Fading Kitten Syndrome

dangerkittie

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Hello all. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with or suggestions on trying to help a 9 week old kitten who has been diagnosed with Fading Kitten Syndrome. A woman I know is trying to do everything she can for this little girl that she saved from a bad environment. The vet is suggesting euthanization because of costs, but she is looking for other opinions. The kitten has never weighed more than 1 lb which was at about 7 weeks and currently only weighs 0.5 lbs at 9 weeks. She is very dosalent and not appearing to be overly alert but she sits up and her eyes are open. My friend is also trying to get rid of fleas on her. I dont think getting her wet would be a good idea with as bad of shape as this baby is in. If anyone has any suggestions, it would be appreciated. I know they can't all be saved but this woman seems to be willing to go the distance if it will save her kitten. Thanks!
 

StefanZ

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Hello all. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with or suggestions on trying to help a 9 week old kitten who has been diagnosed with Fading Kitten Syndrome. A woman I know is trying to do everything she can for this little girl that she saved from a bad environment. The vet is suggesting euthanization because of costs, but she is looking for other opinions. The kitten has never weighed more than 1 lb which was at about 7 weeks and currently only weighs 0.5 lbs at 9 weeks. She is very dosalent and not appearing to be overly alert but she sits up and her eyes are open. My friend is also trying to get rid of fleas on her. I dont think getting her wet would be a good idea with as bad of shape as this baby is in. If anyone has any suggestions, it would be appreciated. I know they can't all be saved but this woman seems to be willing to go the distance if it will save her kitten. Thanks!
What is dosalent?   I understand what the situation is, so I can imagine what it is, but still, exactly...

Also, what country are you in?  Knowing this, may help us come with what to get and buy.
 
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StefanZ

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What is she getting to eat?  What amounts??

I would suggest raw goats milk if it is possible to get.  If she cant get raw goats milk - fresh or frozen, so bottled or powdered full fat goats milk is OK, ie minimum 2,8% or more.

If she cant get goats milk at all, so some good kmr, kitten mothermilk replacement..

  As much as the kitten manage.   Minimum 8 ml / oz bodyweight per day.  Half Lb is about 8 oz, no?  so minimum 64 ml goats milk or kitten mothermilk replacement a day, and it shall increase as the kitten grows.

To add extra energy some glucose sugar is good.  Honey or white caro syrup contains much glucose sugar, you can use this.

You can for example, smear some thick honey water on the lips and gum - glucose sugar goes direcltly into blood from the mouth, it doesnt need to be digested.

Fleas: they can be plucked by with a comb, and them drowned in a dish with dawn soap solution..  

When the kittens gets somewhat stronger and will be bathed in thsi dawn soap solution, make sure the kitten doesnt get chilled.   So, warm but not hot water.  Warm in the room.  No draught.  Dry off afterwards, and have a heating pad as long as it needs.

Btw, a heating pad is a must for this kitten.  The weak are always freezing, no?  Have a stuffed animal for company, and let the caretaker sing and make nice sounds, to encourage the kittens will to live, will to survive...

Carrying at the chest is always useful.

Massage the kitten often, perhaps with a tooth brush.  It feels alike mommas licking too...

Its the most important for now.

Please come back and report, even if nothing much happens..

You will get more answers now when your question has been moved by our Mods to this here forum.
 

jennyr

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Have they done a blood test? Is she anaemic? The fleas could be the problem - they can easily kill a young kitten, especially if she is already undernourished.
 

catdaddy007

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Have they done a blood test? Is she anaemic? The fleas could be the problem - they can easily kill a young kitten, especially if she is already undernourished.
YES- I agree. I just went through a horrible experience with my cat who nearly died from being anemic. It was not from fleas (indoor cat) but all the research I was doing showed that it is a very common problem- this cat MUST be rid of fleas, and may need a transfusion. Have they done any bloodworm to see if there is anemia?

BTEW- someone mentioned sugar- sorry but I can't agree. The issue is not giving the cat 'more energy' with sugar (which does not work anyway), but finding and correcting the real underlying problem. Fleas can and do kill cats, particularly very young and small ones.

A link here that may help- good luck!!

http://cats.about.com/od/kittencare/g/Fading-Kitten-Syndrome.htm
 

StefanZ

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YES- I agree. I just went through a horrible experience with my cat who nearly died from being anemic. It was not from fleas (indoor cat) but all the research I was doing showed that it is a very common problem- this cat MUST be rid of fleas, and may need a transfusion. Have they done any bloodworm to see if there is anemia?

BTEW- someone mentioned sugar- sorry but I can't agree. The issue is not giving the cat 'more energy' with sugar (which does not work anyway), but finding and correcting the real underlying problem. Fleas can and do kill cats, particularly very young and small ones.

A link here that may help- good luck!!

http://cats.about.com/od/kittencare/g/Fading-Kitten-Syndrome.htm
Its not the question of which trace to pursuit, its the question of pursuit them all simultaneously.  BOTH defleasing (and a little later on deworming) and keeping her alive.

For example with adding glucose sugar here and there.

The flame of life is barely glowing in this little one.  We must use all tricks we can think of. Put in loads of love, prays, hard and vigilant work, for the little one to have any chance to survive.   Why, she may still die of  pure exhaustion even if whe success with everything and she begins to thrive...  I had seen it more than once...

I could and probably should write about the defleasing more strongly, though.  Its a must.  But also all the other tricks are necessary for there to be any chance at all.

There are working and normally harmless medicines for deworming, and with a healthy 9 weeks there wont be no problem.   But with such a weak one, any straw of burden may break the camels back here...  No margins at all.  Just to fight on the best you can, pray and hope.  Leaving the rest to God.

As the TS  @Dangerkittie hasnt returned, I fear the worst. 

But I hope she found yet another place to get help from, and she is happy with that help foud elsewhere.

As said, its necessary to get ALL help one cat get.

PS.  I myself Im taking X-Mas holiday now. I wont have access to Internet several days.  But others knowleable and friendly forumites are here standing watch.
 

StefanZ

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Plucking off the fleas / combing them off do works simultaneously as a massage sort off, so there will be a double plus from this.
 
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