Diarrhea is the second only to upper respiratory disease as the most common concern of kittens from animal shelters. Diarrhea in kittens can be caused by worms or Giardia species.
It’s possible the change from PetAg to mama to PetAg has upset their tummies. We recommend feeding Goats’ milk because it’s closest to mama’s milk. You can find Goats’ milk in the dairy section or the concentrate in the baking aisle. If you use the concentrate mix it 1:1 with water. It’s high in probiotics and nutrients. Cats don’t digest cow’s milk very well because they are lactose intolerant and Goats’ milk is low in lactose. This prevents many problems like diarrhea/constipation. You feed them Goats’ milk exclusively until 5 weeks and then mix it with wet kitten food making a gruel. By 9 weeks they should be eating wet kitten food. Of course, the kits will decide when they’re ready to make the transition.
So I recommend starting them on Goats’ milk now. It should settle their tummies and give them nutrients and probiotics. For now put some Karo syrup on the top of their mouths which will give them a boost in energy. Pick up the Goats’ milk at the same time and mix with Pedilyte. Don’t wait to finish the new PetAg plus just feed them the Goats’ milk. Kittens can not digest food if they’re cold. Often they will have diarrhea, as well. The babies need to be kept warm in their own nest using soft blankets. Place a heating pad, on LOW, covered by a towel to keep them warm. Be sure they have an area where they have a cool spot to crawl to if they get to warm.
Metronidazole is really a horrible tasting medication and can be a nightmare to get in your kittens. I realize Metronidazole is the best treatment for diarrhea but please don’t give them Flagyl until you’ve talked to a vet. Purrhaps you can call the vet. for correct doses for the kittens.
Here’s a couple of links on hand raising kittens:
http://www.safehavenforcats.com/newborn.htm
http://messybeast.com/handrear.htm
I know this is a bunch of information to read so my first and best advice is to get the Goats’ milk and start feeding it exclusively. It will take a day or so for them to stabilize. Keep them on Pedilyte and pick up Nutri-Cal High Calorie Nutritional Gel. It provides vitamins, minerals and extra calories for pets needing a nutritional boost.
Good luck
PG