Update and Question on Abandoned Kitten

Something else you might try is plain pedialyte that you give to babies. Be sure it's not the flavored or colored variety, just plain, clear pedialyte. You can also feed stage 2 meat baby food with no garlic or onions.

Make some rice socks. Just take an old sock, fill with plain white rice, tie off and then nuke in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Place them near her so she'll get the warmth from them. I always use a hand towel and cover the sock so my kitties don't get burned.

Originally Posted by otto

Even a "rice bag" or those type of things that get heated in the microwave, wrapped in a soft blankie will help keep her warm.

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Not everyone has one or knows how to make them. Personally that's one of those things that I think everyone should have a couple of in their freezer (they can be used as cold packs, plus that takes care of grain pests).
Corn bags, if anyone wants to make and keep these around, are safer than other grains and hold heat longer. Whole corn kernels are also less likely to explode/catch fire in the microwave!

I don't quite agree with the measurements here, those you can modify to your own preferences, but it is a good guide. Make them for yourself and your pets, make them as gifts for friends.

A little O/T, but maybe the OP or a future reader can benefit.

You can even fill large soft drink bottles with hot water, wrap in a towel and place near, around her. They don't stay as warm as the grain "socks"... but in a pinch. ....they are ok as a hot water bottle.

What size is the syringe? probably 3-5 cc or ml for giving kids medicine.... even one cc or ml at a time would be helpful. Small amounts, often...

Get to the vet first thing in the am.

If you can't get Pedialyte at this time of night, you can make your own re-hydration drink.

1 quart/liter of water (OK, so a liter is slightly more than a quart....but not much)
8 level teaspoons of sugar
1 level teaspoon of salt
Mix until fully dissolved, keep refrigerated after mixing

I've had great success using this to re-hydrate sick kittens and ferrets. I give kittens 1 cc per hour, and a cc of chicken/turkey baby food. This can get them through the night/weekend until the vet is open. I prefer using a large eyedropper rather than a syringe, because I think I have more control over the flow when using an eyedropper.

Originally Posted by AddieBee

You can even fill large soft drink bottles with hot water, wrap in a towel and place near, around her. They don't stay as warm as the grain "socks"... but in a pinch. ....they are ok as a hot water bottle.

What size is the syringe? probably 3-5 cc or ml for giving kids medicine.... even one cc or ml at a time would be helpful. Small amounts, often...

Get to the vet first thing in the am.

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It goes up to 2 and a half cc's (i think?) it's tiny tho. She absolutely hates it, but I know if it's keeping her alive, that she can be annoyed with it.
She seems to be more alert and awake, maybe cause it's night time. Her body is still very limp but her head and eyes are very awake. I hope the water helps, I've been giving her a syringe full of water (in about 3 seperate gulps) about every half hour. And a syringe or two of mixed water and kitten chow per hour.

I'm going to call my mom in the morning (she lives about 2 and a half hours away) and beg her to please come down in the AM to help me get her to the vet earlier. I don't drive, and my boyfriend can't miss another day at work. I don't WANT to wait that long to get her in. But if I have to *sigh* I suppose we will have to. They have strange hours, it's from 12:30pm-2:00pm for walk in's and then again 4:30pm - 6:00pm

I will be up all night and into the morning until she is taken care of. I'm her only hope right now. Thank you everyone, once again. For the loving suggestions. It means a lot in this hard time. When she's all better you'll get lovely pictures of her big FAT tummy

Try the re-hydration drink. It works much better than plain water---if they're dehydrated sometimes their electrolytes are all out of balance, and they can't absorb water at all. The sugar and salt, in the proper ratio, really help with that.

Just checking in on our little Red girlie. Has she told you her name yet? Names are important, will help her stay strong.

Many vibes for her coming your way.

Originally Posted by otto

Just checking in on our little Red girlie. Has she told you her name yet? Names are important, will help her stay strong.

Many vibes for her coming your way.

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She's just got in with the vet about 15 minutes ago. I stayed home because my boyfriend took her, he's going to stay around to find out if she will make it or if the safest and humane thing is putting her down. I stayed with her all night with water and watered down food. All we can do now is wait and hope for a miracle, or the worst case, that she is put down and isn't suffering anymore.

