My tiny kitten is so sick! Help!

First of all, I am new to the forum and to being a cat parent.  I just adopted the sweetest little kitten named Linus.  He is 12 weeks old and is up to date on all vaccinations.  He came into my care last Friday.  He seemed very healthy when I got him and was rambunctious like a kitten should be.  Monday, in the middle of the night, he threw up his food.  I called the vet first thing in the morning and took him in for an appointment.  The vet thought it might be worms.  So we gave him de-worming medicine for three days.  He started having diarrhea and a very upset stomach (though no more throwing up).  He would occasionally eat but was gagging by his food.  So, after I realized the de-wormer hadn't worked, I called the vet and he said to bring in a stool sample so they could test for parasites.  So, I brought in a stool sample, but they have not gotten back to me about the results.

The past couple of days he would only eat boiled chicken.  He is less than two pounds so this really worries me!  Today, there was blood in his stool.  I was so worried that I took him right to the animal hospital with the stool.  The vet at the hospital tried to test his stool but it was so watery she could not use the sample.  She somehow stimulated him to go to the bathroom, and all that would come out was mucus.  She tried to test the stool and thought that she saw ‎coccidia but could not be sure.  She gave him fluid, a shot of anti-nausea medicine and treatment for coccidia.  I just got home an hour ago, and since I got home, poor Linus went to the bathroom on the floor (more mucus).  I do not know if he forgot where the litter box was or couldn't control himself after the vet had made him go to the bathroom - he's never done this. He will no longer eat boiled chicken, but ate a tiny bit of rice with tuna.  He is already underweight and he needs to eat!  I've tried every kind of wet food it seems and he just gags.  And the dry food he really won't go near.  He is feeling terrible.  Does anyone have any experience with coccidia?  Is this normal?  If so, when will it get better?  And when should the anti nausea medicine kick in? I can't bear seeing him so sick.  Sorry for the lengthy post, but despite my two vet visits, I don't feel any closer to a solution.  Any help would be much appreciated!!

I would CALL THE ANIMAL HOSPITAL.

Explain the situation to them and see if you need to take him back in.  That is my immediate advice. 

And to elaborate...when Lady Harriet was really sick recently I called the animal hospital people a lot with questions.  A good animal hospital, especially one that already saw your kitten, should be willing to discuss this with you.  I found it very helpful in the case of Lady Harriet.  

I suspect they will ask you to come in again.  

Thanks for the reply. That's a good idea. I'm calling now.

Good.  I really hope that helps.  Keep us updated. 

I called and they said, he went to the bathroom on the ground likely because he is not able to control his anus due to retrieving a fecal sample. They said I could bring him back in for blood work, but there is not much else they can do.  I think the last trip was very stressful for the little guy. Taking him back would only help if it is something other than a parasite. 

The more urgent thing at this point is getting some nutrition into him.  What did they advise about that?  If they didn't discuss that, I would call them back and ask.  12 week old kittens need lots and lots of food.  Maybe some KMR?  When he was eating the boiled chicken, did it even have rice with it?  If necessary, I think you may have to force feed him to make sure he gets nutrients.  Please discuss this with them since it's been a few days since he's eaten a nutritionally complete meal.



In the meantime, I'm going to ask to move this post over to the pregnant cats and kitten care forum, as their are more experts on kitten care over there, and they are usually "on board" during the night!

I agree nutrition and fluids are important here, to give him time and possibility to fough the battle.

If he doesnt eat himself, "forcefeed" him. Use a dropper or a syringe. Be sure he is on the tummy head up. Seems awkward but it is how they do.  The syringe in the corner of the mouth, NOT down the throat.

Be sure he is warm and comfortable.

OK, what food.  Almost all is possible, as long as it is easy to digest. Chicken, baby food, well cooked rice. Goat milk is good.  Kmr.  You can add some extra salt in the mixture, as his diarrhea makes him lose salts.   Plain youghurt is  OK. If you can find such with bifidus bacteria is even better.

