Whats wrong with my 3 week old foster kitten?

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Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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  • 16 April, 2014 at 2:42 am #805927
    Lauren
    Participant

    Hi there!

    This is my first post on here and could use some advice or insight:

    I’m fostering two 3 week old kittens and one of them doesn’t seem to be doing very well. He’s very lethargic and sleeps most of the day, he meows really loudly like he is crying, he can’t lift his head up very well or he just doesn’t want to (he always tries to bury it or hangs it low), he never feels very warm, he’s been eating okay but not as much as the other, and today he went to the bathroom and I’m not sure if it was pee or poop but it was white and gooey and there was a lot of it. I took him to the shelter clinic yesterday and they didn’t know what was wrong with him. They put him on a small dose of antibiotic (amoxi) and a small dose of pain killer and gave me a heating disc for him. They said if that doesn’t work they will try an X-ray. I just feel really bad and don’t know whats wrong. If anyone has seen a kitten with similar symptoms or know what could be going on I would greatly appreciate any insight! The white gooey stuff was really weird and I’ve never seen anything like it.

    Thanks,
    Lauren

    16 April, 2014 at 3:15 am #805928
    jcat
    Participant

    Hi, Lauren, you are doing an amazing thing for these kittens. I wish I could help but with tiny motherless kittens, it is so difficult, so much of it is out of our hands. You are doing the right thing by seeking medical help for them. The gooey stuff sounds like some kind of gastric problem but again there are any number of things that could be causing that. The best I can do is to point you to the messybeast website, which is the best one we have found for info on kittens that are not doing well, and suggest you keep in close touch with the clinic on this one, keep him warm and comfortable and give him heaps and heaps of love to keep him wanting to fight.
    http://messybeast.com/handrear.htm
    Check the section on diarrhea/gastro. It could be possible that kitten is intolerant of the milk formula (but check this with the clinic). It may be that canned goats’ milk or an emergency glop formula might suit him better. (There are plenty on here as well as the ones on messybeast, mostly based on evaporated or condensed milk.) You could also try smearing a little Nutrical for kittens (a feed supplement) onto his gums for added strength. If he does not eat he is in danger of crashing from low blood sugar (life-threatening), in which case a smear of honey can help, or sugar water stroked onto the roof of his mouth. Pedialyte (the infants’ aisle at the supermarket or home-made) will keep him from dehydrating. Best of luck.

    16 April, 2014 at 5:54 am #805930
    Sikandar Nirmal Singh
    Participant

    I raised some kittens who had similar symptoms, save for the poop part. i used to feed them milk and molasses, though i hear cow’s milk is not the best. however, at the time i didn’t know, and didn’t have anything else. i used to keep them in a blanket, often in my arms, and would bottle feed them every couple hours. they grew up to be big and strong, although this was years ago, and they are no longer with me. i would try to get some proper kitten formula and feed that, and see if the vet clinic or animal hospital can help you get a better diagnosis. you’re doing best! good luck and welcome!

    17 April, 2014 at 9:48 pm #806054
    Lauren
    Participant

    Thanks for the responses, unfortunately he didn’t make it 🙁 I had someone from the clinic come take another look at him and they said it was most likely a bacterial infection that had spread pretty severely. They took him in to give him some extra care and he passed a few hours later. The shelter said he must have had something from birth or caught it before they were taken in. I only had him for 4 days but I’m pretty upset 🙁 Luckily, the other one is healthy, energetic, and growing fast. Thanks for all of your support.

    17 April, 2014 at 10:03 pm #806058
    katzenjammer
    Participant

    I’m so very, very sorry Lauren, if it helps at all, for his all too short life he knew your love and is now healthy and frisky at the Meadow by the Rainbow Bridge. If he did not have a name I will think of him as Angel and am sending the both of you my blessings. Prayers that his sibling continues doing well and that you can send in some pics when you feel ready. Take good care.

    17 April, 2014 at 10:34 pm #806062
    JerseyJoan
    Moderator

    I’m sorry Lauren. 4 days is certainly enough time for him to wrap himself around your heart, and plenty of time for him to learn the wonder and power of your love. That wouldn’t have been possible if not for you.
    Foster moms rock! (((Hugs)))

    18 April, 2014 at 1:52 am #806069
    Sikandar Nirmal Singh
    Participant

    lauren, it only takes a moment to fall in love with a cat. u did ur best hon. maybe another cat or kitten will come your way soon and u will be able to love them too!

    18 April, 2014 at 1:30 pm #806093
    jcat
    Participant

    I’m so sorry, Lauren. The odds are always pretty hefty against these little ones and so a severe bacterial infection would be very hard for his tiny system to fight off, even with the antibiotics he got and especially without his mum’s antibodies and colostrum from her milk. Of course you loved him and he loved you too, you cherished him for every moment of his short life. Bless you for that and I hope his sibling keeps on doing well.

    18 April, 2014 at 9:27 pm #806127
    snowkitten
    Participant

    Aww, I’m so sorry. I’m glad the other one is doing okay. I was going to suggest that it might be ulcerative colitis, since with that they usually pass both puss and mucus in the stool. But with one so young, I don’t think much could’ve been done for something like that. I hope the other one keeps doing well.

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