8 day old miracle...HELP!!

I'm so glad yo see such a caring person it makes me tear up
Your doing so well hun, and I know regardless of the obsticals
You have to go through that he will thrive into kitten hood and
Adult hood and he will live long and happy and he rill be closes
To you cause your his mama kitty now and forever
Never forget that you are doing everything right
And no matter what god is with you and your lil
Champ, all my love to you two

Although informative, this method will not work due to the size of my kitten. I don't know how else to get him to poo, and I don't want him to get blocked again as I am sure it is quite painful for him. I just mixed a drop of vegetable oil with his formula and we'll try that to see if it get things going and help to keep him regular again. I tried to stimulate him for about 5-7 minutes...no more poo yet though it does look as though he needs to go. Geez this little guy has got me so worked up, I am an emotional wreck just like a new momma!

TheKatSaysMEOW said:

I'm so glad yo see such a caring person it makes me tear up
Your doing so well hun, and I know regardless of the obsticals
You have to go through that he will thrive into kitten hood and
Adult hood and he will live long and happy and he rill be closes
To you cause your his mama kitty now and forever
Never forget that you are doing everything right
And no matter what god is with you and your lil
Champ, all my love to you two

Click to expand...

Thank you. I appreciate your kind words. It is everyone here that is helping me get through this in once piece so lil' Champ owe his success to you all as well for guiding me in the right direction and offering your emotional support!

Well, I just thought I would share some photos of my little ones...maybe lighten the mood a bit!

(Left Photo) This is the momma cat...half-starved and flea infested, but still beautiful to me.

We're working on nursing her back to health as well. Doing some research

online, I believe she is a Turkish Angora.



                                                                                                            (Photo Right) Just a few of the babies born...as you can tell, most are very under-developed with my

                                                                                                                                   little guy at the bottom of the "pig-pile."



(Photo Left) Momma still in labor...what a trooper!                                                                            (Photo Right) Our male tom "Maximus" Not sure exactly how old he is...he was a stray

                                                                                                                                                                                 we rescued a few months ago...he is very healthy and thinks our small dog

                                                                                                                                                                                  is a cat...they play all the time together.

Hope you have enjoyed a glimpse into our family photo album...I didn't post any pics of the dogs but I also have 2 dogs. One "Sheeva" which is the younger of the two just turned a year old in November. She is a Chihuahua-Terrier mix...so adorable and the other is a Black Lab mix named "Shadow" who was also a stray...wandered into our yard one day and just never left...He has been with us now for 3 years and couldn't be happier!

So glad they were able to help him.  I feared the worst.

You must stimulate him before and after each feed - gently rub the area with unscented baby wipes or damp cotton wool. Found a video showing stimulation, as she says kittens don't like it, they don't like it when mum does it either!


Another cause of consitpation is the feed is mixed too strong. You are dealing with very small quantities of powder and water, don't be tempted to used a rounded measuring spoon if the instructions say level.  Hopefully the powder came with a measuring spoon.

http://www.hartz.com/Cats/Hartz_Nursery/Kitten_Articles/bottle_feeding_the_newborn_kitten.aspx

OrientalSlave said:

So glad they were able to help him.  I feared the worst.

You must stimulate him before and after each feed - gently rub the area with unscented baby wipes or damp cotton wool. Found a video showing stimulation, as she says kittens don't like it, they don't like it when mum does it either!


Another cause of consitpation is the feed is mixed too strong. You are dealing with very small quantities of powder and water, don't be tempted to used a rounded measuring spoon if the instructions say level.  Hopefully the powder came with a measuring spoon.

http://www.hartz.com/Cats/Hartz_Nursery/Kitten_Articles/bottle_feeding_the_newborn_kitten.aspx

Click to expand...

At the moment he is getting the premixed cans of formula...so much easier for me since I am feeding every 1/ 1/2 - 2 hours. I tried watering it down just a little as suggested in multiple sites when I researched the problem. As far as getting him to "go" I have been stimulating as shown in the video but no poo...since he had the enema today and released a good bit, is it likely that I will not see any poo until tomorrow? I'm just worried he will get backed up again if he is still constipated. I gave him some formula mixed with a drop of vegetable oil as suggested by another site...lets see if that will grease the tracks a bit! I have also been treating the reddened area around his anus with some vaseline...Hopefully something will work soon. I'm such a worry-wart. Especially in cases like these when they can't tell me what's wrong. If I have to take him back to the vet for another enema I will certainly do so...I just really dread calling that place. They make me feel like a pest for asking so many pertinent questions, the vet tech looks at me like I am retarded and the vet himself shrugs me off like who am I to take up his "precious" time with this trivial kitten. I know I should seen a more professional vet but unfortunately they are all out of my price range, especially given the fact that this little guy needs so much attention and could take several trips to the vet to get him all sorted out. Almost time for another feeding so I will end this post here.