You mix it in a mixer or by hand, and dilute with water if necessary, so it become a slush.

Yeah, when in diarrhea, they often cant controll their bowels.

Coccidia isnt that common, but it is often the reason to unclear diarrheas.

Guardia(?) may be another...

Good luck!

I would also call the place you got him from first thing in the am and see if they have any discount vet to use as if this is serious it will add up fast.  They can also tell you if any cat has become sick how yours is.  Did the place mention anything about feeding him or doing fluids on the spot?

Thanks everyone for your replies.  

Missgreenjeens,

When he was getting the chicken he hardly ate much rice, only what grains I could sneak him.  Since we've been home from the vet he's had tuna and rice.  The vet said that the tuna water over rice might make him more interested.  He has eaten twice, but only small portions each time.  

StephanZ,

If he is eating on his own should I still forcefeed him?  He's so finicky right now I'm afraid to turn him off food altogether, but I want him to get his nutrients.  I've been waking up every two hours to try and feed him.  And the vet too recommended baby food.  I am going to go get some tomorrow.

Catsallaround,

A cheaper vet would sure be nice. I've spent a fortune already.  I haven't called the foster mom, but I know that he was exposed to another litter of kittens whom had parasites but I'm not sure what kind.  The place did give him fluids but no nutrients and I even asked about that.  She said she could force feed him, but there wasn't really any good way to get him nutrients.

Thanks so much everyone for your support and suggestions, especially at such a late hour.  And Linus sure appreciates it too.  Please keep them coming!  My poor little guy is back to sleep on my lap.  I really hope this passes soon

LittleLinus said:

Thanks everyone for your replies.  

Missgreenjeens,

When he was getting the chicken he hardly ate much rice, only what grains I could sneak him.  Since we've been home from the vet he's had tuna and rice.  The vet said that the tuna water over rice might make him more interested.  He has eaten twice, but only small portions each time.  

StephanZ,

If he is eating on his own should I still forcefeed him?  He's so finicky right now I'm afraid to turn him off food altogether, but I want him to get his nutrients.  I've been waking up every two hours to try and feed him.  And the vet too recommended baby food.  I am going to go get some tomorrow.

Click to expand...

The only way to know for sure is to see his weight changes day for day... He should gain some, more or less every day, as he is still a kitten.  At very least, not lose any weigh.  Easiest to see on a scale in grammes.

If you havent weighted him as yet, you must try and decide it by "eye".

The chicken and rice you mention - the chicken is most important, the rice is OK addition but really not as nourishing. Rice is better for humans than cats, although they manage well cooked rice.

Such a well cooked rice help also some against diarrhea and such.

About parasites - if they meant worms, mites, fleas - that is common enough with rescued cats. Just to count with it.

Rescued semiferales has quite often also this guardia(spelling?) or coccodia... These are small "one room" organisms.    With both you must have help from a vet as common dewormers dont take them..

Good luck!

Chicken baby food does seem to do well...I got the beech nut kind for Lady Harriet, since it has nothing in there except chicken and chicken broth.

 Avoid anything with onion or garlic in it.  

We are all pulling for little Linus! 

Thanks everyone. 

StephanZ - he is loosing weight. He was over 2 lbs. the first time I took him to the vet and now he is under.  But he is still eating, though still not able to fully control his bowel movements.  He has also been begging for me to pet him- I think he actually want me to groom him since he doesn't have the energy to do so.

I talked to the vet today and they are going to test for guardia, panleuk and distemper.  

Thanks for pulling for my little one Belle8bete! And for the food recommendations.  I am going to go get some soon I just don't want to leave him

What about KMR?  Are you giving him any of that too?  Reason I ask is that plain chicken, or plain tuna (or even with rice), or baby food, is still not nutritionally complete for a kitten. 

