Sick Kitten!!!

I need some advice! I am a foster mom of a mama kitty (approx 1 year old) and her four kittens who are 12 weeks old.  After about a week of having the kittens I noticed a few had diarrhea.  I talked to the rescue and they were supposed to be getting me meds. After trying to get a hold of them for days to pick up the meds, I had no luck.  The ones who did had diarrhea cleared up but the others ended up with it.  After a few more days, all kitties were clear of it.  About a week later, I notice the mama kitty seemed to be getting some sort of cold. She was sneezing quite a bit and had running eyes.  Again I contacted the rescue with no luck.  A day went by and one of the kittens now came down with the same thing. I again contacted the rescue and finally got a hold of someone! She contacted the vet and they prescribed Clavamox for all 5.  It has been 5 days of being on Clavamox and still diarrhea, congestion, sneezing, and running eyes in two of the kittens.  I took them all to the vet today and the vet said they are fine, that they just have diarrhea.  They did a fecal test and said all came back normal.  They were given a steriod shot.  One of the two kittens is having troubles eating.  I believe it's because she is having such a hard time breathing that she is breathing through her mouth. She isn't eating much, and drinking very little.  I'm so worried for her. It breaks my heart seeing her like this. I feel like there is something else that should be done.  Any suggestions?

Yes.  Go to the store and get some kitten milk.  If a pet store is open near you, you might be able to find a little feeder bottle too.  Otherwise, I'd try a syringe.  That way at least the kitten can get it's vitamins during this crucial time until the cold dies down and it can manage on it's own again.  On the milk, there should be feeding instructions depending on the weight of the kitten so as not to over or under do the feeding.   

Im not sure I do have good advices, but I want to welcome you to the TCS site and our Forums.

I want also to thank you for helping these our small brethrens.

About the little one who dont eates nor drinks much.

I think essential here is, what she manages to eat, is of good quality, so even a little will be enough.

What are you giving her?

Where do you live?  Do you have access to goat milk? Is salomonella on eggs a problem where you live?

Try to give her wet food. Or wet the dry food some so it contains much fluid.

Give her of course her usual food, so she has something to choose among.

ps.  common" mother substitute milk for kittens" is of course also OK, if you cant get goat milk. 

As said, im not sure if these advices are what is needed, but these are what Im thinking on in this moment.

You HAD already been to the vet = the standard answer.  I suspect on your own money??

Good luck!   *vibes*

I have down dry Science Diet kitten food as well as wet SD kitten food with probiotics (given for diarreha) mixed in it. She took a bite of the wet food but I think it is hard for her to eat as she can't breathe through her nose.  I do have a pet store not even a block from my house so I will def try the kitten milk and feeder. She just lays there and doesn't move much while all the other kittens are jumping and playing around her. If you sit on the floor she will come over and sit in your lap but that's about it. She has watery eyes and one looks almost swollen shut.

I live in OK and I haven't heard of salmonella being a problem. 

I was wondering if I should get a syringe and try to get anything out of her nose? I took her in the bathroom with me and ran a hot shower hoping the steam would help but no such luck. 

She took a little bit of food and every bit helps. Feeding a little bit of water may also do good to help her nose as it clears and possible infection out of her body as it passes through.  It also helps to rehydrate her if she has diarreha.

When cats feel crummy, they don't want to eat. Unfortunately, they HAVE to eat or their liver will fail. So forcing food is pretty much the only option. Get a large plastic eyedropper or feeding syringe, then try to get whatever you can into her. I find that chicken or turkey baby food works well for this, but you can also do it with canned cat food. She'll also need some Pedialyte forced so she stays hydrated. Hopefully she'll be back to eating on her own in a couple of days, but until then you need to help her keep her strength up!

h dear, I was hoping the steamy bathroom would help clear her stuffiness, but apparently not.  I would keep trying that,though.  And you could try heating her wet food (not in the microwave), but maybe by setting the bowl in another bowl with hot water.  You're trying to get the food to set off more smell, and when it's warm, it will do that.  And, yes, I would try to section some of the mucus out of her nose (just like with a baby, if you've ever done that.  (maybe right after a steamy bathroom venture, it might be looser).  And, naturally, all the suggestions above, of the pedialite, KMR, baby food, etc.









for this little one

I just wanted to update everyone on how the kitten was doing...she is completely healthy again! Yay! She has been eating and drinking on her own for a few days now. She is up and playing like normal again. Thanks to everyone for your comments. I appreciate it!

Oh good....this is wonderful news!!!!