Please help! 2-3 wk. old kitten

minnie29

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Hoping that someone could PLEASE be of assistance. Two days ago (Thursday late afternoon, March 16th) I rescued a kitten. His name is Gus Gus (like the silly mouse from Cinderella). Immediately after rescuing him, I took him to the vet. Vet thinks he is between 2-3 weeks old. He weighed in at half a pound on Thursday night at the vet's office. Because he is so tiny, the vet could not perform any tests on him to check for viral infections, among other things. He thought he looked healthy overall. Vet instructed me to feed him 10cc of KMR every 2 hours. I have been sticking to that as best as possible. By stimulating him, he's been able to pee after every meal, but hadn't yet pooped. Late last night he had diarrhea (this is the first time he's ever pooped) and  it happened this morning and again this evening. The diarrhea is a coppery orange color. I called the vet (they are open 24/7, thank goodness) and spoke to one of the techs and she said that if it persists for the next 2 days, then to call back and bring him in. She said it may be because of the KMR - considering that he has never had formula before. Is this something to be worried about? Everything I read online says that diarrhea that color is cause for extreme concern and to seek veterinary care immediately. Just wondering if I need to take him in immediately to the vet? The vet tech was very sweet on the phone, but I just want to make sure that allowing this to persist for a couple days is ok? Any input would be so great. I am worrying so badly. Thank you in advance! Here's a couple photos of Gus Gus as well. 

 

StefanZ

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If its a problem, say Giardia-pararite, it wont change much if you wait some.  What happens is of course, he will continue to have diarrheas...  So, although Giardia is a vet errand as the suitable  antibiotics are vet prescribed, its not ER errand.

What is immediate, though, having much diarrhea he loses salts and electrolytes.  So he needs supplementing.  you can begin with springkling some common kitchen salt, but its better with minerale kitchen salt if you have - more of diffferent salts.   a Little more fluids is also necessary, as he loses more water than usual.

My main suggestion will be, a bough ready made pedialyte, preferably such unflavored for Babies.   Or a homemade, where you use as a base minerale water (you see on the label if it contains lotsa of different salts).  You add some glucose sugar - may be simply common honey, dilute with a Little common water - and voilá - you have a  terrific home made pedialyte.

You can simply  use it together with the KMR   Or add a few drops between the feedings.

Next suggestion:  can you get raw goats milk?   It may make a difference.  Raw Goats milk may be pricey, but KMR isnt for free either...   Cartooned goats milk is OK to use too, but its not better than the KMR you have.  Although its cheaper.

Its wise if you can weigh him continually, so you know for sure if he adds properly.  He shall add 10+ grammes every day  (ie at least 1/3 oz)

The Daily dosage of kmr or goats milk is  8ml/cc / OZ a day...  So if he is say 10oz, it will give 80 ml/cc a day, distribued on the different feedings.

Its good you give him every 2 hours.  On the KMR  tin they write every 8 hours, but if  its aweak kitten every 3-4 hous...   Which is sheer madness, its way too seldom...  May be OK for the night because the rescuer needs to sleep some, but not as an overall rule of thumb....

Good luck!

ps. yes, the kitten looks healthy, with Clean Eyes, and  as almost 3 weeks.
 
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minnie29

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Thank you so much for this info! I have been worried sick and I am so glad that I came across this site. In the morning I will head to the store to grab the items you said and incorporate that into his feedings. Fingers crossed that it works. I'll keep you updated as to how he is doing tomorrow! I'm so glad I'll be able to get some sleep tonight (aside from feedings, of course) and don't need to freak out over this.
 

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Thank you for rescuing him! Where did you find him?

Are you weighing him every day? The amount you feed will need to go up as he grows.
 

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If the diarrhea continues, he does need meds asap. Diarrhea is never healthy in a tiny kitten. Kitten poop should be the consistency of toothpaste.
 
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minnie29

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Hi TalkingPeanut and Sarthur2! He was found abandoned by a trash can and the woman who found him said she waited, hoping his mommy would come back, but unfortunately she didn't. I just got a scale yesterday and started weighing him. It's a small kitchen scale and he kept trying to walk off of it, so it was difficult to get a reading, but I got the best one I could and I logged it in a journal - where I am keeping track of his feeding schedule and his weight now. I'm adjusting his daily intake by the measurement of 8cc per ounce of body weight. He sucked his milk all up this morning and made two hearty burps! He still had diarrhea this morning when I stimulated him, so if it continues this afternoon, I'm just going to take him in to the vet - even though they said to wait a couple of days, it's just making me too nervous. 
   I will keep you updated this afternoon with his status and a couple of new photos. He's such a precious little guy and I'm already head over heels in love with him! Our 10 month old kitten Minnie (yes, they both have Disney names haha) slept next to his door the past 2 nights almost as if she knows her baby brother is in there - it was so sweet! Now Minnie is sitting on my lap attempting to swat the keys on my laptop ... oh, the joy of kitties! 
 

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You can also use the unflavored pedialyte to make up the kmr (if you have the powder). That's just to make sure the elecrolytes get restored

A suggestion for weighing -- you can put a cardboard box on the scale, zero out (tare) the box and put the kitten in the box
 

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That sounds like a good plan. I would fall in love too! Can't believe someone would just discard him.

Do you think that Minnie would sleep with him and mother him if allowed? He needs to be healthy first though so she doesn't catch anything from him.
 
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minnie29

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That's a great idea, Foxden! I will start doing that with the box on the scale! And I am going to pick up some unflavored Pedialyte this morning as well. How much do you suggest I add to each feeding? We have been using the liquid KMR with him thus far. Do you think the powdered is better? We bought the powdered KMR formula too. 

