Four day old kitten with diarrhea HELP

paulthecat

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My neighbor found this two day old kitten in the road and brought it to me because I'm the resident cat lady :) he was doing well eating every two-three hours and pooping and peeing regularly. His poop was brown and like toothpaste. But last night I noticed he has started sneeze a little. Maybe it's not so much sneezing as it is a really wet nose. His meow was silent too, he would open his little mouth and nothing came out unless I was helping him potty then he could meow quite well. But the most concerning is his poop. It is burnt orange and the consistency of baby food. Otherwise he is very active he wiggles around and roots like he is supposed to but I'm a worrier and I'm so scared he has a respiratory problem or something with his digestion. I have fallen in love with him and I want to do anything I can. I called the vet and I don't have the funds to pay for an official visit (I teach and don't get paid over summer) please tell me what to do. Am I overly concerned or should I take him to the vet and see what they can do. Thank you for your help.
 

handsome kitty

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You should be feeding him every 1 - 2 hours.  Do you know how much he weighs?

The poop sounds ok.  What are you feeding him?  He needs to be kept warm all the time.  The food needs to be warm too.

Check the kitten over for fleas.  Does it have any?
 
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paulthecat

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I am feeding him GNC ultra mega premium milk replacer. It's a liquid formula. I feed him from a kitten bottle.
I took him to the vet two days ago and he weighed 4 ounces. He looks a bit bigger now and I have noticed his ears ar starting to perk up too.
I am keeping him warm, he has a rice bag I heat up and a big blanket he curls up in. I wish I had a heating pad but it's the best I have.
How warm should his milk be? I get so worried that it will be too hot I think maybe I have given it to him too cold sometimes.
 
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paulthecat

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He is always rooting does this mean I'm not feeding him enough? Right afyer I feed him I massage his tummy the he roots, but if I offer the bottle he won't take it.
 

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The milk should be tepid. If it's too warm on your own tongue it's too warm for him.

You want his poop to be of toothpaste-like consistency.

Assuming he weighs 5 ounces now, he needs 3 to 4 mL every 2 hours minimum. The amount increases as his weight increases. He should gain about one-half ounce per day, essentially doubling his weight in the first week.

Do you have a kitchen scale to weigh him daily? Or can you borrow one? His daily weight is the best barometer of whether he is thriving, and also lets us know how much to feed him.

We usually recommend powdered kitten formula. From experience, kittens generally do better on it.

He will not aspirate formula if the nipple hole is not too big, and if you are feeding him in the tummy down, head up position.

If he is not crying, hopefully it's because he is warm and full.

You do know that he must eat every two hours through the night, right?

Let us know if you have further questions.
 

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Kittens root instinctually. If he were still hungry he would cry.
 
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paulthecat

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First of all thank you so much, I really appreciate your help. He has been eating in the correct position except for one time before I read about that I fed him while holding him. His tummy was still down but he was in my hand. I will go around my apartment complex and see if anyone will lend me a scale. Should I go get powder formula? Is it that important?
 

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The GNC formula should be OK, its based on goat milk, yes?

We usually recommend PetAgs KMR in powder, but GNC  is ok alternative...   But if you can find and get RAW goat milk, it would be good.

Otherwise, if you can get PetAgs probiotic BeneBac, its a good supplement.  There are many usueful probiotics, but BeneBac is made especially for small kittens.

And re vets...  Many vets arent good with small kittens.  So unless you are SURE he is experienced helping small kittens, or has an natural knack for it, it simply doenst pay to visti such a vet, if your budget is limited...

Its usually vet cooperating with rescuers or with breeders, whom are good with small kittens,
 

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If the burnt orange poop continues I think you should switch to powdered formula. I don't know why, but pre-mixed seems to aggravate the stomachs and intestines of small kittens. We have seen this time and again. It also causes diarrhea, which your kitten is not having yet. You may want to pick up clear pedialyte to have on hand in case he needs it.
 
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paulthecat

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Awesome thank you. I think I will use my funding for supplements instead then. :)
 

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First of all thank you so much, I really appreciate your help. He has been eating in the correct position except for one time before I read about that I fed him while holding him. His tummy was still down but he was in my hand. I will go around my apartment complex and see if anyone will lend me a scale. Should I go get powder formula? Is it that important?
KMR variant in liquid isnt as good as the powder variant, thayt is why we do warn.

I dont know much about this exact GNC variant, but I suppose its OK.  GNC hasnt any bad reputation, unlike some others whom I wont mention now.

But IF you can get real RAW goat milk, fresh or frozen, it may be worth the trouble to change.    Although buyed in a fashionable shop for healthy minded people buying in shops for Natural Food, it may be pricey.
 
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paulthecat

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I guess my question now is would it be harmful to him if I switched his diet ubruptly to the powdered formula
 

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I think it will be okay. How long has he been on the pre-mixed?
 

Sarthur2

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I think the orange poop is the start of a problem, and we need to see if it goes away with the powder. Orange poop is not normal. His poop should be brown.

And switching to powder immediately may solve a problem. If it doesn't, then there will be an issue requiring a vet.
 
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paulthecat

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Got it. I will go to the store now and get the powder. I will let you know if he gets better
 

Sarthur2

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Please let me know how his next few stools look. If you can get PetAg or Royal Canin powder, those are both good.

As Stefan said, goat's milk is excellent too. Kittens do very well on it. My pet store carries it fresh frozen, so you can inquire if you wish.
 
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