Her name is Lydia Dawn-Omelet.

Lydia Dawn-Omelet

All paws crossed here. If she doesn't make it, to help counteract your heartbreak you'll have the comfort of knowing you saved her from a slow painful death, or being killed by a predator.

All will be well with her, either way.

for sweet Lydia!

Originally Posted by otto

Lydia Dawn-Omelet

All paws crossed here. If she doesn't make it, to help counteract your heartbreak you'll have the comfort of knowing you saved her from a slow painful death, or being killed by a predator.

All will be well with her, either way.

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She's back home from the vet. He gave her 3 shots of something that will hydrate her. I wish I could have gone because all Rob (boyfriend) could say is they we're saline like. They filled her tummy with a shot of special easy breakdown Science Diet kitten food too, and he said she peed finally. They gave us a new syringe and a can of the special food. She was alert and very cold so she's now sleeping in a comfy little ball in my soft robe, and the heater is on but very far away.

The vet said she still might not make it, but her chances are a lot better now with the boost of hydration. I'm so tired, I might put her little bed on the bed with me. She's still too weak to walk on her own, so I'll be right there by her side.

YAY! She's home! OH yes, that sounds lovely, put her bed on your bed, and both of you curl up for a long cozy nap. Don't be surprised of you wake up to her in your arms or on your hip.

Sweet dreams to you and Lydia Dawn-Omelet.

I'm at work just now but just had to come on and find out how Lydia was doing.

The IVs will give her energy.

Hills Science kitten food will really help too. The many times Lucy was ill and wouldn't eat, we got one of the Science foods for her. We mixed it with a little warm water and it goes into a syringeable thin paste.

It was a life-saver many times and got Lucy over the worst until she could eat herself again.

I am sending and that lovely Lydia keeps improving to you for the wonderful thing you are doing.

for Lydia Dawn-Omelet

Sending lots and lots of for Lydia Dawn-Omelet.

You know, you could always give them a quick call. My husband is the same way, it's not that he doesn't care or listen (sometimes he actually listens), it's just that he can be rather vague with details.

I hope she keeps improving for you.

Here is something after-the-fact. Why didn't the vet check to see if she was dehydrated when you brought her in the first time??? I know kittens can do downhill quickly, but still. She wasn't good when you brought her there. My vet would have likely asked to keep a little one in that state overnight.

Originally Posted by AddieBee

Here is something after-the-fact. Why didn't the vet check to see if she was dehydrated when you brought her in the first time??? I know kittens can do downhill quickly, but still. She wasn't good when you brought her there. My vet would have likely asked to keep a little one in that state overnight.

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Yeah I had been thinking that myself, and was honestly shocked she came back home today. But they did help her the right way so I wont complain. It was the only place we could afford to drive to at the time. She's a fighter!

I replied to your update thread, but wanted to congratulate you on your good work. Lydia Dawn is a strong little girl. Just watch her for signs of going downhill again and keep up the good work. Make sure she continues to eat and drink. You can always mix a bit of the pedialyte and/or water in her wet food just to be sure she's getting enough hydration. Don't wait too long to get her treated for worms as that can cause other problems. Worms will zap her of nutrients from the food you're feeding her. Until she gets better, you might ask the vet for Science Diet a/d. That stuff is so good for kitties similar to the situation your girl is in.

Originally Posted by stephanietx

I replied to your update thread, but wanted to congratulate you on your good work. Lydia Dawn is a strong little girl. Just watch her for signs of going downhill again and keep up the good work. Make sure she continues to eat and drink. You can always mix a bit of the pedialyte and/or water in her wet food just to be sure she's getting enough hydration. Don't wait too long to get her treated for worms as that can cause other problems. Worms will zap her of nutrients from the food you're feeding her. Until she gets better, you might ask the vet for Science Diet a/d. That stuff is so good for kitties similar to the situation your girl is in.

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Great advice!

Just want to clarify, the a/d is not Science Diet, it is Hills Prescription Diet.

Same company, completely different food. Hills Science Diet is a grocery store brand, Hills Prescription Diet is food that is specially formulated to target specific illnesses and disorders and is available by prescription or through a vet, only.