Re-occurring sickness

I have been dealing with ongoing kitten issues since they were born. On Monday, February 23rd my cat Skylark gave birth in the middle of the night. I woke up and there were 4 kittens nursing on her. I hadnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t expected them until that Wednesday to Friday. One kitten didnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t make it, and there was one more dead kitten inside her. I didnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t find that out until a few days later, when Skylark became very ill and I brought her to the vet. They debated on giving her a c-section but the dead kitten came out on itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s own with a shot of oxytocin.

Since Sky was so sick, she was given a round of antibiotics in pill form. The kittens were fine, and I kept a close eye on them for signs of toxicity from the antibiotics. Sky got better pretty quickly and we finished the 10 days of pills.

When the kittens were between 4 and 5 weeks old, I introduced them to soft food, I tried mushed up kitten kibble, baby food and canned kitten food. They werenâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t at all interested, so I tried kibble in powdered KMR and warm water. They tried it, and Sky ate up the rest. The next day, Sky and all the kittens had diarrhea and were vomiting. So I brought the whole pile to the vet where they were weighed and temps were taken. The vet said they must have had a reaction to the KMR and it would sort itself out. The kittens werenâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t dehydrated and didnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t have high temperatures.

Three days later, the kittens were dehydrated so I brought them all back. They were given subQ fluids for two days and were put on amoxicillin for 2 weeks. They improved drastically in 2 days, and I brought down stool samples to test for parasites. They didnâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t find any parasites, so we figure it was some kind of a stomach-flu type bug. After one week, my boyfriend and I had to leave over night for a trip, and the kittens missed their meds twice. The smallest kitten developed the same symptoms immediately, but they other ones stayed healthy. I started the meds religiously again for their last week, and all of the kittens grew like weeds. They are now eating free-choice kitten kibble, and canned kitten food twice a day. They are seven weeks old, and run, jump and play like crazy things.

This past Sunday was their last day of antibiotics and all the kittens are fine, except for the smallest one. I had been watching him like a hawk, and this morning there is diarrhea in the pen and he is just laying there instead of eating. I went to the vetâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s this morning and am waiting for a call back since they had no vet available to talk to me. The tech said that another round of antibiotics will probably be prescribed.

I am wondering if I should try a new kind of antibiotic to kill the bug in this one kitten. I know I messed up by missing the 2 applications, and maybe the bug developed an immunity in this one guy. Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m just sitting at work waiting for the call and worrying. To make it all worse, I am leaving for Mexico on Friday and have a pet-sitter coming to stay for the week I am gone. I have a friend who is really good with animals and I will probably take the whole litter to her place to stay for the week instead of leaving them at home. They will have their own room to romp in, and have stayed there once before when I had to travel for work.

I'm also kind of wondering if they were made more susceptible to whatever bug they have because of coming off antibiotics from their mother's milk. Wouldn't that upset their natural GI flora?

Awn, man you've been through alot
My advice- make sure your friend can bring them to the vet if needed.
I'm not really sure about meds, but your vets probably got aomething for you..
Sorry I couldn't tell you much...
Good luck!

At lunch time today the sick kitten was playing with the rest, but stopped to throw up some clear liquid while I was watching them. He is quite bright and active, but obviously still sick. I called the vet again and was told that she was in surgery and would call back soon. I now have messages for two vets to call me, and still waiting.

I think that the kitten will improve once the antibiotics start again, I just hope that I get a stronger version or something, this time.

The vet office didn't tell me anything other than the fecal exam didn't show parasites. How would they find out what kind of infection would cause the stomach upset? Blood tests? She was initially baffled by the fact that there was no temperature elevation or sinus discharge when they first came in. I am most worried about dehydration, which is why I want them supervised while I am gone.

Supposed to be working... hehe.. been looking up kitten symptoms while waiting for the vet to call back. I'm thinking that coccidiosis sounds likely. I looked up giardia but it doesn't sound right. I have 3 cats living in my house, and two were cattery raised in high-quality homes. One was a stray I picked up two years ago, but I had his blood tested for infectious cat diseases before I brought my pure-bred cats home.

None of my cats go outside and they have minimal contact with my chihuahua who just goes outside to do her business. I know giardia can be tracked in on shoes, but I do keep my place clean and the kitten room's floor is mopped with anti-bacterial solution.

I read that a coccidia infection will often respond well to antibiotics, which is exactly what happened. There is just one kitten who either has a resistant bug, or was reinfected once the antibiotics wore off. I imagine the vet will want me to try and get another stool sample, but it's pretty darn difficult.

Originally Posted by Sohni

Wouldn't that upset their natural GI flora?

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I think Sohni has a good point. They may need something to help their systems balance out. Antibiotics can wreck havoc on anyone's gut, especially young ones. Have you tried the Bene-Bac? I got it at PetSmart when one of my foster litters had horrible diahrrea. Its the natural bacteria and worked wonders for them.

I think I might try something like that before any more antibiotics.

Well, both vets called me and the consensus is to try Fortiflora in their food instead of another round of antibiotics. The kittens have had 2 doses so far, and all of them gained weight overnight. I was worried that the runt would lose again! So, they will stick with the Fortiflora while I am gone, but the vet office has a standing order for more antibiotics if necessary. I am dropping the kittens off tonight at my friend's place, and will bring my kitchen scale as well.

This morning I didn't find any more piles of diarrhea and all 4 kits were romping around. HOPING it lasts! They will get their first shots and wormer the day after I get back. Then it is time to take pictures and get some evaluations done by my mentors. Hopefully one or two of them will be future show cats. One will go to be a house-cat at my sister's, and I am keeping one.

Originally Posted by Sohni

Well, both vets called me and the consensus is to try Fortiflora in their food instead of another round of antibiotics. The kittens have had 2 doses so far, and all of them gained weight overnight. I was worried that the runt would lose again! So, they will stick with the Fortiflora while I am gone, but the vet office has a standing order for more antibiotics if necessary. I am dropping the kittens off tonight at my friend's place, and will bring my kitchen scale as well.

This morning I didn't find any more piles of diarrhea and all 4 kits were romping around. HOPING it lasts! They will get their first shots and wormer the day after I get back. Then it is time to take pictures and get some evaluations done by my mentors. Hopefully one or two of them will be future show cats. One will go to be a house-cat at my sister's, and I am keeping one.

Click to expand...

Oh, thank goodness!
in hopes that it lasts!