Kitten dehydrated, not eating

clytie

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Hello all. I just found a 10 week old kitten outside my house last Friday night. It's been insanely hot where I live, plus my neighborhood isn't a good one for cats (dogs running loose, and humans with awful intentions), so I took him in, and fed him. The next day, he had horrible, uncontrollable diarrhea, and things just went south from there. On Monday, he felt terribly hot and feverish. I took him to the vet the next day, who checked him out, and sent him home with some food (which he would not eat or keep down). I ended up force feeding him baby food chicken and pedialyte that night, and took him back on Wednesday. The vet gave him some Clavamox, (finally), and gave him a bolus for dehydration. On Thursday, he started out horribly, then all of a sudden came to life, and flung himself on some dry food I had out for my other cats, growling and clawing at them as if he were starving. Then, after three bites, he wandered off, and looked rather sick.

I took him back to the vet today who said he doesn't know what's wrong (possibly a virus or distemper or something), gave him another bolus, and sent him home.

Any ideas what I can do? I'm beside myself trying to help him. I've never been to this vet before (I recently moved), but he was well recommended to me. I'm just worried to death over this little one. Thanks...
 

StefanZ

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Did the vet take any analysis, say for coccodia or giardia?

If you have some another vet in your vicinity, try with a second opinion...  This vet is not necessarily bad. Sometimes there are no clear cut clues.  But as he cant find any clues, so time for trying out somebody else too.

If possible.

I see you dont bother much about keeping this new sick kitten separated from you residents?

I presume they are healthy, fully vaccinated, also against distemper, and used to go outside?

If not, I would surely recommend a strick quarantine...

During the time, keep on what you are doing, ie forcefeeding if necessary, and force watering with pedialyte.

If you can get hold on goat milk, use it too. 

If  salmonella in eggs is no problem at your place, raw egg yolk (the yellow of the eggs), is good.

You can use a home made pedialyte, which may perhaps even be better than the industrial made:

1 litre water,

1 soup spoon of dextrose sugar (best) or honey or white caro syrup. Common sugar may be used, but the other alternatives better. Dextrose best.

1 teaspoon kitchen salt.  If you can choose among different sorts, take the so called mineral kitchen salt, ie with several different iones, not only the most common salt NaCl, but also K, Mg, etc...  This sort can be found in Sweden (and dextrose too), so I suppose you can find it in your country too.

Use common water? With heavy diarrheas, and this heat, he has surely big dreinage of electrolytes. So some common water is OK, but have also pedialyte.

This basic pedialyte I did wrote up, is / was in itself the main stopper of the big manslaughter, cholera, in poor countries.

Good luck!    *vibes*
 
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clytie

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StefanZ, thank you so much for your suggestions. My other cats have all their shots, however I'm still keeping them strictly apart. The incident with the food was a mistake, though, due to my house having lost central air conditioning. I brought the cats in to the one room with a window unit to cool off.

As for the tests, the vet said he didn't see anything in particular, but he wasn't specific as to what he tested for. Unfortunately, I am quite literally broke at the moment, and this vet was supposed to be not only good, but very affordable. I suppose the old adage "you get what you pay for" applies here, but I honestly didn't have any choice. I have enough money in the bank to get him four more days of fluid injections, and then I get paid. I literally haven't got a dime more.

Anyway, his diarrhea hasn't improved at all. In fact, it's gotten rather worse. It's now thin and clear and green. I read that green stool can be a symptom of giardia, but I assume the vet would have tested the sample for it? My mother says I should just focus on fluids, and not the baby food chicken, since it might be upsetting his stomach more, but I really want him to get some nutrition as well. He's so thin.
 

StefanZ

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My mother says I should just focus on fluids, and not the baby food chicken, since it might be upsetting his stomach more, but I really want him to get some nutrition as well. He's so thin.
You could use instead kitten formula mother substitute milk, if you can get any decent sort.  (not Hartz...)

Or goat milk should also be OK.

With that much diarrhea you can also add some extra salt and dextrose with this milk. Preferably this mineral salt I mentioned.

I think and hope...

Good luck!    *vibes*
 

orientalslave

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He could have all sorts of problems, and probably has worms but he needs to be better before he can be treated for them.  Ring the vet again and explain how he is now.  He certainly needs to be kept hydrated.

You don't say what country you are in.  This is an international forum, saying which country (and which state if US) will help people with advice - different places have different resources to help with pet care.

