Advice greatly needed, low birth weight kittens

So this is him falling asleep after a feed

He's out on 3g a day since I began feeding him. It's a tiny amount but then again he's tiny. I really want him to gain faster, he's incredibly strong and active, any suggestions?

My plan is to start feeding every hour and a half, as he's always hungry when I go to feed him. X

tallypop said:

He's out on 3g a day since I began feeding him. It's a tiny amount but then again he's tiny. I really want him to gain faster, he's incredibly strong and active, any suggestions?

My plan is to start feeding every hour and a half, as he's always hungry when I go to feed him. X

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Sounds logical, if he isnt sleeping so do so.   Normally, he could eat more at each feeding, till he is contend, but you want to play it safe and dont give too much, not to risk any reflux.

So the other end is to give a little more often.

Good luck!

Thanks, in 14 hours he's put on 2g! He's so active he climbs out of the nest looking for me and his food, so I'm thinking if I feed him before he gets really hungry he might use less energy, I think that might be why he's not gaining. Everything else is great, might even try every hour, what do you think? I'm really starting to think its the frequency of his feeds that needs up, it's not the amount. The tortie is now 106g, she's thriving. X

He's gone back up to 60g which is great, but he doesn't look brilliant . He seems lethargic but we can't work out why. He's look his bottle fine but seemed more quiet than usual, he did a poop which was 100% normal. He seems to be breathing fine, maybe he got milk in his lungs that's the only thing I can think it is, he's breathing seems ok. Could it possibly be he's just not that hungry like he was before, we're feeding him every one and a half hours. Or maybe he's been over feed, his tummy is fine though, really worried. X

He's breathing got worse, went to the vet, we think he's got milk on his lungs. The vet has treated him with antibiotics and says he will get worse or improve. If anyone has any advice I would really appreciate it. If he doesn't improve he will have to be put to sleep.

Sending all the vibes I can!  *vibes*

Recently someone with a congested kitten mentioned how she would tap gently over his ribcage to loosen the mucus.

Do you think a vaporizer or sitting in a bathroom with a hot shower running might help him breath easier?

Can you make a little pouch, carry him close to your chest so he hears your heart beat, comforting him.

Here's hoping that this tiny kitten pulls through. He's such a little warrior, fighting to live and grow. And you are his inspiration, with everything you are doing to help him.

Catapault said:

Recently someone with a congested kitten mentioned how she would tap gently over his ribcage to loosen the mucus.

Do you think a vaporizer or sitting in a bathroom with a hot shower running might help him breath easier?

Can you make a little pouch, carry him close to your chest so he hears your heart beat, comforting him.

Here's hoping that this tiny kitten pulls through. He's such a little warrior, fighting to live and grow. And you are his inspiration, with everything you are doing to help him.

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Yes, all three good advices, works nicely with humans... Tx Catapault.

I am so sorry he is not doing well .  He is absolutely precious.  I can  imagine how heartbreaking it is. 

The idea of feeding less but more often is good -- that was just what I had suggested earlier,  feeding smaller amounts but every hour or 1.5 hours.        It is just so easy to overfeed kittens   and it can come back up and go in the lungs.    Especially with ultra-tiny kittens it is such a delicate balance of wanting to give enough to satisfy them and for them to grow but not to give too much and increase the risk of  reflux /  aspiration pneumonia.  

It sounds to me like he probably  aspirated a  very small amount,  since you did not immediately notice breathing problems. but it started an infection in the lung. 

I am glad to hear you took him to the vet right away and got some AB .   that at least gives a better chance.   

 One thing I have heard about aspiration pneumonia is placing a humidifer nearby may help.     Have also heard something about tapping several times on their chest wall to loosen secretions.  and doing that  several times a day.  Also not letting them lie on their side for more than 2 hours at a time.    I am NOT a vet though.   so you should ask the vet. 

 and could also ask a vet online on a site like this that I saw someone on here link  http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Animal-Health---General/show/112

I am e-mailing the friend who has had some very small kittens  and has dealt with this issue , and will let you know if she has any advice for what worked for the kitten who lived.   

 If  he can hang in there and will still take formula  ,  it may   be better to  give about 1.75 every 1.5 hours.  or  somewhere between 1.25  to 1.5 every hour.     Either way that would be several more ml per day than giving 2 ml every 2 hours.   

It is extremely hard to keep a kitten that small alive.   I know you have been trying very hard . 

and I don't want to forget his sister!  I am so glad to hear she is thriving.   

We lost him, his breathing got worse and he started crying, I think in pain. We got him straight back to the emergency vet and the vet agreed it was time to let him go. He was given anaesthetic then put to sleep, I can't help but blame myself, I tried really hard to limit his food intake but he wasn't strong enough to suckle properly so that made things much harder. I would like to thank everyone for there help, we can't really repay the kindness but were making a donation to the "cats protection league" so more kittens/cats like him can be helped. If given the chance I would do it all again. It was a joy to spend the time with him that I did.

I'm so sorry, tallypop. He wasn't with you for very long but in that short time he entered your heart. Mine too, just reading about your efforts to save him. Go to the Rainbow Bridge, little one. Grow strong. Be happy. And one day you'll both be reunited.

