My tiny kitten is so sick! Help!

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
You may want to buy it in powder form so it will last longer.

Once made up you would use it within 24 hours, but the dry powder stores for a long time, like close to a year when stored properly.

You can take a gatorade bottle empty of course, and make up a batch of formula, it's handy, mixes great since you can shake it, and keep it refridgerated, pouring out the amt you want, pop it in the micro to warm, and syringe him this way.

Cutie pie btw :)

They shouldn't charge anything to check for hydration either!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #22

littlelinus

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jun 16, 2013
Messages
16
Purraise
0
Belle8Babe- I did try that with no luck.  Though maybe I will try again after he takes his anti nausea medicine.  I think that helped him eat last night.  

And Catsallaround- we haven't gotten an x-ray.  And yes, he was nursing until we got him.  And I have never heard of liver shunt.  Are the symptoms the same?  I will ask while we are there.

My poor baby! Thanks everyone for your advice! Leaving for the vet but I will post back any updates when we get home!
 

tulosai

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
2,018
Purraise
330
Location
Amsterdam, Noord Holland
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!
If he is losing weight as you said he is earlier, you MUST force feed.  It is NOT okay to just wait and hope he eats on his own.  I do not mean to scare you but when a kitten who weighs that little is losing more than one day in a row that is really, really, really bad.  Like i can't overstate how much.

I really hope your kitty will be okay but please, please force feed starting immediately.
 

catsallaround

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
3,104
Purraise
66
I know the kitten I had (hand raised on KMR from 2 week till about 5 weeks)was ok till solids were introduced.  She started losing weight. She was into food but soon after got very sluggish and just out of it.  She was always on the very small side even when doing ok. 
 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #25

littlelinus

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jun 16, 2013
Messages
16
Purraise
0
Update:

Right before we went to the vet, Linus decided he would eat (so I was very late to our appointment because I wasn't going to stop that)!  He ate one bite of kibble and gagged.  So I got the rice, chicken and tuna out and he ate like crazy.  I mixed in a tiny bit of wet food and he wasn't too pleased but he still ate some.  Then, he went over to his litter box and had a semi-soft stool - not just liquid! Yay! Never thought I'd be so pleased about cat poo!  And he is obviously controlling his bathroom situation again.  Then he tried to mouse a little which he hasn't done for a while.  When we got to the vet they checked his hydration levels and said he was hydrated.  The result from this stool sample will be in tomorrow.  (Everything was negative in the last one but they said he might not have been shedding the virus or parasite.)  I don't want to be too optimistic, however, I think these are good signs.  I'm hoping that this is not just a fluke and that this is in fact coccidia and the treatment is working.  

I got KMR from the vet and we'll give that and some wet food a try soon.  Keep your fingers crossed!  The vet advised not to force feed unless Linus stops wanting food.  He said keeping him to this bland diet is good until the diarrhea subsides and that I should very slowly reintroduce his food.  He said changing his diet and force feeding might make the diarrhea worse.
 

mrsgreenjeens

Every Life Should Have Nine Cats
Staff Member
Advisor
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
16,391
Purraise
7,131
Location
Arizona
Well, this is good news indeed!!!!!  Eating and pooping (semi-solid) AND playing


Let's hope and pray this keeps up
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
Albon will start making a difference in his poop somewhere around 4-5 days after start.

It can very well be coccidia because the cysts are only shed intermittently, but I have to say with blood and mucous in his stool I would think it is coccidia.

He must too since he started him on albon.

I stand by the KMR advice too, the kitten is small and can use some help with weight gain, and KMR will do just that, as well as assure he is well hydrated and stays that way while he has diarrhea.

Can I ask what kind of dry food he keeps gagging on?
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
I also meant to say too, although Albon takes a long time to be completely clear of coccidia returning, it wouldn't take that long for him to feel better, but you would def. want to continue giving it even after he seems all better, because the cocci cysts WILL grow back. That's why I am for ponazuril, if you could get it.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #29

littlelinus

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jun 16, 2013
Messages
16
Purraise
0
Yes, that gave me some hope. He is back to being lethargic, and his eyes don't look so good but it could be due to the medicine.  And he is still having some anal leakage.  But he just ate a ton again! And I mixed in over a teaspoon of wet food with the chicken, rice and tuna and he ate it all.  

And we have a few different things set out for dry food.  FIrst, we have Iams kitten chow (I know, horrible, but that's what shelter had him eating and we were mixing it with evo before he got sick).  The second is Evo kitten.  The third is taste of the wild.  At first we thought he might have a food allergy that's why the several options.  None of them sound too appealing to him however.  

And I understand the KMR advice.  I think I will feed him a little a day as I still don't feel this is anywhere near tackled... but at least he is eating and using the litterbox this evening.
 

catsallaround

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
3,104
Purraise
66
Have you gotten a temp on him at all?  Low temp they can not digest food AT ALL.  Really easy to do especially when in lethargic state
 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #31

littlelinus

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jun 16, 2013
Messages
16
Purraise
0
On sunday night they said it was normal but they did not tell me what it was.  After thinking he was starting to get better I am back to being discouraged.  He is having trouble finding the litter box.  I can tell when he's looking and I put him in it... but why is he confused?  He ate again, so his eating is improving but everything else seems to be getting worse.  I think his anal glands are really bothering him as well.
 
