I'll try to condense this as much as possible. But, as the title suggests, I am having problems with prolonged diarrhea in 2 litters of kittens.
Both groups of kittens are in quarantine (and always have been) and have never had contact with each other. (They came from completely different parts of the state.) They have resided in separate locations at all times.
Group #1 is three 16 week old males that were found as strays. I assumed dumped as they have always been very social. We have had them exactly 8 weeks and diarrhea had been ongoing for nearly that long.
Group #2 is three 12+ week olds, 2 boys, 1 girl that were feral born. (Caught in my neighbor's backyard.) I have had them for 4 weeks and diarrhea started 2 days later.
I have tried different diets with both. All were original put on Nature's Variety Instinct LID Turkey dry and Wellness Kitten canned.
Dry food was initially removed and then canned food changed to single ingredient and we have tried different proteins.
GROUP #1 is currently on Instinct LID canned Duck formula NOTE: 4 days after originally started on this diet POOP WAS NORMAL. Then 7 days later, diarrhea literally overnight. The morning was completely solid, night was completely soup.
Diarrhea last for 10 days and diarrhea cleared up. They again had normal stool for about a week and then diarrhea came back with avengance and has been chronic for the last 4+ weeks.
GROUP #2 is currently on Nature's Variety LID canned Turkey.
All kittens have been treated with Panacur and Group #1 has also been treated with Strongid.
Group #1 originally tested positive for Coccidia and treated with Albon. (This BEFORE coming into our care.)
Multiple fecals, including a PCR was done on both groups of kittens. Everything has come back NEGATIVE.
In regards to the PCR...one test was sent out for each group. A combined sample from each kitten in each group was sent out. The swab was taken from the kitten that presented with the worst diarrhea for each group.
Group #1 was treated with Metronidazole for 7 days without ANY affect.
In looking at records, I realized neither group had specifically been tested for Coccidia since coming into our care (though in-house direct/float were done on each individual kitten). I decided to treat both groups with Ponazuril.
Group #1 finished their first course 5 days ago and there has been zero improvement. (Diarrhea consistency is soup.)
Group #2 finished their second course 3 days ago and stool quality HAS improved, though is still not normal. (Firmer than peanut butter consistency vs. soup.)
Also, Group #1 has had good, steady weight gain and all weigh 4.75 to 5.5 lbs.
Group #2 has NOT had steady weight gain (actually LOST weight the first 2 weeks, despite supportive care), but HAVE gained some since the diarrhea is improving (and appetites are as well.) They all weight 3-3.5 lbs.
Probiotics were started, though I am about to switch them to one with more strains of bacteria. Considering Proviable, but all bacteria is fermented, so also looking at others. (No Jarrow, as I need it to be palatable enough to not affect appetite.)
ANY SUGGESTIONS??
I plan on doing another round of Ponazuril for all, especially group #2 as I have seen improvement.
Both groups of kittens are in quarantine (and always have been) and have never had contact with each other. (They came from completely different parts of the state.) They have resided in separate locations at all times.
Group #1 is three 16 week old males that were found as strays. I assumed dumped as they have always been very social. We have had them exactly 8 weeks and diarrhea had been ongoing for nearly that long.
Group #2 is three 12+ week olds, 2 boys, 1 girl that were feral born. (Caught in my neighbor's backyard.) I have had them for 4 weeks and diarrhea started 2 days later.
I have tried different diets with both. All were original put on Nature's Variety Instinct LID Turkey dry and Wellness Kitten canned.
Dry food was initially removed and then canned food changed to single ingredient and we have tried different proteins.
GROUP #1 is currently on Instinct LID canned Duck formula NOTE: 4 days after originally started on this diet POOP WAS NORMAL. Then 7 days later, diarrhea literally overnight. The morning was completely solid, night was completely soup.
Diarrhea last for 10 days and diarrhea cleared up. They again had normal stool for about a week and then diarrhea came back with avengance and has been chronic for the last 4+ weeks.
GROUP #2 is currently on Nature's Variety LID canned Turkey.
All kittens have been treated with Panacur and Group #1 has also been treated with Strongid.
Group #1 originally tested positive for Coccidia and treated with Albon. (This BEFORE coming into our care.)
Multiple fecals, including a PCR was done on both groups of kittens. Everything has come back NEGATIVE.
In regards to the PCR...one test was sent out for each group. A combined sample from each kitten in each group was sent out. The swab was taken from the kitten that presented with the worst diarrhea for each group.
Group #1 was treated with Metronidazole for 7 days without ANY affect.
In looking at records, I realized neither group had specifically been tested for Coccidia since coming into our care (though in-house direct/float were done on each individual kitten). I decided to treat both groups with Ponazuril.
Group #1 finished their first course 5 days ago and there has been zero improvement. (Diarrhea consistency is soup.)
Group #2 finished their second course 3 days ago and stool quality HAS improved, though is still not normal. (Firmer than peanut butter consistency vs. soup.)
Also, Group #1 has had good, steady weight gain and all weigh 4.75 to 5.5 lbs.
Group #2 has NOT had steady weight gain (actually LOST weight the first 2 weeks, despite supportive care), but HAVE gained some since the diarrhea is improving (and appetites are as well.) They all weight 3-3.5 lbs.
Probiotics were started, though I am about to switch them to one with more strains of bacteria. Considering Proviable, but all bacteria is fermented, so also looking at others. (No Jarrow, as I need it to be palatable enough to not affect appetite.)
ANY SUGGESTIONS??
I plan on doing another round of Ponazuril for all, especially group #2 as I have seen improvement.