Weaning?

Hello-
Its gonna take a bit to explain whats going on, so sorry this post is a little long! I adopted a kitten from a shelter one week ago today. (Thasts when I brought her home). She had been spayed two day before that, on 9/7. She was very very sleepy, like sleeping all the time and not playing at all. She was eating, but not a whole lot. I thought it might have been the stress from the change, so wanted to give her a day or two and see how she did. Marlee (the kitten) was taken in on this past Wednesday to get her checkup with the vet and get her stitches out. (This is a different vet from where she had been spayed, since I got her from a shelter) The vet was very very upset, b/c Marlee had been spayed one month or more before she was old enough. He said more than likely this is why she hasnt been eating to much and has been sleeping all the time! So he sent some ReBound milk home with me to give her every few hours to help her gain weight and get nutrients. She loves the rebound, and cries when I wont give her more than the doc said. But here is my problem. How can I get her to eat her regular cat food? She will take a few bites every now and then, but won't really eat that much. I've tried a couple brands, both wet and dry. I'm wondering if she was ever really weaned from her moms milk, b/c she LOVES the rebound milk. And also, when I went to pick her out at the shelter, she was still suckling on her mom. The shelter woman told me it was fine, the mother probably wasnt even producing milk anymore and that it was no big deal. But now I'm wondering? Right now the Rebound milk is giving her all the nutrients she needs, but I want to get her used to the kitten food so when the Rebound runs out she will already be eating something else. Please help, I already love this little kitten and just want her to get healthy. (By the way, I'm taking her back to the vet next friday for another check up and to get her stitches out.)

Ashley

Please post on the age of your kitten? It's hard to tell if she "should" be weaned...post an approximate of her age. If she is showing some interest in her food, try putting some of the Rebound milk in her food. I usually give premium wet food to my fosters & my own kittens with KMR sprinkled all over it. They love it.

The lady at the shelter didn't know how old she was. When I took Marlee to the vet he said around 10-11 weeks approximately. I'll try putting a little Rebound on the food, thanks! Its getting close to time to give her the next dose anyways, I'll post back to let you know how it goes. Any other suggestions are welcome!

Ashley

Hello everyone,

I just recently adopted a beautiful Manx kitten from a shelter. I just want to warn people to be very careful, and ask lots of questions. This was my first time to adopt this way, so didn't really know what to do. As a result, Marlee was spayed over a month too early! I never would have thought to ask about age and spaying, I was naive enough to believe all shelters had the animals best interest at heart. Marlee will be fine, but is having to be fed Rebound every 2 hours to help her gain weight. She is sleeping a little more than a normal kitten would, and doesn't play as often as I wish she would. (Rarely plays right now). I'm not saying don't adopt from a shelter, because I will from now on anytime I'm looking for a new pet, but just BE CAREFUL! Ask as many questions as you can, and get all the information before hand. Does anyone know if there is a way I can report this so no other kittens will have this happen?

Ashley

Originally Posted by AshleyNicole

Hello everyone,

I just recently adopted a beautiful Manx kitten from a shelter. I just want to warn people to be very careful, and ask lots of questions. This was my first time to adopt this way, so didn't really know what to do. As a result, Marlee was spayed over a month too early! I never would have thought to ask about age and spaying, I was naive enough to believe all shelters had the animals best interest at heart. Marlee will be fine, but is having to be fed Rebound every 2 hours to help her gain weight. She is sleeping a little more than a normal kitten would, and doesn't play as often as I wish she would. (Rarely plays right now). I'm not saying don't adopt from a shelter, because I will from now on anytime I'm looking for a new pet, but just BE CAREFUL! Ask as many questions as you can, and get all the information before hand. Does anyone know if there is a way I can report this so no other kittens will have this happen?

Ashley

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I am not sure why you think the cat was spayed a month too early?
How old was the cat? Vets can do pediatric spay and neuter, a belive as early as 8 weeks of age.
Shelter vets ususally spay and neuter very early, because they don't want to adopt out animals that can be breeding and contributing to over population problem.

Originally Posted by elizwithcat

I am not sure why you think the cat was spayed a month too early?
How old was the cat? Vets can do pediatric spay and neuter, a belive as early as 8 weeks of age.
Shelter vets ususally spay and neuter very early, because they don't want to adopt out animals that can be breeding and contributing to over population problem.

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I was told by the vet that it was done too early. He said she will be okay, she just needs extra work to gain some weight. As I said before, this is the first time I've adopted a kitten, and taken care of one myself now that I'm on my own. So I'm just going by what my vet says....?

Forgot to say....the exact age is not known. Between 9-11 weeks presently.

This is one of the reasons why we refuse to do spays and neuters in the UK unless their 6 months old and they MUST weigh 2lb.

I hope your little girl recovers quickly

I am sorry to hear that, but truthfully, early spay and neuter has been done by US shelters (and a number of breeders) for years now, as early as 8 weeks, and certainly by 12...but a minimum weight must be met, and the kitten needs to be in good health.

Having said that, many private practice vets in the US will still not alter or spray prior to 6 months or older...it's a question of education/their comfort zone etc.

