Fading Kitten need advice

Yesterday, I brought home an 11 week old kitten. He was brought to shelter as a singleton at 5 weeks of age. He was fostered til he was 8 or 9weeks and then brought to shelter. After his first set of vaccines he started to deteriorate. When I picked him up he weighed 500g. He looks like an 8 week old and is skin and bones.

He did well last night and was up 8 g this am but tonight is down to 493g. He ate wet food this morning but picked at is around supper. He has had a few bites of kibble. He has been treated for everything including coccidia.

His poop when he came was grey paste but has improved a bit in colour and consistancy.

I'm really afraid I'm going to lose him.

Does anyone have any tips?

Ps..They had to give him sub q fluids yesterday and I will prob take him in for more tomorrow if he doesn't gain.

He needs to see a vet so he can be tested for diseases. Does he have a cold at all?

What all has been done for the kitten?

Any blood tests? X-rays? A full fecal panel (sent to an outside clinic)? Test for FIV/Leukemia?

What are his symptoms other than lack of appetite and did colored stool?
Lethargy? Vomiting? Diarrhea? Sneezing?

He has seen a vet and been treated for coccidia. No, he is not showing any signs of upper.

I do not think he has had blood work done and I'm pretty sure the shelter will not go to that "extreme".

He had stools that were consistant with Coccidia which is why he was treated and it did seem to improve. When he

got to my house yesterday though, his stool was grey. Today, it is more normal, being light to med brown in colour and soft.

No vomiting, some looser stool, lethargic for sure. Easily chilled. No sneezing or other signs of upper.

I spoke to shelter manager and apparently, he did not see vet and has not had a fecal done. He has had Revolution, Strongid and he's been treated for Coccidia.  We are going to try and get him in to vet  tomorrow and I'll bring a stool sample with me. I am hoping he will try something else like Metronidazole while we are waiting for results. I'm afraid he won't last too much longer.

He will also get more sub q and that seems to perk him up enough to eat. He has not been eating hardly anything most of today so I've been syringing electrolytes into him all evening and I just offered some wet and he is actually eating it will gusto! So, that makes me happy.

I was afraid to go to bed..   

Glad to hear he ate some dinner. Yes, I absolutely understand your concern!

I do want to ask...
Is this a foste cat or have you adopted him?

I would recommend a fecal and bloodwork be done on him. The lethargy and lack of appetite without any vomiting or diarrhea is concerning.

Also, has he been combo tested? If not, I'd get that some as well.

Keep us updated on what you find out tomorrow!

I'm glad he has perked up enough to eat. I am also glad you are taking him to the vet tomorrow for tests. Please ask them to test for FIV and FeLV. Ask them for Nutrical supplement to give him at home.

Poor little guy should be eating healthily and gaining weight. Please let us know what the vet says, and we will try to help you with his care in any way we can.

Levi68 said:

 
Yesterday, I brought home an 11 week old kitten. He was brought to shelter as a singleton at 5 weeks of age. He was fostered til he was 8 or 9weeks and then brought to shelter. After his first set of vaccines he started to deteriorate. When I picked him up he weighed 500g. He looks like an 8 week old and is skin and bones.

He did well last night and was up 8 g this am but tonight is down to 493g. He ate wet food this morning but picked at is around supper. He has had a few bites of kibble. He has been treated for everything including coccidia.

His poop when he came was grey paste but has improved a bit in colour and consistancy.

I'm really afraid I'm going to lose him.

Does anyone have any tips?

Ps..They had to give him sub q fluids yesterday and I will prob take him in for more tomorrow if he doesn't gain.

Click to expand...

Two overall recommendations:  raw goat milk if you can find it (frozen raw is OK), otherwise full fat bottled, cartonned, or from powder.

Some nice probiotic - BeneBac perhaps...

A funny combination, strongid which is as I understand it a  pyrantel preparate against round worms, and revolution, which too takes among others, round worms.

If he wasnt heavy infested by round worms, the strongid was probably not necessary - ie can have contributed to his downgrade.  Although pyrantel is supposed to be mild...  dun no.

If you can, try getting him some tuna and egg canned cat food, it has such a particular smell that nearly all cats go nuts over it. I've had good luck with tuna and egg cat food 9lives brand. Also Purina Kitten Chow is usually eaten by all kittens. I hope he does well and pulls up. I also think if you have any dry rice you could put in a sock and microwave to keep him warm, to use a heat pad of sorts, works well for about 2 or so hours then reheat. Could also use a hot water bottle, it'll keep him warm and comfy. Does he have any fleas? Also what is the color of his gums?

An update! So, when I went in to check him first thing in morning he had a good night and no poops which I was happy about because he'd been having some loose stools the day before.

He seemed eager to eat his wet food and nibbled on his kibble as well. I called the shelter (he is a foster kitten) and gave them an update. He had gained overnight from 491g to 512g!  He was eating and was also drinking on his own and frequently. I had made a bowl of electrolyte solution. I decided to wait and see how the day progressed. After lunch he had his first poop and it was formed!

He seemed to be rallying on his own and I did not want to stress him by taking him in for fluids if he was heading in the right direction.

He remained fairly quiet all day and tired very easily. I went to vets and bought a supplement for him.

Last evening he actually started to play a little bit. At least showing interest in toys even though it was half hearted attempts.

Today, he continues to make progress. His poops are still a bit soft. He's eating, drinking and much more active today. At lunch he weighed 553g.

One day at a time I guess.

Well, this is good news!