5 week old kitten sick help!

Hi
I recently got this new kitten whos mother had died and i agreed to be a surrogate. The kitten didnt have any bowel movements the first few days and the last 2 weeks has had diarrhea with blood present occasionally. He had been on the royal canin kitten milk and the vet suggested he could be lactose intollerant and to try cutting out all dair products. After doing so things didnt improve the blood wasnt as frequent but still diarrhea in every stool he has been brought back to the vet twice this week and his anus has become quite swollen and sore. He is now on 3 different medications and still no improvement. Has anyone any experience with this or any suggestions? His mood is fine he still plays and jumps and eats but howl when he is passing a stool and sometimes when i pick him up so could possibly have pain in his abdomen. Any help would be greatly appreciated

I can't help as I have no experience.. I am pushing this up so people can see and help.

though, maybe try a different formula for her0 the current food could be irritating her tummy. KMR or goat's milk? I hope someone can come in and give their thoughts

How old is the kitten and what are you feeding it?

Adding some oil to the milk and food will help lubricate the bowel. you might try bottle feeding in order to get the kitten eating. Some of the meds the vet is giving can also constipate the kitten. Make sure they kitten is drinking a lot of fluids in order to soften the bowel. Was this a Feral kitten? how long ago did the mommy die?

I believe catwoman707 has the most experience with ferals and sick kittens.

lockiedox said:

Hi
I recently got this new kitten whos mother had died and i agreed to be a surrogate. The kitten didnt have any bowel movements the first few days and the last 2 weeks has had diarrhea with blood present occasionally. He had been on the royal canin kitten milk and the vet suggested he could be lactose intollerant and to try cutting out all dair products. After doing so things didnt improve the blood wasnt as frequent but still diarrhea in every stool he has been brought back to the vet twice this week and his anus has become quite swollen and sore. He is now on 3 different medications and still no improvement. Has anyone any experience with this or any suggestions? His mood is fine he still plays and jumps and eats but howl when he is passing a stool and sometimes when i pick him up so could possibly have pain in his abdomen. Any help would be greatly appreciated

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Its seldom they are lactose intolerant at this young age.  Also, Royal canin kitten milk (I suppose you mean their  kittem mothermilk replacement, NOT any treat for cats) has a decently good opinion.

But if you do try and swich as suggested,  the two best alternatives are:  The KMR in powder, made by PetAg,   AND  OR  Raw goat milk.  Bottled goats milk works OK and you can use it, but Raw is even better.   Raw goat milk being not pasterurized, contains also lotsa of good enzymes, including the natural enzymes for digesting lactose.

Some good probiotic may help too. BeneBac is one of the best and much useful.  But there are others too...

Adding a drop or two of oil as Kstonya suggested, helps alos in itself against constipation.  I would suggest the mild and healthy coldpressed canola /rapeseed oil, or virgin olive oil.

Minerale oils are more potent, but they aren not as healthy in themselves.  

Im also thinking, him being not very young kitten any longer, he may perhaps be old enough to have some crushed pumpkin in his food.  Plain crushed unsweetened pumpkin, they sell it canned in USA.   If you dont have it, a forumist suggested you can make yourself somehting similiar from sweet potato...

Please come back with reports and further questions.

Good luck!

Can you explain why the momma cat died?

Can you give me the names of the 3 meds the kitten was given by your vet?

Blood in stool is an indicator that there is irritation and inflammation in the bowels, likely is caused by a parasite, pretty commonly seen in feral born kittens.

Coccidia is what I am suspecting, so please give the names of the meds.