BTW not all 'affordable' (a relative term!) vets are bad, not all extortionate vets are good.
 

eb24

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StefanZ, thank you so much for your suggestions. My other cats have all their shots, however I'm still keeping them strictly apart. The incident with the food was a mistake, though, due to my house having lost central air conditioning. I brought the cats in to the one room with a window unit to cool off.

As for the tests, the vet said he didn't see anything in particular, but he wasn't specific as to what he tested for. Unfortunately, I am quite literally broke at the moment, and this vet was supposed to be not only good, but very affordable. I suppose the old adage "you get what you pay for" applies here, but I honestly didn't have any choice. I have enough money in the bank to get him four more days of fluid injections, and then I get paid. I literally haven't got a dime more.

Anyway, his diarrhea hasn't improved at all. In fact, it's gotten rather worse. It's now thin and clear and green. I read that green stool can be a symptom of giardia, but I assume the vet would have tested the sample for it? My mother says I should just focus on fluids, and not the baby food chicken, since it might be upsetting his stomach more, but I really want him to get some nutrition as well. He's so thin.
Have you asked your vet about giving him the fluid injections at home? It's very simple to do and may be more cost effective to buy the bag and needles and do it yourself than to keep taking him back. Plus, if you had it at home, you could give him more doses throughout the day. I would keep trying to feed him even if he keeps refusing. Have you tried mixing the chicken baby food with cooked white rice? The starch in the rice can really help with diarrhea. You can cook off a batch of rice and keep it in the fridge. I reheat a small amount in the microwave and then add the baby food and a little warn water. the heat will make the chicken smell even more appetizing. You didn't mention what kind but I am assuming you are using the all meat chicken baby food (all meat turkey works well too). Avoid formulas that have vegetables in them as they often contain onions which are toxic to cats. 

If his tests are coming back normal it is possible that it is just the dehydration giving him so many problems but like you I worry it's more than that (although I have no suggestions as to what). Ask the vet for a copy of his records so you can see what tests have and haven't been done and go from there. I know it's hard and stressful but you are doing an amazing thing for him. Just hang in there and go one day at a time! 
 
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clytie

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Have you asked your vet about giving him the fluid injections at home? It's very simple to do and may be more cost effective to buy the bag and needles and do it yourself than to keep taking him back. Plus, if you had it at home, you could give him more doses throughout the day. I would keep trying to feed him even if he keeps refusing. Have you tried mixing the chicken baby food with cooked white rice? The starch in the rice can really help with diarrhea. You can cook off a batch of rice and keep it in the fridge. I reheat a small amount in the microwave and then add the baby food and a little warn water. the heat will make the chicken smell even more appetizing. You didn't mention what kind but I am assuming you are using the all meat chicken baby food (all meat turkey works well too). Avoid formulas that have vegetables in them as they often contain onions which are toxic to cats. 

If his tests are coming back normal it is possible that it is just the dehydration giving him so many problems but like you I worry it's more than that (although I have no suggestions as to what). Ask the vet for a copy of his records so you can see what tests have and haven't been done and go from there. I know it's hard and stressful but you are doing an amazing thing for him. Just hang in there and go one day at a time! 
I have not asked about home injections, but it's a good idea. I am horribly phobic about needles, but I think I could manage it.

Yes, I'm using the all meat baby food, no onions or anything like that. And adding rice would be a great idea. I'm going to see if I can find any good pet-approved kaolin and pectin, too.
He could have all sorts of problems, and probably has worms but he needs to be better before he can be treated for them.  Ring the vet again and explain how he is now.  He certainly needs to be kept hydrated.

You don't say what country you are in.  This is an international forum, saying which country (and which state if US) will help people with advice - different places have different resources to help with pet care.

BTW not all 'affordable' (a relative term!) vets are bad, not all extortionate vets are good.
Oh, I'm sorry. I'm in the US, in Oklahoma. I have been to just about every vet here, and it's hard to find a good, trustworthy one. As for affordability versus expense, of course you're right. I'm just second-guessing every decision I've made.
You could use instead kitten formula mother substitute milk, if you can get any decent sort.  (not Hartz...)

Or goat milk should also be OK.

With that much diarrhea you can also add some extra salt and dextrose with this milk. Preferably this mineral salt I mentioned.

I think and hope...

Good luck!    *vibes*
Yes, I have some kitten milk replacement powder in the freezer. My mother didn't think it was a terribly good idea, but I'll give it to him anyway. I guess at this point, there's not much to lose, since he seems to be losing so much weight.
 