I've seen 12 week old kittens post spay at a friends, they were happy, playing, and frankly had less down time postop, they simply recovered more quickly. I have to wonder if something else is going on with your kitten

If they are over 2lb and 8 weeks there is no reason not to spay them. It may actually be less traumatizing. There are a few studies on this.

That said it sounds like your poor kitten didn't take it well, or the vet did a poor job. I hope she gets well soon!

Originally Posted by AshleyNicole

I was told by the vet that it was done too early. He said she will be okay, she just needs extra work to gain some weight. As I said before, this is the first time I've adopted a kitten, and taken care of one myself now that I'm on my own. So I'm just going by what my vet says....?

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Ashley...the rescue I volunteer with spays/neuters at 10-12 weeks. Many shelters now perform pediatric spay/neuter in order to ensure that the kittens will never become pregnant and add to the overpopulation. In your particuliar case, perhaps there were complications...but I can attest to THOUSANDS of pediatric spay/neuters that never have any issues. I'm sorry your little girl isn't doing well and I do hope she gets better.

Katie

Originally Posted by AshleyNicole

Forgot to say....the exact age is not known. Between 9-11 weeks presently.

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So she was probably spayed a few weeks ago...as long as a kitten is 2 lbs and 2 months of age...spaying can be done. You may want to read this article which is a study of pediatric spaying/neutering:

http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/repo...ly-neuter.html

Katie

The vet was very very upset, b/c Marlee had been spayed one month or more before she was old enough.

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Many vets still hold on to spaying/neutering at 4-6 months of age...however there are many kittens that have been spayed at 8 weeks of age that do not have the problems that your girl is exhibiting. I would show this study to your vet:

http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/repo...ly-neuter.html

Also....pediatric spaying/neutering is endorsed by AVMA.

Katie

Originally Posted by AshleyNicole

I was told by the vet that it was done too early. He said she will be okay, she just needs extra work to gain some weight. As I said before, this is the first time I've adopted a kitten, and taken care of one myself now that I'm on my own. So I'm just going by what my vet says....?

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A lot of regular vets do spay/neuters after 6 month, while shelter vets can do them as early as 8 weeks. That's probably why your vet thinks it was done too early, cause it is a regular vet.
But studies appear to show pediactric spay/neuter doesn't cause negative effects.

Originally Posted by elizwithcat

A lot of regular vets do spay/neuters after 6 month, while shelter vets can do them as early as 8 weeks. That's probably why your vet thinks it was done too early, cause it is a regular vet.
But studies appear to show pediactric spay/neuter doesn't cause negative effects.

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I've actually had this argument with my regular vet. They will not spay earlier than 5 months of age. As far as they are concerned....the fact that our rescue spays/neuters at 10-12 weeks is too early. However, they aren't the ones that see all the homeless kittens day after day after day from cats that weren't spayed before they were placed into homes. Certainly there is a risk inherent with spaying/neutering...but that risk exists regardless of when the spay/neuter occurs.

Katie

I just got back from taking Marlee to the vet again. ( I couldn't get her to eat/drink.) I talked to him about the spaying, b/c my boyfriend took her to the last visit since I was in school. He said its true that being spayed early can be done, he would just have prefered it be done a little later. He also said dogs more so than cats tend to have problems later because of it. Thanks for your opinions!

Originally Posted by AshleyNicole

I just got back from taking Marlee to the vet again. ( I couldn't get her to eat/drink.) I talked to him about the spaying, b/c my boyfriend took her to the last visit since I was in school. He said its true that being spayed early can be done, he would just have prefered it be done a little later. He also said dogs more so than cats tend to have problems later because of it. Thanks for your opinions!

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No problem Ashley...I know from personal experience that regular vets "prefer" to spay/neuter later than shelters. Honestly, I do think your girl was an exception rather than a rule..but I'm glad she is being treated now.
By the way...welcome to TCS!!

Katie

Hey everyone, thanks for the replies and the concern for Marlee. I just got back from another vet visit b/c she wasnt eating or drinking much, even her Rebound milk, which up til today she loved! The spaying topic was talked about, and its not as big of a deal as I was led to believe. That could be part of the problem, but who knows? The main problem is she dehydrated and for whatever reason isn't wanting to eat. So I'm still giving her Rebound every two hours, and now I'm going to be giving her water by syringe as well. The vet said to call if anything changes, but if not then I'll be taking her back in a week to follow up and have her stitches removed.

I just merged this thread with the one you posted about Beware of Vets as they are basically the same topic.

Okay, at the vet visit today, they told me to call and let them know if she began to have diarrhea that was watery and seemed to go right through her. What exactly would the water part mean? B/c her stool has been much looser, which is expected since she's doing the Rebound (a liquid diet). Its gotten more liquidy, with just a little bit of formed poop, all a yellowy color like the rebound. Do I need to let them know if there is no formed stool at all, or only if it starts to get very very thin? I'm sorry if this doesnt make sense, I'm just not sure if watery only meant all liquid, or if it needs to be very thin, and not have as much color. Hope someone can answer!