Week old foster; possible fading kitten

Hi All

Our latest foster momma gave birth a week ago this past Thursday (6/2). A total of five kittens were birthed; one still-born, 3 that are thriving and one that is barely maintaining it's weight. This past Monday, the kitten in question was taken to the shelter where they gave it fluids and instructed us to give it one drop of glucose every 1/2 hour for the rest of the evening. After the 3rd glucose drop, the kitten seemed to latch on momma and suckle away. The Boyfriend spent the next two days making sure that the kitten got ample time with momma's teats but as of last nights weighing, the kitten weighs exactly what it did at birth.

Timeline:

6/4 - 1st weight 94g (Siblings weighed between 100g and 120g)

6/5 - 94g

6/6 - 86g

6/7 - 93g (day after fluids and glucose drops)

6/8 - 98g

6/9 - 97g

My question is could we give KMR in addition to momma's milk? Or are we fighting a battle that we just aren't going to win? If it is the later, does anyone have any advice on when to 'pull the plug' and take it back to the shelter to be euthanize?

Obviously, euthanasia is the least desirable option but if it is going to be best for the kitten, The Boyfriend and I will do what needs to be done.

Thanks for any advice and encouragement.

Brandi

troub95

You should definitely supplement this kitten with KMR using a needleless syringe!

Give her 2-3 mLs of formula every 2 hours around the clock and she should begin putting on weight fairly quickly.

Feed tummy down, head up, putting drops in the side of the mouth. Allow the kitten to swallow and breathe, and give more.

I'm surprised the shelter did not ask you to supplement. I prefer the powdered PetAg KMR that comes in a can. Never pre-mixed liquid, and avoud Hartz & sergeant's brands.

Please let me know how it goes. She should not need to be euthanized.

Thanks @Draco and @sarthur2.

After more searching, I found a thread that gave me the confidence to try the KMR in addition to momma. I only gave 1ml because Blondie started trying to suckle the washcloth. He immediately went on to mommas teat. Thankfully, the others are napping, so he won't have to fight.
My strategy is to do another ml in one hour and see if he will want to suckle again. If not, I will go ahead and give him another 1-2ml. I'm just worried about the lack of weight gain. The Boyfriend weighed everyone about 10 minutes ago and Blondie is 96g; down 1g from yesterday. I'm hoping adding the KMR will help. Fingers crossed!

troub95

Like I said, he will need 2-3 mLs every 2 hours around the clock in order to gain weight and thrive.

Since the kitten is down a gram again from yesterday, I urge you to follow this protocol in order to give the kitten the best chance.

I figured the amount the kitten needs to consume based on the kitten's current weight.

He really needs this in addition to suckling mom. He is clearly not getting enough from her to thrive.

At this point the focus really needs to be on supplementing him the correct amount.

Okay; I was thinking that he would get the rest from momma but there really isn't any way for me to tell how much mother's milk he is getting. It's time for his next feeding, so I will do 2-3ml for the rest of the night.
Thanks again, @sarthur2!

Totally agree with all of the above! For now you just assume the he isn't getting anything from mom and anything he does get is an added bonus.

troub95 said:

Okay; I was thinking that he would get the rest from momma but there really isn't any way for me to tell how much mother's milk he is getting. It's time for his next feeding, so I will do 2-3ml for the rest of the night.
Thanks again, @sarthur2!

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Yes, exactly this is the difficulty in such here cases.  That is why weighting is so enourmously good help if you arent really experienced.   As as the others said; for now counl only on the feeding you yourswlf give, the rest is sheer bonus.  You shall know the self fact momma is caring and washing it, is a big advantage compared with being an orphan.

Sometimes it may be necessary to feed even more often, down to 1 hour between, but in smaller portions.  This for example, if the kittens doesnt manage full portions. The daily amount as such is about 25ml - and shall increase as she hopefully grows.

I presume you use the KMR in powder by PegAg?

Goats milk is an useful alternaive, but this kmr mentioned is really good. 

IF the kitten would ever become too weak to eat, or lethargic,  you can always try and smear this glucose solution on its lips and gum.  Glucose goes into blood already from there, it doesnt need to be digested at first.

troub95

How is the kitten this morning? Any weight gain over the last 12 hours? Is the kitten taking well to the supplementing?

Blondie hasn't gained any weight; still maintaining. My aunt, retired assistant to veterinarian husband, was visiting over the weekend and she took a look at Blondie. After profusely stating that she wasn't a vet, she said that just about every case like Blondie didn't end well at least in her experience. She agreed with what The Boyfriend and I were doing and said to keep it up but to be realistic about what could happen. She said that Blondie could have a cleft palate that is preventing him from being able to get good suction on the teat but she said that didn't explain why Blondie wasn't gaining weight on the KMR.

