My new kitten is very, very ill.

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  • 21 May, 2012 at 8:47 am #51333
    Znixx
    Participant

    Hello there.

    I got my kitten Gotham (about 2 months old) from a friend a few days ago (four days) and just two days ago, he became very ill. First it started with sneezing, then it graduated to runny nose, wheezy breathing, watery eyes and all he does is sleep. and to top it all off, he’s become very lethargic.

    I took him to an emergency vet clinic today, but since I have no money what so ever (due to expensive living costs in my area) I couldn’t get an actual exam done on him. so they took him in, took his temperature and brought him back out and told me He has a fever, and that he might have a URI. (Upper respiratory infection)and that it would clear up in about 24 hours. (That’s all they said) But.. It’s just becoming worse.

    I have tried the “tent test” and he is very dehydrated, the skin stays up like a tent on the back of his neck. So I tried my best to rehydrate him with an un-needled medical syringe and some water.

    I’ve also tried very stinky wet cat food (heated in the microwave for about 10sec)And he’s still not eating it.. I’m quite worried about my little Gotham.

    I would love to take him to a vet clinic (Trust me – I’d jump at the chance) but all the clinics in my city + surrounding area do not offer payment plans of any type. So I’m kind of left to deal with this on my own.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated. I will post daily updates. Thank you for you time. (:

    21 May, 2012 at 9:19 am #732132
    AZDEBRA 5/27 & crew
    Participant

    This might help…

    http://www.petplace.com/cats/does-your-cat-have-the-sniffles/page1.aspx

    21 May, 2012 at 10:57 am #732133
    jcat
    Participant

    Hi, Znixx. I’m so sorry to hear about your kitten and a pox on the vets in your neighbourhood.

    Deb’s given you a great link. Your immediate danger is the dehydration, it doesn’t sound good. You need infants’ pedialyte (better than water as it contains the salts and sugars your kitten needs) from a supermarket (baby aisle) or you can make your own at home. This is better than water to try to get down him. If he is still eating, you can mix it with his food, if not, try to get him to take it with the syringe. This is the recipe for home-made pedialyte:

    The tent test is to test for dehydration:

    Tent test: pick up a good pinch of kitten’s skin at the neck and let go.If it snaps back immediately, she’s hydrated okay. If it takes a little time to go back down, or, worse, it stays up in a ‘tent’ shape, she needs fluids, such as pedialyte (from the supermarket, children’s aisle) or home-made pedialyte below.

    Note, in the United Kingdom, pedialyte is called Dioralyte. Also known as rehydration salts.

    Home-made pedialyte recipe from World Health Organization)…no preservatives so short life-span

    * 1 cup water (boiled then cooled)

    * 2 tsp sugar

    * 1/8 tsp salt

    * 1/8 tsp baking soda

    (this Pedialyte formula gives needed electrolytes & some sugar for energy)

    Combine all ingredients and warm slightly.

    Make new after 24 hours.

    21 May, 2012 at 11:05 am #732134
    jcat
    Participant

    You also need to keep him warm and comfy (but not too hot), in a safe nest or nestled against your skin, if you can, I’m convinced this helps with kitten’s will to fight. He needs to eat but probably won’t want to since he can’t smell anything, good work with the stinky wet cat food and keep trying to get him to eat it. But if you can’t, there is something called Nutrical you can get from a pet store, it is a high calorie paste, smear a little on his mouth and gums, no big blobs, nothing he could choke on, and hopefully he will lick it off. If you can’t get your hands on Nutrical then use Karo (corn) syrup. It will give him a little more energy to fight the virus. You can also try making him a steam bath or taking him into the bathroom with you while you run the shower, to try to clear his sinuses. Click on the pink tag URI at the top right and you will find threads on how to do this.

    Keep his little nose and eyes clear with gentle wiping. If his eyes seem sore, you can bathe them with cold tea (normal tea is fine), it is antiseptic and soothing. Best of luck with your little one.

    21 May, 2012 at 11:07 am #732135
    jcat
    Participant

    This is a really really good thread from someone who has just nursed a tiny wee kitten, much younger than yours, through a URI — it tells you about the steamer etc, and also her vet recommended a baby product to help keep kitten’s nasal passages clear: Little Noses. There will be an equivalent product in Canada if not exactly the same.

    http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/42024

    21 May, 2012 at 1:41 pm #732136
    Kit
    Participant

    I also recommend you aquire nutri-cal for kittens from a pet store. If they’re not eating it has tons of nutrients and calories and you can syringe it into their mouth. If you get desperate there are places to look online that tell you how to titrate out human amoxcyllian if you have any in the house. ***This is NOT something I recommend if you haven’t done it before with the help of a vet*** but I do mention it because it can work if done carefully, but only if you have amoxcyllian or penicillin, not other human drugs. I was taught by a kind local vet when I was 13 to save a litter of kittens since I had no job and no money.

    21 May, 2012 at 8:35 pm #732137
    Znixx
    Participant

    Thanks for the great advice guys!I did everything you guys suggested. He’s doing a bit better now. He’s actually walking around a bit more, and he purred! 😀 he hasn’t purred in days.

    I will continue the suggestions shown here until he starts to act like a kitten again. By that time his immune system should be able to get rid of it without my help.

    thank you all, You’re a god-send <3

    21 May, 2012 at 8:46 pm #732138
    Jeankit
    Participant

    Happy to hear the positive update on your little newbie!

    21 May, 2012 at 10:37 pm #732139
    Chaos
    Participant

    You can call and see if a vet can just weigh him, and prescribe antibiotics. Sounds like a URI and those can go downhill very quickly. If you have human antibiotics (amoxicillin or penicillin), you can divide them up into 5mg/lb, and mix some in with the water. But do not do this until his hydration has gotten better, as antibiotics can cause diarrhea. Also, go to a store and find some saline nose drops, and apply one drop into each nostril. It has to be PURE saline solution, and no special nasal spays or expectorants. This is usually near the child cold and flu section in a store. That will help him clear his nose so he can drink and eat better. When cats can’t breathe through their nose, they usually don’t eat or drink, so clearing his nose will let him start eating. Keep giving him a syringe of water, but do not over water him (Water can actually kill). Also, if you have a humidifier, put him in a room with it and turn it on. The most important thing you should do is get him able to breathe so he accepts food and water.

    22 May, 2012 at 1:22 am #732140
    ittybittykitty
    Participant

    The purring is such a good sign I think! When my kitten was fading she stopped purring too. The day she started purring she only got better and better from there. If you can hydrate her with KMR that’ll give her nutrients as well as fluids, that’s how mine picked up in energy until she got her appetite back on for food. I wish I’d know about that nutri paste high calorie thing at the time, that sounds ideal!

    26 May, 2012 at 4:10 am #732141
    Znixx
    Participant

    Gotham is doing much better now (: He’s become a playful little bugger.

    Thanks to everyone who helped! If I ever have a problem with him, I will browse your forums, for there is a lot of valuable information here (:

    http://i.imgur.com/1VHFk.jpg

    See? All better (: Just chillin’ out with his mum at her desk

    26 May, 2012 at 5:00 am #732142
    ittybittykitty
    Participant

    I’m so happy for you and little Gotham! You won’t barely be able to remember his sick times now he grows and tests out his environment!

    13 February, 2013 at 1:46 pm #732143
    JerseyJoan
    Moderator

    Gotham is so cute! I am glad he is feeling better.

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