Feeling Hopless.....:(

I rescued a cat and her babies on September 13. Ever since I had them, the mom cat has had diarrhea. I went to an adoption agency for medical help and placement. I was told her diarrhea was from her nursing. After a few weeks, I was then told it was because of the wet kitten food that I was giving her (which they told me to give her in the first place). By the end of October, the babies were also having diarrhea. The adoption agency then told me they probably all had worms and started treatment with Panacur. After the first dose of Panacur, the mom cat was lethargic and very sick. Therefore, I called the agency and they never called me back, so I took them to my vet. They were tested and found to have Giardia. The mom and kittens were kept on Panacur for 10 days. They still had diarrhea and they were tested again and found to have Coccidia. They are now on their fifth dose of Albon. Mom cat was also on a pill form of antibiotic for 5 days. The babies are having diarrhea worse than before. The mom cat is not getting any better. I have had the mom cat on EN prescription food and FortiFlora. I started with a new adoption agency, which I will be calling tomorrow, but I was wondering if anyone else has ever had this problem???? I am feeding them wet kitten food. Should I keep the mom and babies on all dry food???? Please, I need some help- I feel bad for my sick babies.

You can give mom  canned pumpkin.  Plain without the pie spices.  Mix it in with the wet food.  You should give the kittens unflavored pedialyte  for dehydration and if they are on solids you can see if the pumpkin helps them as well.

The antibiotics could be adding to the diarrhea problem, many times it is a side effect.

I wonder if the EN could be partly to blame?  Antibiotics can cause diarrhea, as you know.  Also, are you giving the FortiFlora at the same time as the antibiotic? If the antibiotic is twice a day, I guess you'll have to ask the vet the best time to give it.  As I understand, antibiotics cancel out the FortiFlora if given at the same time.  

I would beware of giving dry food since so much of it has grain which isn't good for kitties.  Maybe there is something in the EN they are allergic to?  Maybe instead of taking by mouth antibiotic, the vet could administer it by shots?  That way it by passes the GI system and hopefully does away with those symptoms.  I don't know what else to say.  Poor kitties!  I hope they all get better real soon!

Handsome Kitty said:

 
You can give mom  canned pumpkin.  Plain without the pie spices.  Mix it in with the wet food.  You should give the kittens unflavored pedialyte  for dehydration and if they are on solids you can see if the pumpkin helps them as well.

The antibiotics could be adding to the diarrhea problem, many times it is a side effect.

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Thank you... I'll try it

Ginny said:

 
I wonder if the EN could be partly to blame?  Antibiotics can cause diarrhea, as you know.  Also, are you giving the FortiFlora at the same time as the antibiotic? If the antibiotic is twice a day, I guess you'll have to ask the vet the best time to give it.  As I understand, antibiotics cancel out the FortiFlora if given at the same time.  

I would beware of giving dry food since so much of it has grain which isn't good for kitties.  Maybe there is something in the EN they are allergic to?  Maybe instead of taking by mouth antibiotic, the vet could administer it by shots?  That way it by passes the GI system and hopefully does away with those symptoms.  I don't know what else to say.  Poor kitties!  I hope they all get better real soon!

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Only the mom was on the EN ...... The last can she had was yesterday. I stopped the Fortiflora last week. The only thing they're on is Albon. I'm feeding the kittens Blue kitten food and wet kitten food. Mom is on dry and wet food.. I love your idea about shots instead of oral...going to ask.... Thank you!

I hope that helps!  Also I think the Fortiflora would still help with diarrhea if the oral antibiotic is to blame, even if they get shots until the end of their antibiotic course.  

I think doctors, both vets and human doctors alike, are kind of clueless about probiotics because it's in the realm of nutrition, which is NOT their specialty.  I don't know how pets are affected by it, but I do know I feel better on probiotics and it DOES stimulate the immune system.  I've also heard that for certain conditions  (I don't recall what) Culturelle is a better choice than FortiFlora, but again you'd have to have a pet nutritional expert to advise there.  They also need pre-biotics too.  Pre-biotics are food for the probiotics, which allows the good bacteria to stay in the gut and do it's work.  But I believe the pumpkin qualifies as a pre-biotic, if I remember correctly.  One of them anyway.  

It sounds like the Albon is not working. They have had this for so long that they probably need Ponazuril. This will usually kill the coccidia very quickly. The vet will have to compound it for you, but I would ask for it ASAP.

You can read about it here:

http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-health-coccidia-treatment

I hope you get the Ponzuril and that it clears up the problem. These cats have suffered long enough!

sarthur2 said:

It sounds like the Albon is not working. They have had this for so long that they probably need Ponazuril. This will usually kill the coccidia very quickly. The vet will have to compound it for you, but I would ask for it ASAP.

You can read about it here:

http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/cat-health-coccidia-treatment

I hope you get the Ponzuril and that it clears up the problem. These cats have suffered long enough​

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Thank you!! I'm calling my vet first thing in the morning!! My heart aches for mama cat and babies.... I found them under my neighbors car on a cold rainy night. The neighbor said she knew the mama had the kittens the day before..... How could anyone know this and not give them shelter!! I really didn't think they would survive.... Now dealing with this diarrhea is really upsetting... I keep crying out for help and have had three different meds, makes me wonder if something is being missed..? I love this mama cat and these babies.. I am keeping the mama and my cousin is taking one of the kittens. I have a dog and cat already... If I had the room I'd keep them all! All I want now is for them to be healthy and to find a loving home....

I understand. Kittens with diarrhea are not adoptable. If your vet can't help you with the Ponzuril, ask for a referral. Hopefully, it's not a problem.

Of course they need to be healthy before re-homing, but they should stay with mom until they are 12 weeks old anyway. How many kittens are there?

You are so kind to have rescued them and given them shelter and care.

Please post an update after you talk with your vet.