We are continuing on with the supplemental food and momma's milk. I'll let you know how it all goes.

Thanks again for the help.

Brandi

troub95 said:

 
Blondie hasn't gained any weight; still maintaining. My aunt, retired assistant to veterinarian husband, was visiting over the weekend and she took a look at Blondie. After profusely stating that she wasn't a vet, she said that just about every case like Blondie didn't end well at least in her experience. She agreed with what The Boyfriend and I were doing and said to keep it up but to be realistic about what could happen. She said that Blondie could have a cleft palate that is preventing him from being able to get good suction on the teat but she said that didn't explain why Blondie wasn't gaining weight on the KMR.

We are continuing on with the supplemental food and momma's milk. I'll let you know how it all goes.

Thanks again for the help.

Brandi

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Can you get goats milk? preferably raw as fresh as possible - but frozen may be OK.   (Bottled or cartooned or powdered is OK as such, as long its full fat, ie about 3% or slightly more, but its not better than  what you already have).

Im not saying goats milk will do anything more, but its a honest try to get in a positive change in an desperate situation.

IF you can get it, its worth a try.   Cant hurt, may help.

May I ask. You told the shelter gave glucose, to perk up her energy and give her more force to suck from momma.   What is the label?  Where could they / you get it?   Its one of our problems - glucose is often useful in many situations. We do have it in Sweden in almost all shops, but it seems to be very difficult to find in USA.   So willy nilly, we recommend white caro syrup, or even honey (or rather, honey water). Honey, not because its the best there is, but because its easy to get...

troub95

How much formula is the kitten actually getting? Does she take it willingly? Are you feeding through the night?

Is she active?

StefanZ
I don't know where to find fresh goats milk but our local over priced speciality grocery probably has some bottled in stock. I'll get The Boyfriend to check.
I don't know what the shelter gave him. They usually take the animal to the back and leave us in the lobby. I hate to criticize, because I know how hard they work, but their communication skills are not the best.
Sarthur2
Blondie creates a but of a struggle when I'm trying to feed him. I'm still doing the 3ml per hour. The only time he is active is when mom nurses or I'm feeding him. I'm starting to think that he has something that prevents him from absorbing nutrients.(???)

I'm still holding out hope that the kitten will turn the corner and begin to gain weight, as it's been 10 days so far. I am hopeful because the kitten is holding steady.

Did you feed through the night?

You can wrap the kitten in a blanket like a burrito to keep him still while you feed him.

Sarthur2
Yes, we have been feeding through the night and the burrito method works about 75% of the time. When he is active, he is pretty scrappy!

Good! How is his weight today?

Is he crying alot and rooting around for awhile before latching on to his momma and does he fight you when you try to feed him?

troub95 said:

@StefanZ
I don't know where to find fresh goats milk but our local over priced speciality grocery probably has some bottled in stock. I'll get The Boyfriend to check.
I don't know what the shelter gave him. They usually take the animal to the back and leave us in the lobby. I hate to criticize, because I know how hard they work, but their communication skills are not the best.
@sarthur2
Blondie creates a but of a struggle when I'm trying to feed him. I'm still doing the 3ml per hour. The only time he is active is when mom nurses or I'm feeding him. I'm starting to think that he has something that prevents him from absorbing nutrients.(???)

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Bottled is OK as such.   All rescuers I know whom are using goats milk, are happy with it, bottled or powdered.   But raw is has "more edge "  as the swedish wording is.

 I still think its worth the try to create a positive change, even if its just bottled.  

But, in part another idea.  Some good probiotic. Say, BeneBac by  PetAg, add several drops into her bottle.

With raw goats milk you wouldnt need to care about probiotics - as it by itself contains probiotics.  But now it will pasteurized and bottled.  Probiotics are also helping to digest.  It seems this is her weak point.

The situation is a little as in sports.  When the team plays OK but not excellently, and the game isnt going good, defeat threating, the trick is very often to make changes in the team, almost any changes.  Everything reasonable to broke the bad tendency.   So bottled goats milk + probiotics is perhaps not better than the KMR you do use - which is the best of kmr´s.   But it may introduce the change, chock the little body into life.

MingsMongols said:

Is he crying alot and rooting around for awhile before latching on to his momma and does he fight you when you try to feed him?

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Why are you asking, what are you thinking on?  I got the impression he fights some before the supplement feeding.

Im thinking he might have colic. Its often overlooked in kittens but painful gas causes feeding and absorbtion problems in very young kittens. This is what I use whenever I have a kitten exhibiting those symptoms. One drop every four hours for one day seems to do the trick. It might help her as well and it doesnt hurt to try.