5 Week Kitten - 9 Ounces

[lexlovescats]

Hi all,

I'm a fairly experienced neonatal kitten fosterer. I've had my share of difficult cases but my current problem-child is giving me a run for my money.

We took in little Dobby and his sister, Molly, about two weeks ago. They were approximately three weeks old and Dobby weighed 10 ounces and Molly weighed 12 ounces. Two weeks later, we have been struggling to keep Dobby at his original weight. He has grown but hovers around nine ounces. Molly, on the other hand, is now 18.5 ounces and makes him look like a dwarf.

Symptoms: Persistent, watery, uncontrollable diarrhea that seems to leak out of him and minor anal prolapse. He also vomited white paste for a day when we tried to increase his force-feed intake, hence why we tube fed him for a week. Seems in good spirits and has a ton of fight, especially when we do supportive measures.

Supportive measures taken: a round of Panacur, a round of Albon, currently on Metronidazole, daily 20 mL sub-q fluids and we tube fed him for a week when he stopped allowing us to syringe feed him. He is now syringe fed 9 mL four times per day plus he will eat some grain-free wet food mixed with a high calorie gravy mix and KMR second-step weaning slurry.

My questions:
1. What the heck could be going on with him? We thought maybe coccidia because his sister has no symptoms and gains weight like a champ. I'm really hoping it's not FeLV because he was accidentally exposed to my own cats.

2. What other supportive measures can be done? I've requested Ponazuril and Marquis paste but we can't get it for another week or so (unless I go to a vet).

The rescue I foster with is really hesitant to spend a lot of money on vet care because we have over fifty kittens in foster care currently. If he makes it to Monday, I plan on bringing him in for a fecal sample. Any other care I can request?

Thanks in advance. I'm trying my best, but I wake up in constant fear that he's passed overnight.

Edited to add: He won't eat pumpkin, and I have an Amazon order for probiotics coming in tomorrow. How quickly does the Metronidazole take to work typically? I haven't had to use it in a kitten in a long time.

 

[StefanZ]

Im not specialist on medicines, so I wont say much. Save the Ponazuril works very quickly on coccidia, unlike the more common Albon...

I see he gets sub-q, good. Does he gets pedialyte? bough or homemade?
With his diarrhea he has massive losses of salts, so he must get salt - compensations. Also, good pedialyte contains glucose sugar, so it by itself gives some extra calories.

If you dont use pedialyte as yet, start immediately. You can begin with homemade.

Can you get raw goat milk? Processed goat milk is OK, but raw does has potential advantage, not least here where he apparently has some intestinal problems...

Can you get raw honey? Similiar idea as with raw goats milk, you can use it with homemade pedialyte.

Be sure he is warm and comfortable. An IR-heating lamp is good, keeps him warm also when you feed him or give him treatment. Unlike the common heating pads.

Massage of the whole body is nice and may help. Talk a lot friendly and cosy - which you probably do.



lexlovescats

 

[StefanZ]

A basic homemade pedialyte extra useful in diarrheas, is:
You take some white rice and lotsa of water. You boil the rice double so long as you would otherwise, so the rice becomes very overboiled.
You take the water, now containing lotsa of mild carbos and glucose sugar solved in the water, and add some minerale kitchen salt....

And you have a home made pedialyte extra useful for diarrheas...

 

[StefanZ]

If you use bough pedialyte, use clear flavorless pedialyte for babies.

 

[lexlovescats]

Im not specialist on medicines, so I wont say much. Save the Ponazuril works very quickly on coccidia, unlike the more common Albon...

I see he gets sub-q, good. Does he gets pedialyte? bough or homemade?
With his diarrhea he has massive losses of salts, so he must get salt - compensations. Also, good pedialyte contains glucose sugar, so it by itself gives some extra calories.

If you dont use pedialyte as yet, start immediately. You can begin with homemade.

Can you get raw goat milk? Processed goat milk is OK, but raw does has potential advantage, not least here where he apparently has some intestinal problems...

Can you get raw honey? Similiar idea as with raw goats milk, you can use it with homemade pedialyte.

Be sure he is warm and comfortable. An IR-heating lamp is good, keeps him warm also when you feed him or give him treatment. Unlike the common heating pads.

Massage of the whole body is nice and may help. Talk a lot friendly and cosy - which you probably do.



lexlovescats

Hi Stefan!

Thanks for responding. You actually helped me about two years ago with my first litter of fosters. I've since fostered over thirty kittens!

