Foster Kittens

fosters-r-us

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I'm currently fostering a new mom and her 5 12 day old kittens. Their eyes are all open but 4 of them have the 3rd eyelid partially covering their eyes. One doesn't. Is this normal?

No one appears sick at all, everyone is nursing and gaining weight - all ate the appropriate weight and size for their age. I've attached a pic of one.
 

StefanZ

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The third eyelid isnt serious by itself, but it hints there is some infection or inflammation going somewhere. Quite often it is worms. 

If the fostered mom is an ex stray, and if she wasnt properly dewormed before, she had probably sent over some round worms further on to kittens.  Even if she was dewormed, she may had sent some over...

So that is why kittens are usually dewormed from roundworms they too.  Some dewormers are supposed they can be used from week 3 - or do as your vet recommends.

Good luck!
 
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fosters-r-us

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Thanks for the reply. Mama Maxie is a very social stray that was picked up with her babies at 4-5 days old. I began fostering the little darlings the next day. Mama was dewormed by their standard protocol - ponazuril on 2 consecutive days and a dose of pyrantel with her 2nd dose due in 4 days. Quite possible the kittens got worms. The babies can't be dewormed for another 2 weeks per the shelter vet.

However, since I started the thread, 3 of the 5 are sneezing and 2 have the 3rd eyelid problem. It was probably a sign of the URI brewing. The shelter vet had me start clavamox on Maxie and the 3 sneezers with instructions to start the rest if they show symptoms and I expect they will. Been giving Viralys (l-lysine) to Maxie 2x/day which has probably kept her URI symptoms to a minimum. Babies are now getting the adult dose split 5 ways twice a day as well. I have a heating pad under the bed they're on to keep them warm and a cool mist vaporizer running to help with congestion and breathing.

Not much else I can do right now but I'm glad I'm on vacation this week to keep a close watch over them. I'll post with their progress. :rbheart:
 

StefanZ

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Yes, so we can take for given the third eyelid was a symptom of the URI...

And you are apparently doing what needed be done here.

Otherwise, pyrantel is quite mild for kittens. Here in Sweden we often use the preparate Banminth which is renown for being mild for kittens. The active substance is - pyrantel....

Good luck!
 
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