More questions about Cami / GI issues. Any thoughts?

Yesterday morning Cami got her last dose of Albon ...she has been doing great, eating well, playing hard and maintaining and even gaining some weight. She is a kitten that is the runt of her 3 siblings. They are normal sized kittens and she is still about half their size.

The issue...Last night at some point she had some diarrhea outside the litter box. Looks to me like it was a sudden surprise...maybe even while playing...this morning she did not want to eat breakfast. She had one small liq brown stool in the box so I was sure it was hers from overnight.

For lunch she ate a little wet food and some Gerber Baby Turkey. She drank water several times today.

A couple of hours after lunch she went into her box and suddenly she gakked up clear liq...I think water. Now all three are sleeping.

I thought maybe it was the side effect of the antibiotic although yesterday she had formed stools. OR could it simply be that I added a handful, maybe a 1/4 cup of Wellness CORE kitten dry good mixed into 3/4 cup of Iams Kitten dry food. (they eat a mix of wet and a bowl of dry is there for free feeding)

I feel so stupid. Could I have caused this upset by adding in a little of a new food for a kitten who just finished antibiotics for GI issues ...thinking giardia or other organism...is what they treated for?

I am so upset with myself...it was such a project getting her to as GOOD a place as she was at and then this!

Do you, who have experience with kittens and GI issues, think this will reverse itself ...I have ordered some probiotics for their food and GI health for all three) ...I am a continual wreck over this little kitten.

I feel so dumb. Why did I do anything different at this stage of the game!?!

any help appreciated. I will keep her hydrated, I have KMR and baby food and will gently syringe water if I need to but would seek Vet help if this does not turn around quickly.

Just looking for some wisdom and reassurance. ARRGGHH!

thanks

Carol

Carol, had a fecal been done on this baby? And how long has she been on Albon for? Has she gotten any other dewormer a like panacur suspension?
I've had quite a few kittens that after recovering from giardia and/or coccidiosis or rougher parasites/Protozoa did have sensitive tummy issues. I would wait to do any food switch personally and go back to what she was doing good on for now to see if that alleviates the problem. Once the possible parasite/Protozoa issue has been resolved for a few weeks I would then slowly transition to a new food. The probiotics are a great idea and so is plenty of wet food to keep her fluid levels up. Is she on Flagyl/metronidazole or has she been on it? Many times we will put kittens on this in addition to dewormers as we are going through and treating for parasites to keep vomiting and diarrhea under control at the very least. Check her for dehydration by doing the pinch test and feeling her gums to be sure they don't 'stick' to your finger. Add water to her wet or the baby food to get extra fluids in her and watch for anymore vomiting, diarrhea or signs of lethargy/dehydration. I give IV or sub q fluids with kittens who vomit so in your case i would syringe fluids for sure if she vomits or give her a very watery mix of baby food or formula and water. If she continues or does not improve overnight I would definitely bring her to the vet since if it isn't food related she should be treated for other possible parasites unless this was already done?

Laura, Thanks so much for this information.

Right now she is back on her regular food. Wet Fancy Feast Kitten Turkey and Iams kitten dry.

Over night there has been no signs of accidents of loose stool...harder to see in the box this morning as it is buried and there are 3 kittens and 2 boxes...I need to catch her in the act today.

I do believe that she ate during the night and drank...she ate about 2 tsp of her wet food this morning and is up and milling around with her sibs. I gave her a drink of KMR this morning also and she lapped it on her own. Not lethargic. And a bit more of a belly than yesterday. Maybe she just needed to let her digestive system rest until last night. She does not seem dehydrated but I am keeping a close watch. I will be offering between meal feedings through out the day every few hours. That seemed to work before.

the Albon was the only med she was on. This started 2 weeks ago, got better on the med, she was dewormed and her stools have been coming back negative.

I think (with good intention but really stupid timing) I set this off by adding that food. I will stick with her FF and Iams until she is WELL past this GI touchiness she seems prone to.  I would rather have her eating and gaining on the not so great stuff and have it stick to her bones until she is older than get the Good Food and send her backwards.

I will use that probiotic with them until we get past these early months. At least she is eating this morning!!!! and if we continue slowly to improve we will be thankful for that. They have their next appointment on the 29th...for the 3rd round of shots all have now been dewormed twice. The two "big kids" are doing great. Cami is my challenge. But this kitten has a LOT of HEART!

No more stupid moves from me.   I am sticking with the plan

( and will keep your info handy incase things change. SO appreciate your wisdom! I will update later just for others who may find themselves in my boat. ) 

Carol

I posted a response but i must have not hit the submit button
Glad she doesn't seem dehydrated, it sounds like you are doing everything right and it wasn't stupid to want to switch diets- I get antsy about switching diets too and sometimes its hard to wait like we should.
With the added information I agree with it sounding like a stomach upset/GI issue like you suspected, especially if the other kittens are having normal stools. Giardia does not show up on fecals quite often but if it were giardia I would expect everyone to be having diarrhea or at least loose bowel movements.
Anyway, keep us updated and keep up the good work- I've had a few half-sized kittens that either almost caught up in size later in life or lived healthy pint-sized lives besides minor issues ( some also had GI sensitivities). Just monitor her closely as you have been!

LaurasOrphans said:

I posted a response but i must have not hit the submit button
Glad she doesn't seem dehydrated, it sounds like you are doing everything right and it wasn't stupid to want to switch diets- I get antsy about switching diets too and sometimes its hard to wait like we should.
With the added information I agree with it sounding like a stomach upset/GI issue like you suspected, especially if the other kittens are having normal stools. Giardia does not show up on fecals quite often but if it were giardia I would expect everyone to be having diarrhea or at least loose bowel movements.
Anyway, keep us updated and keep up the good work- I've had a few half-sized kittens that either almost caught up in size later in life or lived healthy pint-sized lives besides minor issues ( some also had GI sensitivities). Just monitor her closely as you have been!

Click to expand...

Thank you so much.

We have always had kittens to cats ...but we never took on the young ones like we did these. (special circumstances spelled out in other posts of mine) anyway...I have become a wreck with the frailty of this young one. I picked up the Pedialyte this morning just in case (  ) but we are going to keep hoping not to have to go there.  This heat is a factor (heat wave in MA) somewhat for them but they are smart...they play most in the morning and evening...sleeping and conserving in the day...we have 2 fans circulating air for them and the house is cool. They have a sunny room for part of the day but seem to like it.

OH well...I will let you know how it goes...as I said ...some other person like myself may run into these issues. It might help them remain calm with your input and seeing how we make out!

Our vet told us sometimes the little one does catch up in size but either way...as long as she is robust (at some point!) she can be my tiny one!

Quick update about Cami...she is doing well, eating and formed stools! YAY!



so thankful she is bouncing back and gaining weight. Must have been the addition of the Grain Free food. She is too sensitive at her size to take changes just yet. Will wait until they are older and she has maintained constant growth for a few months. Leaving well enough alone for now!

Great to hear! : )

Everything seems to be on an upward path now.   Cami is doing so well this week. I am praying we keep going in this direction. She is back to robust eating and playing and the best part of all...ALL 3 of these babes have formed stools. LOL!

they are all playing and having a good time.

So thankful.

Just wanted anyone who might run into a Kitten problem like hers that came and went suddenly (this time!)know not to panic.

And, on hand, I am keeping babyfood, pedialyte, KMR and was told to also have pediasure if needed as part of my arsenal.

thanks again for the replies and support. They will be 3 months old on the 20th of this month.