- Joined
- Mar 12, 2021
- Messages
- 30
- Purraise
- 40
Hello again everyone...
I am so very over my head and need help.
Yesterday late afternoon my resident animals' vet (he is also my ex boss) called and said a lady brought in some baby kittensbshe found in the garbage.
There were four altogether, one white one died shortly after being brought in. Dr. said they were all covered in maggots, but the white one was the worst off, gasping for breath and gurgling when he came in.
He thought of me because I recently rescued a pregnant momma and had kitten supplies, and he remembered I used to take care of kittens years ago when I worked for him. They didn't know how to take care of such little babies and couldn't find a rescue. I haven't fostered babies in 15+ years.
So really having no other course of action, I brought the kittens home.
There are 2 boys, one black and white and one grey and white and one grey girl.
These kittens were born, I think, in the past 24 hours. They're tiny...the vet said the white ones umbilical cord was still wet but the other ones were dry.
The first feeding went well....I used a 3ml syringe with a Amazon brand miracle nipple. They drank fast...now I'm thinking too fast. I hope I didn't get any milk in their lungs.They all ate between 2 and 4 mls each (of KMR mixed with pedialite).
I did think they were dehydrated because their gums were tacky but since read that that is not a good indicator. So I might have messed up there too.
I have been feeding them every 2 hours, once or twice after one hour.
They've been eating from 2 ml to 7mls, to no rhyme or reason..sometimes more sometimes less
I just feel like I don't know what I am doing.
These babies are so tiny and fragile I've only had a neonate this young once and it was only one and easily 17 years ago. (Although he did survive and he was my first actually and I had NO idea what I was doing)
The grey girl is definitely more quiet then she was earlier the past two feedings. She ate 4 mls during the 4 am feeding and only two at 6. She has not yet lost weight but is hovering at 113 past two feedings. Definitely not as hungry as the first few times.
The black and white boy is the most robust, eating heartily and steadily gaining weight. The grey and white one is also eating well, but not gaining weight as fast.
The problem is is that I only had a few 3cc syringes and realized half way through the night that you can't reuse them. The Petag bottles I had I messed up when trying to put a hole in and now squirt milk from the side.
I think the hole in the off-brand miracle nipple is too big and flows to quickly when attached to a bottle. Maybe even too big for a syringe but at least I have some control over that. I'm not sure what else to do....not sleeping makes making decisions so much harder.
I will go get more 3 cc syringes from my vet when they open at 9. I'll bring the kittens too so he can check them over but he is not experienced in neonate care so am not sure how much he could help.
I'll be looking for someone more suited to do this extremely fragile work, I'll ask my vet to do the same. Hopefully I can find someone more experienced then me who will give them more of a chance.
Grey/white - 8 pm 113g. 4ml, 3ml, 6ml, 3ml, 6ml
6:30 am - 116g
Black/white - 8pm 96g 3ml, 2ml, 5ml, 6.5ml, 2ml, 3ml
6:30 - 108
Grey girl - 8pm 106g. 3ml, 1.5ml, 5ml, 4.5ml, 4ml, 2ml
6:30 am 113g
They've peed each time, at first almost a light brown color but now pale yellow.
2 pooped normal poops for such babies, but very little. The girl has not pooped yet.
I guess I am hoping for any advice from people more experienced then me so I can give them the best chance. I'm scared of not finding someone better suited, it is kitten season after all.
They are in a box in my bathroom with a heating bad and the heat on. I do have 2 kittens and their mom running around and have been a little nervous about disease spread. I've been washing my hands and actually change my clothes before leaving the bathroom.
I am so very over my head and need help.
Yesterday late afternoon my resident animals' vet (he is also my ex boss) called and said a lady brought in some baby kittensbshe found in the garbage.
There were four altogether, one white one died shortly after being brought in. Dr. said they were all covered in maggots, but the white one was the worst off, gasping for breath and gurgling when he came in.
He thought of me because I recently rescued a pregnant momma and had kitten supplies, and he remembered I used to take care of kittens years ago when I worked for him. They didn't know how to take care of such little babies and couldn't find a rescue. I haven't fostered babies in 15+ years.
So really having no other course of action, I brought the kittens home.
There are 2 boys, one black and white and one grey and white and one grey girl.
These kittens were born, I think, in the past 24 hours. They're tiny...the vet said the white ones umbilical cord was still wet but the other ones were dry.
The first feeding went well....I used a 3ml syringe with a Amazon brand miracle nipple. They drank fast...now I'm thinking too fast. I hope I didn't get any milk in their lungs.They all ate between 2 and 4 mls each (of KMR mixed with pedialite).
I did think they were dehydrated because their gums were tacky but since read that that is not a good indicator. So I might have messed up there too.
I have been feeding them every 2 hours, once or twice after one hour.
They've been eating from 2 ml to 7mls, to no rhyme or reason..sometimes more sometimes less
I just feel like I don't know what I am doing.
These babies are so tiny and fragile I've only had a neonate this young once and it was only one and easily 17 years ago. (Although he did survive and he was my first actually and I had NO idea what I was doing)
The grey girl is definitely more quiet then she was earlier the past two feedings. She ate 4 mls during the 4 am feeding and only two at 6. She has not yet lost weight but is hovering at 113 past two feedings. Definitely not as hungry as the first few times.
The black and white boy is the most robust, eating heartily and steadily gaining weight. The grey and white one is also eating well, but not gaining weight as fast.
The problem is is that I only had a few 3cc syringes and realized half way through the night that you can't reuse them. The Petag bottles I had I messed up when trying to put a hole in and now squirt milk from the side.
I think the hole in the off-brand miracle nipple is too big and flows to quickly when attached to a bottle. Maybe even too big for a syringe but at least I have some control over that. I'm not sure what else to do....not sleeping makes making decisions so much harder.
I will go get more 3 cc syringes from my vet when they open at 9. I'll bring the kittens too so he can check them over but he is not experienced in neonate care so am not sure how much he could help.
I'll be looking for someone more suited to do this extremely fragile work, I'll ask my vet to do the same. Hopefully I can find someone more experienced then me who will give them more of a chance.
Grey/white - 8 pm 113g. 4ml, 3ml, 6ml, 3ml, 6ml
6:30 am - 116g
Black/white - 8pm 96g 3ml, 2ml, 5ml, 6.5ml, 2ml, 3ml
6:30 - 108
Grey girl - 8pm 106g. 3ml, 1.5ml, 5ml, 4.5ml, 4ml, 2ml
6:30 am 113g
They've peed each time, at first almost a light brown color but now pale yellow.
2 pooped normal poops for such babies, but very little. The girl has not pooped yet.
I guess I am hoping for any advice from people more experienced then me so I can give them the best chance. I'm scared of not finding someone better suited, it is kitten season after all.
They are in a box in my bathroom with a heating bad and the heat on. I do have 2 kittens and their mom running around and have been a little nervous about disease spread. I've been washing my hands and actually change my clothes before leaving the bathroom.