quiet.

I'm still holding my breath, but I'm starting to have some hope.
 
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