5 week old kitten has a bloated belly and diarrhea

I rescued my 5 week old kitten about a week ago after she has been left in a box outside my office. I feed her KittyMilk formula and have began to introduce some wet food into her diet as well, after reading up on how to care for abandoned kittens on the internet. Yesterday Luna slept almost the entire day, and didn't eat as much as she usually does. I was worried that she hadn't used the litter box all day either, until evening when she had a good stool, but then had diarrhea later in the night. I've noticed that her belly is quite round, it looks bloated, which surprised me since she hadn't eaten much yesterday. Today she's eating normally, she's playful, energetic and seems happy, I've fed her formula but she hasnt gone to the litter box yet. I take her to the office with me during the day so that she's ot left alone. She's quite needy and an intense meower - I think its an abandonment issue? She hasn't been dewormed so i assume that is the reason. But does anyone know the seriousness of this? Do i need to take her to the vet immediately to be dewormed or can i do it on the weekend? All or any good  advice would be very much appreciated!

If you gut feeling tells you its not that emergency,just  probably worms, you can wait to the weekend.   He has almost surely round worms, so something for round worms...  Perhaps containing Pyrantel...

If he had fleas, he may have also tape worms, but round worms almost surely.

If your gives s telephone advice, phone and get advice which dewormer he recommends.

Avoid  OTC preparates, unless you know exactly what it is, or the vet advised you.   Some are OK, but some are directly dangerous for cats.

Tx a lot for helping this little guy!

Good luck!  *vibes!*

Thank you for your reply! I'm doing some research on Roundworms now and it looks like that is what it is!

Are kittens this young able to be treated for roundworms? Is it something I can get from a vet and do myself, like a tablet? 

Ashleigh-Jane said:

 
Thank you for your reply! I'm doing some research on Roundworms now and it looks like that is what it is!

Are kittens this young able to be treated for roundworms? Is it something I can get from a vet and do myself, like a tablet? 

Click to expand...

The swedish preparate Banminth is renown for being mild for kittens, and can be used on kittens over 2 weeks.  The active substance in Banminth is Pyrantel.  So my guess is, most preparates with Pyrantel should be OK, as long it is in no peculiar solution or addition  (some do have such unsuitable additions...).

Also, the british all round preparate Milbomax may be used on quite young kittens...

Your questions is a little touchy.  Some vets hesitate to give dewormers to young kittens.  You CAN give dewormers on your own - IF you know exactly what it is.  There are OTC dewormers which are directly dangerous.

Begin with asking your vet.  If he gets you a positive answer and help you can live with, go for it.

If he wants to wait, look at the local pharmacy and or well equipped pet shop what they have, write it up and 

Google on the preparate you find, or ask here. 

Take your kitten to a vet ..... I got a kitten at 9 months old by this time he had contracted herpes and it now affects his eye, if you don't spend the money now you will spend double later much later and the suffering and worry is just not worth it.... if you care for this kitty do this now, I promise you it is worth it, he needs vaccinations and all sorts of things before he matures and he is still young, so you have time to prevent and not CURE trust me on this go to your vet ..

I foster kittens from the humane society and half of them have bloated bellies even after being dewormed.  The ones I get are usually 4 weeks and they do deworm them at that age. At your local petstore you should be able to find a dewormer for kittens.  I was told the bloated belly is normal.  The diarrhea could be from introduction of new foods.  It went from moma's milk to formula and solid food in a short amount of time.  If the kitten starts to seem lethargic, I'd take it in.  Kittens 

Yes, I agree that the kitten likely has a tummy ache which is caused by the new food, and making her sleep more too.

Kittens do tend to have round tummies, but guaranteed she has worms, they all do basically. Tummy should be fairly soft before eating.

Be sure the canned food is pate, chicken type or turkey. Not the chunky, gravy kinds.

Dewormers vary, but many are completely safe at 5 weeks old, no problem. 

Pyrantel is very mild and given to very small/young kittens.

Pyrantel only treats roundworms too, so keep that in mind for the near future when you want to get rid of the tapeworm she will likely get from fleas, but you won't see that yet as it takes a couple months of growing for the tapeworm to show. (rice grains squirming around her butt) Yuck, I know.