Okay...more bad news. I just fed him...he didn't want it...and the large lump has reappeared. He's backed up again. Any suggestions? I am trying to massage the area to "break it up" but all that is doing is upsetting him and making him cry. The only thing that has changed between when his poos were find and this constipation is the antibiotic being introduced. I don't know if the vet will be open tomorrow for another enema and I don't know what to do or if he can pass it naturally without the assistance of an enema...once it get's to the point where it is a large lump at the anus is there any helping him without the enema? This guy's got me on an emotional roller coaster. I don't know what to do now.

So I got him to release some of the blockage. I squirted his bum with a syringe filled with warm water. I didn't squirt it too hard but I know some of the water made it in there cause when he was pushing to relieve himself, a little water bubbled out. I know I am not certified to do an enema on a kitten, but I had to act fast...the vet is closed all weekend and there was no way he would have made it that long without relief. He still has a mass there but it is considerably smaller now. I didn't want to make him cold having him wet and uncovered for too long so I guess I will have to wait until he is dry and warm to attempt to get some more out. Please don't judge me as a person who is cruel to animals. I only want to do what is best for him...what other alternatives did I have, I had to do something before it got too bad. It was either this or watch him die. As I said before, I won't give up on him...if he is willing to hang on, then I am willing to do whatever it takes!

Are you stimulating him before and after each feed? 

Before and after...

The poo he evacuated was a darker brown...not the light yellow it was before. Not sure if this is attributed to the medicine he is on or not. If not, what could cause the change in the color of his poo?

I just fed him again, he ate pretty good...almost a full ml. He seems to be putting on some weight too...looks like he's just over 2 oz. He was about 1.8 oz day before yesterday. I didn't get to weigh him yesterday due to his distressing situation. I tried to evacuate his bowels again but nothing came out this time...maybe I was being too cautious and it didn't get into his anus. I did stimulate him before and after eating and still nothing. We will just have to keep a close eye on it.

I'm glad you got him to go. You can give him gentle belly massages. Check out this link I gave you earlier again and read down in the elimination part. http://www.kitten-rescue.com/premature_kittens.html
 

I have been doing that as well...still no poo today so far. Still working on trying though. Momma is taking an interest again today so that is a good sign...he is getting better. Still not eating as much as he was but we're hopeful that he will make a recovery. A friend of mine knows a vet personally so she is advising me now...trying to save this little one. I am still looking to you all for advice when needed and the emotional support here just can't be beat! I weighed him again...slight drop in weight but I am chalking it up to him pooing last night.

Well, we got a little poo today, but he still seems to be blocked up. I have been doing everything the vet said to do. I even consulted another vet who told me to add karo syrup to his formula. We'll see how well this works, only been on the karo-formula since last night...guess it's gonna take a little time!

You are working so hard, thank you for not giving up on him. 

When you stimulate him, it is important to use a warm wet washcloth that is a bit rough like mother's tongue. 

I know you are reluctant to change his formula, but it is better to go through the possible short-term upset stomach than to keep him on something that continually causes problems.  I understand that he was fine at first on it, but as time goes on the problems tend to get worse if the formula is not good quality.  At least investigate the options such as KMR or goat milk.  It will likely save you money in vet bills. 

The other kittens certainly look premature, the one with the big eyes looks like he has some deffects though.  I hope this little guy pulls through.  Will you be keeping him if he does?

Yes...I claimed him as my own the minute he was born...kinda strange that he ended up being the only survivor. He seems to be doing okay, although I am concerned with his lack of activity today. He seems a bit slow-moving. Well, slower than before anyway. I have not noticed any signs of dehydration, turgor is good. Maybe he is just worn out with all that he has been through the past few days. His belly is not distended and he pooed today...just a little, but some! I do believe he is still backed up, but no where near what it has been so it looks like we might have this constipation licked. He is eating well and it looks as though he is finally starting to grow some. His chest seems to be wider...not sure if that is a sign of growth or a sign there is something wrong, but I am keeping a close eye on it along with everything else concerning me regarding my little one. Should he survive, we are thinking about naming him Champ since that is what he has been through it all!

I'm glad everything seems to be going okay with champ
I know he will beat the odds and grow into as lil pain in the but
Lol, it's gonna be a tough road but were all here for you two
When you need us for emotional and informational help
I'm hoping you all the best and oi vs ant wait to see what a happy healthy
And loving lil boy he'll become years from now xox

So Champ has got me worried again...he is still eating about the usual .5 - 1 ml every 2 hours...he's not really pooing, pooed a little this morning but that was it. He is EXTREMELY lethargic...when I pick him up he struggles for a second and just lays back down. He only cries faintly when I stimulate him and his belly seems like it might be bloated now. Geez, what do I do now?!?!?! If he has worms this young and small is there anything they can do for him? If it is gas, any suggestions? If he is blocked up due to constipation do you think it will help to have another enema done? He doesn't seem to have that large lump as before but the bloating and lethargy really concerns me.

What can help with lethargic kittens sometimes is to rub karo syrup on their gums. Also you can try unflavored pedialyte in case he is a little dehydrated.

The amount he eats seems really low, he may not be getting enough nutrition.