StefanZ

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cooked white rice? The starch in the rice can really help with diarrhea.
Works for humans anyway, yes I got this too when I was a kid with diarrhea...Memories returns... The doc told us to cook the rice well. Not just enough, like you do when you eat it for your own fashionable dinner, but you cook it till the is rice is soft... think some sort of watery porridge soup.

Hey, you could use this watery rice water as base of a pedialyte... Together with some salt should be OK.  Overcooked starch contains naturally some dextrose. so you probably dont need to add.

I made just up this recipe, but Im sure it should do beautifully.

Good luck!
 

eb24

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I have not asked about home injections, but it's a good idea. I am horribly phobic about needles, but I think I could manage it.

Yes, I'm using the all meat baby food, no onions or anything like that. And adding rice would be a great idea. I'm going to see if I can find any good pet-approved kaolin and pectin, too.
Yeah I was super freaked out the first time I did it but it's actually not too bad. It's just a shot under the skin so it's not like you have to find a vein or anything. And with a kitten it's much easier to control- not as much fun doing it to a ticked off Momma cat fighting the whole time! 
 I think if you can give him more regular doses throughout the day it would really help to keep him hydrated and get him eating. If he's that dehydrated he's just going to absorb the one dose and keep losing fluids. It's one of those things you have to stay ahead of or the whole vicious cycle continues. I am in Colorado and it's a regular practice for people to administer SubQ's at home so I don't imagine Oklahoma would be much different. 
Works for humans anyway, yes I got this too when I was a kid with diarrhea...Memories returns... The doc told us to cook the rice well. Not just enough, like you do when you eat it for your own fashionable dinner, but you cook it till the is rice is soft... think some sort of watery porridge soup.

Hey, you could use this watery rice water as base of a pedialyte... Together with some salt should be OK.  Overcooked starch contains naturally some dextrose. so you probably dont need to add.

I made just up this recipe, but Im sure it should do beautifully.

Good luck!
The idea was vet recommend for a litter of 6 with uncontrollable diarrhea. Between the rice and baby food mix, SubQ fluids at home, and antibiotics they all bounced back quickly. All there tests had come back "normal", which is what gives me faith for you clytie that your little guy has a good fighting chance! 
 

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Clytie, how is it going?  Did the kitten managed?

Rereading some old posts....

Good luck!
 
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clytie

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Clytie, how is it going?  Did the kitten managed?

Rereading some old posts....

Good luck!
Oh, my, how did I forget this? I guess so much has happened...

After I last posted, he went downhill rather rapidly. Two nights later, he was shivering and shaking, and was crying so pitifully, I took him out of his box, slimy green diarrhea and all, and laid down with him on my bed. He slept on my chest for most of the night, then slowly crawled back in his box. I thought for certain he'd die in there. It was horrible, horrible, horrible. I stopped praying to the Universe that he'd live, and instead started praying that he'd go peacefully, and not be in pain anymore.

The next morning, he was still holding on, so I went in a last ditch effort to another vet. I couldn't have made a better decision. It was like night and day, compared to the first place. Everyone was insanely kind, it was bustling and happy, and the whole aura was just welcoming. As soon as the vet walked in, even before she saw him, she said he smelled like coccidia. She took him to the back, washed him off, gave him a fresh towel, and sent me home with Albon, Panacur, and some anti-diarrhea medicine the name of which escapes me. In one day, he was looking better, in three days, he was gaining weight, and in a week, he was fatter and more active than he was when I first found him (I guess the combination of baby food chicken, kitten milk replacement and pedialyte makes anyone pudgy).

He's the sweetest, gentlest kitten I've ever met, and everyone around me is sick of hearing me gush over him.


Thank you all for your help, and your suggestions. I don't know what I'd do without this place. Bless you all.
 

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Wonderful that you found another vet and got him the help needed, it does pay to be persistent and not let the little ones suffer, thanks for the update.
 

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Coccidia is an opportunistic parasite.  It's virtually impossible to completely eradicate.  In fact, most cats have it in their system; it just flares under stress.  It's bad in kittens, because their immune system isn't developed enough to control it, yet.  The frustrating thing is that there is a treatment that will kill coccidia, called Baycox, by the Bayer company.  It's not available in the U.S. for cats, although it is in other countries.

It's so good to hear you had a better experience at the new vet. 
 
 
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