Sorry, another hand reared kitten constipation question…

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  • #863526
    Kathleen
    Participant

    Apologies for another “constipation” question – I’ve found this board really, really helpful of the last couple of weeks and have been searching and reading lots.

    Two weeks ago (today) we found a few day old kitten left on our back door step. Think it belongs to a feral that we’ve been feeding (whilst waiting to TNR her) I reckon he was a couple/few days old, as umbilical was gone, and wound was very clean.

    So, whilst I have lots of cat experience, this is the first time I’ve ever had to hand rear a baby…

    All been going well – I’ve been using the Royal Canin Babycat Milk kit which I got from the vet. Kitty has been feeding well, peeing grand, but only pooing every two days. Poo has been good though – “toothpaste” like and nice and curly. Bill is doing really well and he opened his eyes fully this morning!!!

    However…. last poo was midnight on Friday (it’s now 10am here on Wednesday) Since Monday evening, I’ve been adding a few drops of olive oil in his milk each feed (currently feeding between 5 and 10ml every 5 hours) Monday night I noticed his wee was slightly coloured, so he took 5mls of warm boiled water from the bottle, and pee back to clear again quite quickly.

    Being aware of the dehydration issue – whilst I’ve not diluted his milk, I have now started giving him a few ml’s of warm boiled water, a few hours after his feeds and this is keeping his pee clear. Since last night, I’ve been trying the triangle method (from video on Youtube) but still no success.

    He is boisterous, feeding and peeing well. He’s been crawling around like a wild thing for the last week.

    So, my question is; I have some lactulose at home and wondering if now is the time to either try that this evening and if no success take him to the vet tomorrow (day 6), or take him to the vet tonight? The only issue with going to the vets is that the trip is over an hour each way, it’s turning cold here now and I worry about him getting cold in the car (even though he has his hot water bottle)

    Any thoughts would be very much appreciated. Thank you

    #863530
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    You are doing everything for him that I would recommend. If you feel the need to call the vet and ask for recommendations or what you should do, then do so. A couple of days between poops is normal but now at day 6 I would be worried too. It usually gets right down to the wire, and my kitten has always pooped.

    You can also try goat’s milk, which I have also found to be a complete kitten food AND it does not cause constipation. It’s low on the lactose which most cats can’t tolerate like in cow’s milk. It’s also full of probiotics for their gut, which is so beneficial for a healthy immune system.

    Chaos’ Guide to Constipation

    #863532
    Kathleen
    Participant

    Thanks. I phoned the vet and they said to try the lactulose tonight and if no joy take him in tomorrow. (as he’s not dehydrated and he’s still very mobile and doing well)

    I’ve been wondering about the goats milk. I’m guessing it’s just the usual pasturised milk you buy in the supermarket?

    Would it be fed the same amounts as the KRM would you know?

    Thanks again

    #863535
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    There is the fresh in the refrigerated milk section of the grocery, or in the baking aisle there is canned condensed (add water 1 to 1) or powdered, follow the directions on the can.

    #863563
    Kathleen
    Participant

    Thanks again.

    Hmmmm. So just got back from the vets. He said he couldn’t feel any compacting. Bill is looking very well, very mobile, peeing well so he just gave him half a mil of liquid parafin and gave me the same to give him tomorrow. I kept saying that this was day 6 without poo, and he said yes, it’s very strange, but he seems fine and he couldn’t feel any hard poo anywhere, so try the liquid parafin and hopefully that should clear him out…

    I’ll give him till Saturday and then take him back first thing if no movement before then.

    I also managed to get the goats milk today so I’m going to try him on that this evening… hopefully that will help too.

    Fingers crossed..

    #863567
    Kittyzee
    Participant

    I hope so too Kathleen. Please keep us posted. I’ve never heard of parafin, let me know how it works.

    #863570
    Kathleen
    Participant

    *sigh* I spelt paraffin wrong…

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_paraffin_(drug)

    I’ll defo keep you updated. Thanks very much for your help.

    #863575
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    hi Kathleen,

    Paraffin is a waxy product used for fuel, candles, makeup, etc. I no longer use paraffin products for myself so I’m concerned. It may be he’ll needs an enema. No, enemas are not fun but I’d rather see that relieve him. FYI, This is my experience.

    PG

    #863608
    Victoria
    Participant

    I am by no means an expert, but I have just raised two feral kittens from day old to their current age of 7 weeks!! Poos were very rare until they got onto solid food. We took them to the vets, all fine, they gave lactulose but it didn’t really make any difference. My person advice is if they are ok in themselves then try not to worry. Keep stimulating them and if they poo great, if not, try next feed. One of ours went 7 days without!! Goats milk was slightly better, but don’t stress. However I am not a vet and these are the only kittens we have reared!!

    #863610
    Kathleen
    Participant

    All good. Bit of a poo-mageddon last night – but no hard poo – just lots of it!

    I guess that’s why’s he’s a vet and I’m not – turns out the liquid paraffin worked ok. No need for second dose this morning.

    All going well on the goats milk (fresh pasteurised) though Bill seems quite hungry?? Am I ok giving him the same as I would the powdered stuff? He’s having 10 -15 ml every 5 hours.

    Thanks again for all the help!!

    #863617
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    CONCATS!

    A kitten should eat about 8 milliliters (mls) of formula per ounce of body weight per day. For example, a kitten who weighs 4 ounces should eat about 32 mls of formula per day. To determine how much to give at each feeding, divide the total amount of formula per day by the number of feedings. For example, if you’re going to feed 32 mls per day and do 7 feedings per day (approximately every three hours), that would mean giving 4.5 mls per feeding.

    These are guidelines, use them as such with your guy. The important is to weight him to make sure he’s gaining weight.

    When are we going to learn his name? You’re doing everything right.

    PG

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