In need of bottle baby advice

Sarthur2

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Maybe back off on the probiotics for a day and see how her pooping goes without them. The consistency sounds good.
 
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gibs3444

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Yeah I'll back off for a bit. When I do though, her poop looks more chunky. I haven't given them to her since this morning and her poop is already chunky with what looks like formula chunks. Right now I'm doing 3 parts water to one part KMR instead of the 2 parts water.
 

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gibs3444 gibs3444

It sounds like something is not quite right. Undigested formula is not good, and green poop usually means too much bile in the liver.

I really think you need to start the kitten on antibiotics asap for possible bacterial infection in the digestive tract. With undigested chunks, excessive pooping, and diluted formula, the kitten is at high risk of not making it. She'll certainly not gain weight like this, even with the probiotics, which do seem to be helping.
 
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gibs3444

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I agree. I contacted the shelter today but have not heard back yet. Maybe I'll stop in tomorrow and see if they will show her to the vet. I just want to see her healthy :/ she seems so happy and is a sweet girl. So it's sad to see her not gaining weight.

She did seem to gain about a quarter of an oz today, after feeding her every two hours. Maybe I need to start on the probiotics again to help a little until I can take her to the vet.

Do you know if I can add the probiotics to the entire bottle of formula? Can they also be refrigerated and reheated multiple times when in the formula? Ugh my poor girl. I just hope she's okay.
 

Sarthur2

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You can add the probiotics to the whole bottle, but I think the heating process destroys the good bacteria that the probiotic provides. I agree that you should restart the probiotics.

I also agree that you should drop by the shelter tomorrow if you can.

She is a precious kitten, and gaining a half ounce from being fed every 2 hours is wonderful! I hope this continues! I also hope you will not need to dilute the formula too much longer.

Keep up the nice job every 2 hours, and let us know what the shelter vet says. I do think she needs treatment.
 

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Honestly I would not continue to dilute the formula, she really needs the nutrients in normal dilution of 1 part kmr to 2 parts water.

I second taking her to see the shelter's vet, who I hope is skilled with baby kittens, usually vets are not but a shelter vet should be.

There is also an alternative you can try, and that would be using goat's milk.

I've had kittens who seemed to have a reaction to formula and once on goat's milk it straightened right out.

Just a possible option.
 
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jennyr

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Honestly I would not continue to dilute the formula, she really needs the nutrients in normal dilution of 1 part kmr to 2 parts water.
I second taking her to see the shelter's vet, who I hope is skilled with baby kittens, usually vets are not but a shelter vet should be.

There is also an alternative you can try, and that would be using goat's milk.
I've had kittens who seemed to have a reaction to formula and once on goat's milk it straightened right out.
Just a possible option.
I am also a great fan of goat milk - I have raised several kittens on that alone. Cows milk of course is very bad for kittens, but goats milk is low on lactose and high in taurine and cats do very well on it. In a week or so you could also add a strained yoghurt - I use Greek-style natural yoghurt. Most kittens love it.
 

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  What a cutie!!! My best hint for you to try -----   instead of water, mix her formula with diluted, unflavored Pedialyte (dilute it 50/50).  Also , is your water treated with any chemicals? If so, switch to a good quality bottled water, such as Crystal Geyser (one of the main plants is here in Inyo County and I can attest to the quality of our wonderful waters from the High Sierra). 

My own experiences have been that I am more successful using canned goat milk "Kitten Glop" , using the recipe found at www.kitten-rescue.com. When I get the raw egg yolk, I gently rinse any remaining egg white off by holding the yolk in my fingers under a gentle, tiny stream of water. Sometimes kittens just stay tiny like that - I had one feral kitten named Polly who stayed "apartment sized"; at 2 years old, she was the same size as the 12 week old kittens (I do alot of feral rescue).
 

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  Forgot(*feeding neonates every 2-3 hours since last Wed*)  to mention 3 more great tips that I have found especially useful :

RUBBER/SOFT NIPPLES:  real (as in will have a latex warning) rubber such as FourPaws nursers (Amazon.com) and Well&Good (Target)

HOMEMADE "HEAT" SOX: using CORNMEAL  instead of rice creates a softer, more malleable heat sock yet stays as warm & for just as long, if not longer

[ microwave for 2 min.....no microwave? no problem - saute the cornmeal or rice and, using a wide mouth funnel, such as a canning funnel or a homemade funnel from either cutting the top off a well-washed applesauce plastic bottle or the bottom off a small yogurt container, spoon the warmed grain into the sock and then tape shut with masking tape. use fresh tape for each warming)

COCONUT OIL applied to irritated skin, including lips, and applied to the nipple, in case the wee one's mouth shows redness.
 
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