So are you taking him back to a the Vet today for those tests you mentioned?  I don't understand how they could say they there wasn't any good way to get him his nutrients (other than force feeding).  I KNOW they can give vitamins in shot form, as we've gotten them before for our cats.  Maybe they aren't good for kittens?    (this is why I'm not usually involved in the Kitten Forum , but I started following  Linus, so want to see how he's doing)   They probably have KMR at the VETs, and maybe you could ask a friend to pick up some baby food  from a grocery store.  I believe you want Stage 2 baby food only.  You could try any of the meats in that stage.  Chicken, Turkey, Beef, even Ham just as long as there are no onions or garlic. 

A kitten at 3 months of age's biggest immediate concern is fluids.

The lack of eating and diarrhea, is SURE to dehydrate your kitten.

Kittens are so small in body volume they will dehydrate extremely fast, causing the weakness you describe.

KMR is my first advice, and it's full of all the nutrients your kitten needs.

I would syringe feed KMR every 2-3 hours to get him rehydrated and weight stabilized.

He absolutely should NOT lose anything, and at the very minimum be stable since it's hard to gain weight with diarrhea.

It sounds like you are already aware this kitten is on the small side. By 9 weeks kittens will hit 2 pounds, smaller ones will take up to 10, even 11 for very small.

KMR! It will save this baby.

As for the cause of diarrhea, with the blood and mucous, it's very likely coccidia. May be ghiardia/tritrichomonas, but likely coccidia. Common in rescued cats/kittens.

They will want to give you Albon for coccidia, ask for ponazuril.

Albon only inhibits the cocci cysts so their immune systems are able to fight it off, and it takes a long time at twice a day it can take a month or better.

Ponazuril, once a day for 3-7 days, gone! Ponazuril actually KILLS the cocci cysts.

Unfortunately not all vets have started using ponazuril yet since it is newly discovered, originated from Marquis paste for horses, but diluted 5 parts paste to 12 parts water is excellent for cats and dogs and other small animals.

mrsgreenjeens- I have tried KMR but it was on Thursday or Friday.  I still have some in the fridge but I imagine it has gone bad by now?  He wouldn't drink it then, but I could try again. Could I put it on his food?  

He is going to the vet with yet another fecal sample.  We are not going to do another "exam" but someone is going to check and make sure he's hydrated.  Also, they are giving Linus another medication- I can't remember what it is called but the effects were similar to a probiotic.  I will find out when I pick it up. It seems like a lot of medicine for a little kitten which makes me nervous.  We have an antibiotic, another shot of anti nausea medicine, and then this new one we are getting today.

And I too was perplexed why they couldn't give him any nutrients.  I think I'll ask again today.  It's a different vets office so maybe.  Thanks so much for following little Linus and offering your advice.  We really appreciate any help and ideas we can get.  And this forum is amazing! It makes me feel hopefully that so many are cheering for him who haven't even met him. Here's how he's sleeping right now.  He's even cute when he's sick

I am guessing you have tried this, but the only way I could get LH to eat when she was sick was heating up the chicken baby food and putting her in front of it.  If you get him to take a little of that you can put some more water in it to help keep him hydrated.  

Sometimes they get picky about freshness.  If he doesn't want the stuff that has been in the fridge, get a new one and try that.  

Do you know if this kitten was nursing right up until the time you got him?  Has anything been ruled out regarding a liver shunt? Blood work taken to test organs?

The canned kmrwill tell you how long it lasts the powder once mixed I never made more then 2 feeds worth(used within 4 hours)

Avoid hartz brand that stuff is just evil

Also was xray ever taken to make sure he did not get into something that is stuck

Catwoman- Thanks for your advice.  Though he's already started albon .  I literally had no idea so just trusted the vet.  But it would be so much better if he would heal sooner! A month scares me.  I really don't want him to feel like this for that long, and I really want him to eat.  I think you are right about force feeding.  I hate to do it but I think if he won't eat regular food by tonight, that might be the only option.

I am just getting ready to take him to the vet now. They will make sure he's hydrated and teach me how to check.  And I will stop for some KMR on the way home!