Last edited:

catsallaround

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
3,104
Purraise
66
Was blood work ever ran?  Kittens can be confused when toxins are in body or sugar is low among other things. Is the poop that is coming out digested looking?

If you have a thermometer you can put a little vaseline on it and gently put just a bit in his anus(look online for more details).
 
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
There is no reason for him to be lethargic. This happens with kittens when they become dehydrated or have a fever. Not when they have intestinal parasites.

The albon will not cause any side effects what-so-ever, it is virtually harmless, so I don't understand the lethargy.

Is he vaccinated?

Okay I just reread your orig post, and see he was. Do you have his history papers for proof?

Did you adopt him from a rescue group?

If so, you need to contact his foster mom and tell her what's going on, maybe his sibs are not well now too.

Diarrhea doesn't cause lethargy unless he is dehydrated but the vet already said he is not.

Strange, the vomiting and lethargy. Parasites don't cause vomiting either. I wanted to ask you what the vomit looked like but if he is not vomiting anymore then it won't matter. Plus he is vaccinated. (panleuk crossed my mind)

Can you contact them and ask if they know anything about his mom? If a kitten I adopt out becomes unwell shortly after they go to their new homes, if I know what it is I will supply the meds, if I don't I will take the kitten to my rescue's vet at our cost. This might be something to think about since you have already run up a good amt in vet bills. Just ask.

Be careful not to offer too many varieties of food to get him to eat, as long as he is getting KMR he can live on that if need be, you just don't want to ask his intestines to work too hard digesting several diff foods, or at least none that are too much I guess I mean to say.

Bland foods, boiled chicken or baby food chicken, a bit of rice, is pretty much all he should be offered now. I would feed kmr and put some baby food in to make it thicker or more enticing if he isn't interested, which I sort of doubt as they will usually gladly drink it.

What was the dewormer, pyrantel? 3 days?

Again, albon will NOT cause any side effects, lethargy, upset tummy, etc. none.
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
Don't go getting discouraged, just know that he is 3 months old, and has made it this far, seemingly healthy and so on.

The key issues to note, unless it is something much bigger are

Apettite, hydration, temperature, activity, urination and elimination.

As long as he is hydrated, which is number one, is now eating, and is not running a temp it's a matter of finding out what's going on with his poop and get meds for it.

He doesn't seem to have symptoms of FIP and he can't have Panleukopenia because he is vac'd.

Those are 2 of a bigger picture and nothing you can do to cure them. But as I said, these are not possibilities so try to relax, soon enough you will get to the bottom of what's up.

Just keep him hydrated meanwhile, KMR will take care of that as well as nutrition.

Sometimes I wish I were just down the street, I could come by your house and see what's going on in person, darnit! :)
 

catsallaround

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
3,104
Purraise
66
Catwoman that is what I asked to-find out from the group what is up with the mom and sibs if any.

Wonder though if he was vaccinated right before OP took him in? Or after exposed to something already.

This kitten seems awfully out of it and main thing I would ask for is bloodwork to be done ASAP if it has not been already. 
 
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
I agree, that why the history form question, if she has any records of when and how many times.

If kitten for instance was pulled from the shelter by the rescue, it may very well have been exposed.

Although if it were Panleuk for instance, it takes a kitten down much faster than this. FIP happens but it would have to be the dry form, the kitten doesn't have fluid buildup at all that I see.

Hmm...is he fixed? Just curious on just how thorough the rescue is. By the time my group will adopt a kitten out it has been dewormed, de-flead, at least 2 of the 3 kitten series vac's, spayed/neutered, microchipped and tested for felv.

It's unclear what this baby has had before adoption, although OP did say he was healthy and spunky at the time she took him.
 

catsallaround

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
3,104
Purraise
66
I can not imagine the kitten being so sick and no BW done.  That is usually the first thing suggested, especially being young.
 
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
For some reason though the vet she is using doesn't seem to advise this, so I'm wondering what he is thinking...

I have sure found just how different every vet is, it's amazing....

Almost like he is not all that concerned about this kitten.

Could be he is thinking kitten is not so bad, could be he is not such a good vet too! (??)
 

catsallaround

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
3,104
Purraise
66
I have asked few times so really wondering.  I have always had them suggest BW after a basic exam if no cause could be found.  It seems if it had been done and shown something first time then save the office visit of going back.  Wonder if the vet is the shelters vet and there is something to hide/common knowledge that kittens come out with worms. 

Hope all is ok as him being so disoriented did not sound good at all.
 
 

tulosai

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
May 21, 2013
Messages
2,018
Purraise
330
Location
Amsterdam, Noord Holland
I am not a vet, so I want to be clear this is just my unprofessional \opinion, but I don't think the vet she is using seems to be doing so great in general.  I too really question why bloodwork hasn't been done and why on earth the vet isn't urging more aggressive action regarding the food situation when this kitten is losing weight. I understand he's regained his appetite some now but there was evidently a period of several days when he wasn't really eating- I am puzzled why the vet wasn't more concerned about that.  Frankly, this vet doesn't seem concerned in general which is offputting to me.  Were I the OP I'd consider seriously finding a different vet when this is over.

As always just my unprofessional opinion. I hope Linus keeps doing better!!
 
Last edited:
Top