 I am so , so,  sorry, tallypop.  I know how very hard you tried.   I  feel so sad about this myself so I can only imagine how you must feel.   

  Please don't blame yourself .   It is such a delicate balance trying to care for a baby like him.    I did talk to my friend  who was very surprised you succeeded in getting him to feed from a bottle.  

 I did not want to tell you this earlier in case it might discourage you, but if you had managed to keep him alive to grow up I actually  think it might even have set a record for a kitten surviving with such a low birth weight -- especially not being in intensive care  but in a regular home.    It is pretty amazing you kept him here as long as you did.    He was a tough little guy but  really had the cards stacked against him being so very tiny.   At least  you gave this little kitten some happy days of being loved and cared for. 

and now he is a little tiny angel cat.  

 Good for you making a donation to help others like him. 

 If you ever think you are up for it again,  you could volunteer to foster.    You sure have shown you have dedication.   You actually did a wonderful job.

He was tiny hon, and despite his will to live, you did all you could for him.

When bottle feeding a baby, always be sure not to hold in a baby position, but on all 4's, head tilted up a bit. Same position as when nursing from momma. It makes it virtually impossible to inhale milk, and ensures no formula gets to their tiny lungs. Even a teeny drop inhaled will cause pneummonia and certain death.

Very, very common way of losing bottle babies.

This is not for you to take and have guilt, you did everything wonderfully, just use this advice in case of future, it will save you the heartache felt when losing a baby.

Hugs

Tallypop, I'm so sorry you lost this little guy. He was absolutely minuscule and I am so impressed you were able to give him the chance you did. I've taken in many preemies and have only have one or two quite as small as him-i just want to make you aware of how absolutely small this little guy was when he was born. Kittens aspirating is very common and I am talking about regular sized newborns. With a kitten his size that was weak, it would probably have been very difficult even for even an expert in the area to have done more than you did. The fact that you aren't a seasoned bottle feeder yet gave him such a great shot just goes to show your dedication to him. It sounds like it must have been the most minuscule amount of milk that got into the lungs since you noticed no breathing difficulty right away or any coughing or signs of aspiration when it actually happened.
He was lucky to have you and even though he didn't make it he had someone fighting for him and for that he was very lucky.
Because of you he at least got to feel loved and warm and fed in his short time here. Thanks for all you did for this baby

I second that  

Thanks for your kind words, the mother 'River' seems to be coping ok, she has the tortie to look after which helps, it was really traumatic for him and for us. I think the bottle was the main issue we had, he was feed the right amount he just took it to fast at times. We tried him with a syringe but he refused to take from it. He loved his bottle, the problem was without the hole being made larger he couldn't feed from it, obviously that meant increased risk of aspiration, it really was a balancing act. If this ever happens again with such a small kitten I think I will try a syringe with a teat (we couldn't find one locally). The vet agreed generally kittens get frustrated with the syringe, but it is much safer for tiny kittens. His feeding position was as recommended, as was his temperature and feeding schedule. I feel very confident if this were to happen again I could make a success of it, the trouble was no bottle is really designed for a kitten so small, who doesn't have the strength to suckle properly, or at least one we could have access to. I might order one, just incase, it was wonderful to try and help him. The tortie is getting bigger everyday, she will never have a litter nor will her mother again, and they will always stay together, they both deserve that. X

I totally agree, it is a balancing act. Syringes are safer but I really feel like kittens get no satisfaction and get very frustrated at times. because of this I ordered the ones with the little nipple at the end and those are much better but honestly I think with the little chances this kitten had it is a little less heartbreaking that he got that satisfaction from suckling in addition to all the love he got. If this did happen again I would definitely try the syringe with nipple at the end, but remember that with this baby you did the best you could and there is nothing you could have done better with what you had IMHO.
With kittens that small I will use the syringe with teat and if they are fighting me a lot and ill or not swallowing i will go right to tube feeding for a few days. My own kitty Isabella would never had made it had I not tube fed her. You're right and regular sized nipples are just to big and in order for a weak kitten to get anything out the hole cannot be as small as it should be. I do use a certain brand of bottles where there are clear silicone nipples and they ARE narrower so those are the only ones I use- I've found that kittens prefer them tremendously over the normal kind pet stores carry.
Anyway try not to think of the what ifs but instead things you learned because this kitten came into your life. If this ever happens again you will be even more prepared because of this little one and all he taught you. The first time you loose a kitten is always the hardest and people tend to blame themselves. This kitten was much better off for what you did and he got to have more time because of you. I'm so glad mommy has the torti, I'm sure that is really a great help to her.
I agree that they should have each other for the rest of their lives- I think that is great that you wl be sure they stay together : )

Hi guys
The remaining kitten named 'May May' (it means little sister) in honour of her brother is putting on weight and moving about well.

However we have noticed something strange about her back legs, they are formed properly and strong but the angle of her foot seems off. We think its 'swimmers foot' so she's off to the vet tomorrow. It's just one thing after the other...

  Thanks for the update.  I am glad she is putting on weight and strength.

I have heard that sometimes the back legs can look crooked at first but then correct themselves.  I've never had a kitten with crooked legs myself but I have heard that a few times that it is not always permanent.    I hope that turns out to be the case here.   

Apparently the treatment is to tape the legs, I will see what the vet says.