Sick KItten 4 weeks old

dntstalkme

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My sister adopted a kitten from some lady online and was told that he was 10 weeks old. The next day, she found him in hypoglycemic shock. They brought him to the emergency vet and they got the kitten stable enough to go home with formula and wet food and medicine for parasites.

That same night, it happened again. They got him stable and sent me home with more meds for parasites and stuff to stop the diarrhea. Well, he was getting better all today, lethargic most of the day, but reacted to me talking and even started walking on his own around noon (not for long periods, but he'd walk around and sit places and stretch out). Well, i check on him on the hour like i always do and he was limp. I gave him the Karo syrup they recommended, but his body heat was low About 97.2 degrees Fahrenheit. He's now on my chest bare chest, under my sweater with a warm rice sock next to him. I"m trying to get him to warm up. He's still reactive, but when he tries to walk, he falls over. I don't know what i did to this baby, but i'm not sure what to do. How can i get him back on the path he was? He's not allowed to go into hypoglycemic shock again, he's been on the syrup and the formula / wet food and has been eating it every hour (force feeding him). Why did his temperature drop so suddenly? I turned down his heating pad just a little about an hour earlier, but i can't imagine it dropping that drastically because of it.

Sorry, forgot to mention he's acutally only 4 weeks old based on what the vet says.
 
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indie-n-button

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My sister adopted a kitten from some lady online and was told that he was 10 weeks old. The next day, she found him in hypoglycemic shock. They brought him to the emergency vet and they got the kitten stable enough to go home with formula and wet food and medicine for parasites.

That same night, it happened again. They got him stable and sent me home with more meds for parasites and stuff to stop the diarrhea. Well, he was getting better all today, lethargic most of the day, but reacted to me talking and even started walking on his own around noon (not for long periods, but he'd walk around and sit places and stretch out). Well, i check on him on the hour like i always do and he was limp. I gave him the Karo syrup they recommended, but his body heat was low About 97.2 degrees Fahrenheit. He's now on my chest bare chest, under my sweater with a warm rice sock next to him. I"m trying to get him to warm up. He's still reactive, but when he tries to walk, he falls over. I don't know what i did to this baby, but i'm not sure what to do. How can i get him back on the path he was? He's not allowed to go into hypoglycemic shock again, he's been on the syrup and the formula / wet food and has been eating it every hour (force feeding him). Why did his temperature drop so suddenly? I turned down his heating pad just a little about an hour earlier, but i can't imagine it dropping that drastically because of it.

Sorry, forgot to mention he's acutally only 4 weeks old based on what the vet says.
IMO, it's strange for a kitten to go into hypoglycemic shock when they are being fed, it's mostly due to not getting enough of Mum's milk/food, how often was he being fed before it happened?

He's also VERY young, too young to be away from his mother... he should still be drinking his mum's milk up till he's 8-12 weeks old IMO, so please do get him some KMR, I've heard that Pet AG or Royal Canon has the best stuff. Please make sure it's powdered too. You can mix it up with the wet cat food, too, to make a kind of 'mush', pate-type cat food would be the best considering his age.

How much are you feeding him? Give him little quantities in frequent intervals - I'd say 3ml every hour until he's stable again, he's falling over because he's weak I think. Have you had him checked for fleas, ear mites and worms? Those could make him weak if the infestation is severe.

Please check his gums too, they should be pink and nice and wet - if they feel sticky that's a red alert and means he needs fluids. You can make him some soup, too, which saved one of my rescues which was in a HORRIBLE state, here's the recipie:

- water (you can replace this with KMR if you want)
- a few spoons of plain yogurt

- 1-2 pieces of chicken without bones

- a table-spoon sized piece of liver

- a couple of chicken hearts

Blend all of this up without cooking it, until it's a smooth pate type of texture. IMO, natural food would benefit him most, but make sure you still give him PROPER pate cat food too. You can alternate between the recipie above and the actual cat food :-) The recipie above will last 1-2 days!

To warm him up, you're doing well. You can try and rub his fur against the hair-line too, but try and be soft as not to hurt him, this transfers some of your static to his body, which can be very beneficial for him!

I hope this little guy pulls through, please post a picture when you can!
 

indie-n-button

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Another thing, as he's so young it's a good chance that he might not be properly pooping by himself, which could cause it's own problems! If you haven't seen him poop in more than 24 hours, please stimulate him so that he goes!
 

StefanZ

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you got good advices, and you are doing well.  Warming up, forceffeding, giving karo or thick honey water on the lips and gum. I want to mention, goats milk is good too, if you can easily get it. Massage it, perhaps best by brushing with a tooth brush - its alike mommas licking.  Talk a lot with a low friendly sounds...

The amount of kmr / goats milk is 8 ml / oz,a day, so if he is say 300 grammes, gives 10 oz and 80 ml a day.   So you must know the weigh rather exactly to count forward the dayily amount.  Wet food is more energy tight, to with added wet food decrease the amout some.

Its just to fight on.  Dont be surprised if he passes and goes on... but with a little luck and lotsa love and work, you can turn around and make the day.

Lets pray too...
 
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