Sarthur2: I just got off the phone with the vet and told them I'd feel better if I could bring him in this afternoon instead of waiting until tomorrow, so we have an appointment for 2pm today! As far as Minnie sleeping with Gus Gus, we are just waiting until he is old enough for the vet to take blood and test for viral infections, per his suggestion. He was pretty weak when we got him 3 days ago (and he had fleas - which they treated on the spot), so the vet didn't want to draw blood from the little man until he was stronger. We can't wait for Minnie to be able to snuggle with Gus Gus though! Even though she's spayed and can't nurse him, she's such a sweet girl and I know she would LOVE to clean him and cuddle with him. :)
 

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That's a great idea, Foxden! I will start doing that with the box on the scale! And I am going to pick up some unflavored Pedialyte this morning as well. How much do you suggest I add to each feeding? We have been using the liquid KMR with him thus far. Do you think the powdered is better? We bought the powdered KMR formula too. 

Sarthur2: I just got off the phone with the vet and told them I'd feel better if I could bring him in this afternoon instead of waiting until tomorrow, so we have an appointment for 2pm today! As far as Minnie sleeping with Gus Gus, we are just waiting until he is old enough for the vet to take blood and test for viral infections, per his suggestion. He was pretty weak when we got him 3 days ago (and he had fleas - which they treated on the spot), so the vet didn't want to draw blood from the little man until he was stronger. We can't wait for Minnie to be able to snuggle with Gus Gus though! Even though she's spayed and can't nurse him, she's such a sweet girl and I know she would LOVE to clean him and cuddle with him. :)
Which brand of KMR are you using?
 
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minnie29

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It is!  You might try the powdered and see if that helps with the diarrhea.  You can also prepare it with pedialite.
Awesome! I'm definitely going to try that for his next feeding. Hopefully that helps with it. He's such a sweet little peanut - I just want the diarrhea to stop so he feels better. :)
 

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How much Pedialyte do you suggest I add to each feeding?
If you use the powdered kmr, I think you can use pedialyte instead of water. I would not dilute the liquid kmr too much. I think 0.5cc pedialyte to the 8cc you're trying to feed would be ok
 

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That's a great idea, Foxden! I will start doing that with the box on the scale! And I am going to pick up some unflavored Pedialyte this morning as well. How much do you suggest I add to each feeding? We have been using the liquid KMR with him thus far. Do you think the powdered is better? We bought the powdered KMR formula too. 

Sarthur2: I just got off the phone with the vet and told them I'd feel better if I could bring him in this afternoon instead of waiting until tomorrow, so we have an appointment for 2pm today! As far as Minnie sleeping with Gus Gus, we are just waiting until he is old enough for the vet to take blood and test for viral infections, per his suggestion. He was pretty weak when we got him 3 days ago (and he had fleas - which they treated on the spot), so the vet didn't want to draw blood from the little man until he was stronger. We can't wait for Minnie to be able to snuggle with Gus Gus though! Even though she's spayed and can't nurse him, she's such a sweet girl and I know she would LOVE to clean him and cuddle with him. :)
The powdered version is more reliable.  Why, we dont know as the producer claims they are the same, but one with added water, and the other without.  But many users do witness the powdered is more reliable, less risk of diarrhea - and of constipation.

Full fat goats milk is another alternative.  Perhaps not better than powdered KMR, but probably cheaper.

You can simply solve the powder with pedialyte, instead of common water.   But it may be good to give him some extra pedialyte too, as he IS loosing  WATER and FLUIDS.

Its no danger to overdo the pedialyte, its made with the same concentrations as body fluids, so its no gross extras, just what he really shall have.
 
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Sarthur2

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Buy powdered KMR and use pedialyte instead of water. In my experience, the pre-mixed makes kittens sick and causes diarrhea. I never recommend the pre-mixed.

Let us know what the vet says!
 
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minnie29

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The powdered version is more reliable.  Why, we dont know as the producer claims they are the same, but one with added water, and the other without.  But many users do witness the powdered is more reliable, less risk of diarrhea - and of constipation.

Full fat goats milk is another alternative.  Perhaps not better than powdered KMR, but probably cheaper.

You can simply solve the powder with pedialyte, instead of common water.   But it may be good to give him some extra pedialyte too, as he IS loosing  WATER and FLUIDS.

Its no danger to overdo the pedialyte, its made with the same concentrations as body fluids, so its no gross extras, just what he really shall have.
I really can't thank you enough! I don't know what I would've done had I not found this site. Next feeding will be powdered KMR and pedialyte. And it's good to know that you can't overdo pedialyte. That was my main concern as he is so teeny tiny. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! :)
 
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minnie29

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Buy powdered KMR and use pedialyte instead of water. In my experience, the pre-mixed makes kittens sick and causes diarrhea. I never recommend the pre-mixed.

Let us know what the vet says!
Next feeding will be the powdered KMR and pedialyte. It seems that the general consensus is that the pre-mixed just doesn't work best and causes diarrhea, so we are going to stick with the powdered formula from here on out. We will be heading to the vet in about an hour and a half. Fingers crossed that he has a clean bill of health - or at least nothing serious! :)   i will let you know what the outcome of the visit is as soon as we get back home. Thank you so very much for all of your advice and fast input; it means more than you know! 
 

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Over time, I think you will find the powdered kmr is more economical. You can make up just what you need, and don't have to worry about warming up the premix from the fridge
 
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