Good idea on the goat's milk. Luckily I live within walking distance to a Whole Foods (kind of an up-scale health food store) that seems like the place that might sell goat's milk. I've been doing KMR mixed with Pedialyte and rubbing corn syrup on his gums once a day. He snuggles with his heating disk and his sister to keep him nice and comfy.

I'm really hoping this Metronidazole (also known as Flagyl) works for him. I can try to get Ponazuril at the vet on Monday but it's so expensive. Like $250 a bottle.

Do you think I should add some salt to his formula?

 

[StefanZ]

Ps, Dont bother with second stage KMR! Keep on first stage KMR! You use the powdered sort, right? Good. Powdered is safer than the premixed liquid one.

 

[StefanZ]

If you solve the KMR with pedialyte instead of water, it should be enough with salt. But he apparently must have much salts, so for the time being, use pedialyte not water...

@Catsknowsme tells often common city water from the taps, contains quite some chemicals. No big deal for a healthy kitten, but may be the difference for a sick, weak kitten and its kidneys.
So if you use water, bottled water is better, or if you have a good well water.
Or as here, premade pedialyte....

 

[StefanZ]

I've requested Ponazuril and Marquis paste but we can't get it for another week or so (unless I go to a vet).

. How quickly does the Metronidazole take to work typically? I haven't had to use it in a kitten in a long time.

Googling on Marquis paste, it seems its the same as Ponazuril! so its enough you have one of them.

 

[StefanZ]

Ok, and how soon Flagyl works? Googling, I found, it begins to work in hours, but visible effects may take "a few days"...

Really a rubber answer, but its what I found.

 

[Sarthur2]

lexlovescats

What color is the diarrhea? Does it have any form at all?

Does this kitten have its baby teeth?

 

[lexlovescats]

lexlovescats

What color is the diarrhea? Does it have any form at all?

Does this kitten have its baby teeth?

When I first got him, he had solid, normal poops. Within a few days, that turned to diarrhea. Before I treated with some dewormers, it was watery with small, brown and yellow chunks. There was also mucus oozing from his anus and there may have been white worms, which made me think it could be tapeworms. Now, it's still pure liquid but has regained some brown color. He also doesn't lift his tail to poop anymore, so it coats his tail (he's long haired) and gets all over his feet. I worry that might mean there's a nerve issue.

He has yet to have any diarrhea today which may be an indication the Metro is working, but regardless, it's still very alarming. I have a little nest egg I could dip into to take him to the vet if my rescue won't cover it, and I'm thinking that might be what I'll need to do this week. He has such a will to live, so it's hard seeing him like this.

Edited to add: Yes he has his teeth and his little molars are finally coming in.

 

[StefanZ]

He also doesn't lift his tail to poop anymore, so it coats his tail (he's long haired) and gets all over his feet. I worry that might mean there's a nerve issue.
.

Nay, its almost surely because he is sick in this diarrhea. He has literally no controll over his bowels nor sphincter... Heal his diarrhea, and the problem will disappear. I do bet heavily on this theory.

Severely sick humans use too to soil themselves without even noticing.

You can trim his hairs on tail and legs, if you find it more comfortable... It will be easier to wash off, if nothing else...

Smear often with coldpressed cocoa oil after washing, because the poo AND the water will irritate his skin... Coldpressed olive or canola oil are OK too, but cocoa probably best for treating of skin issues and irritations.

 

[Sarthur2]

It sounds like the metronidazole may be working. Have you tried letting him lap Gerber turkey or chicken baby food from your finger or a spoon? And if he won’t lick it, try mixing the baby food with a little of his milk and syringing it. Gerber tastes great, is high in protein, and is highly digestible.

 

[lexlovescats]

Unfortunately, I'm updating with bad news. The kitten passed away Monday evening. We took her to a regular vet who must have done something that was too much for her small system to handle. She was lethargic and whimpering afterward. We took her to an emergency vet thinking they would suggest humane euthanasia because she was clearly in distress, breathing out of her mouth, and crying out in pain with each breath. They literally just listened to her lungs and told us she was fine since they were clear and that she needed rest. We provided supportive Karo drops every fifteen minutes and allowed her to lay on our chests for warmth and comfort. She died in our arms an hour and a half later. This was our first loss and it's been very difficult. Thank you all for your guidance.

 

[Sarthur2]

I’m so sorry to hear this, but you really did all that you could. Thank you for your efforts. RIP sweet Dobby!