Anyone have experience with severly sick kittens with some advice to share?

Question

I rescued a tiny approx 10 wk old kitten from the median strip of a busy highway yesterday. Took it home and took 5 times soaping him with baby shampoo to get all the grime, briars, puss from his eyes so they would open. The water was completely red. I assumed it was break fluid or something. I took him to my vet right away. He wormed him, and diagnosed him with distemper, severe dehydration and malnutrition. He said the red water I thought was car fluids was actually from the flea infestation and was his own blood. I started tearing up right there, so awful a thing for such a tiny creature to endure. He put him on some antibiotics for the puss (apparently its a type of cold) and wished us luck. Said IF I can make him eat and drink he will live but that is a big IF. We also put a tube of flea stuff between his shoulders to kill the fleas and eggs on him. He was wayy to weak and underweight to get vaccines. I am currently force feeding him with an eyedropper every 2 hours.

Advice??

To answer yes he said he was anemic but no he didn't offer to IV him. Just told me to do the eyedropper thing and pray. I will start trying to wipe his bottom to stimulate his movements. I think he is pottying but better safe than sorry. Thanks.

just want to thank everyone for giving their advice. He won't eat at all, not even tuna if I offer it on my finger or something. We literally pry his mouth open and slowly squeeze the dropper. I diluted some flea shampoo with water and gave him another bath. This time at least the water was a normal clear color but hopefully it will help with what is left of the fleas. I am just basically holding him all the time so I am sure he is warm enough.

To answer the question on what I am feeding him with the dropper. I took cat food and mixed it with water and put it in the blender until it was liquid enough to use in the dropper.

Answer 1

There is this stuff in a tube, they sell it at most pet stores, it makes them gain weight and they love the stuff. It's like a paste, you just squeeze a little on your finger and the cat will lick it off. I rescued a little sick kitty that wouldn't eat and I tried that stuff and she fattened right up. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of it but if you ask someone at the pet store they will know exactly what you're talking about. Continue making it eat, more importantly though, make it drink lots of water. Putting that flea medicine (I'm assuming it was Advantage or something along those lines) should help tremendously, if you don't notice the fleas gone by now start giving the kitten flea baths every other day for a week or so, dilute the flea shampoo, half water, half shampoo (full strength can be harmful for a kitten, especially an underweight kitten). Also, check its gums and make sure that they are pink (when they are white that means that they are anemic, the fleas sucked too much out the poor thing, its gums should start to pinken up when the fleas start to die). Lots of love and affection is the best prescription. Good luck, I hope the kitty gets better real soon, it breaks my heart to know that there is a helpless little kitty suffering, you rock for saving it and taking it to the vet.

Answer 2

Your are getting the best possible advice from the vet. He has done what he can and directed you how to proceed. Some tiny kittens can come through this kind of adversity because they really want to live, and your care and loving support will make a great difference. Distemper is dreadful in kittens and if he makes it it will be a miracle.

I hope he can graduate from the eye dropper to a little bottle soon.
And when he is well he will be able to start on good food.

Please look into a raw meat diet for him when he is older. You have time now to learn about it and it will give him the most robust and healthy life possible.

Go to: catinfo.org and The Pet Center.com to read about the best foods for the baby as he grows.

Good luck to you both. The universe has sent you this blessing and you must not be discouraged, just keep going with what you are doing.

Answer 3

First off what a kind soul you have to help this helpless little kitten. Just so you know, I am not a vet, but I have rescued 3 kittens that where in very similar situations. The previous person was correct about making sure that the kitten goes "potty". The way I used to help them was to take a warm wash cloth and stimulate both private areas (over the toilet). You should maybe also go to your local pet store and purchase mother's milk for kittens. I would also suggest instead of an eye dropper, maybe try a very small nipple and bottle. (Make sure you dilute the formula). I was told by my vet not to use baby shampoo because of the perfume/scent in it. Instead use Dawn dish soap. We also would keep the kitten in a small crate or box, with lots of soft towels. Underneath the towels, we placed a heating pad on the lowest possible setting to help keep the kitten warm. I hope this is of some help to you and please email me to let me know how things turn out. Good luck and give the kitty kisses for me!!!

Answer 4

What are you feeding him in the eye-dropper? To get a boost of nutrients, which is mild on his tummy, I'd suggest KRM or other high protein kitten formula.

I have nursed kittens in very similar shape back to health. So, it CAN be done. But I have to wonder about the vet not treating his dehydration?!?!! I had a senior cat, who got some virus. She had a high fever and refused to eat or drink. She was listless and didn't like being touched. As soon as I took her to the vet, he injected her subcutaneously between the shoulder blades with saline solution. It didn't absorb for a while, so she looked a bit like a camel! Although she was still sick, within hours, she perked-up and would eat a little.

IVs aren't always easy to administer to a cat. But a subcutaneous injection of fluids couldn't hurt and just might help...I'd suggest asking the vet for this!

Good luck and I hope he recovers. 2 of my 4 cats are rescues and they make the best pets!

Answer 5

Did your vet give him an IV? Subcutaneous fluids sound like they are really needed here, I had a kitten once who had to be on an IV for a few days and it helped him greatly! (along with the other meds the doc was giving)


With distemper -The veterinarian will attempt to combat extreme dehydration, provide nutrients, prevent secondary infection with antibiotics, and provide support as deemed necessary depending upon the severity of the disease. If the cat survives for 48 hours, its chances for recovery are much better..

Did the doc do any of this? If not get a second opinion now!

Answer 6

I work at a stray cat shelter and we get alot of kittens that we rescue that are severly undernourished and on the brink of death but they can turn around. Make sure that you keep the kitten in basket or something so it feels secure and wrap it in a blanket. Also it should be on an IV becuase it needs fluids. Try and give them some tuna and mix it with water so they get both fluid and food. Also tuna is very high in protien which is good for develpoment. Just keep trying put some tuna on your finger and rub it on their lips gently and they might eat it.

Answer 7

I am sorry to hear what you are going through because I went through it myself a year and a half ago. It is a sad story, more than a sad story, an extraordinary sad story, just to warn you. I adopted a black male 8 week old kitten that had been abandoned at the shelter in the county where I was living at the time. I took him home on a Friday where he proceeded to NOT EAT. I wasn't too worried because he was still playful and the shelter said he may be nervous and stressed from the transition. Saturday he started throwing up yellow and simeltaneously eliminating worms. I found an open emergency pet clinic and took him in. When the vet massaged his belly, he threw up tons of worms, but gave him medication for it and medical food and said he should be ok. Sunday he did not eat. Sunday night he threw up again. Monday morning I took him back to the vet and told him that he still hadn't eaten and was vomitted yellow liquid. The vet wanted to keep him overnight and suspected panluekemia. I called the shelter Tuesday and informed them that the vet suspected Dante had the disease and was informed that they were sorry, but the batch of cats I looked at when I adopted Dante were all infected cats and put to sleep Monday morning--they apologized for not calling me. Apparently I was the only person to adopt a kitten or cat out of this group.

The test came back positive on Weds of that week. I knew Dante was the only survivor of that batch and wanted him to live. They had him on IV fluids and said he was comfortable. I was there before work, on my lunch and after work until 9pm every night. As much as I wanted him to live, he just got weaker and weaker. Thursday night when I saw him last, his eyes were glassed over and he just looked through me, like he wasn't even there anymore. It was so hard. I felt so helpless. When I went to the vet Friday morning they told me he had died overnight.

It's a hard thing. The vet said/warned me that 95 percent of kittens affected dont make it, but I still had hope and you should too. I truly hope your pet makes it, but if he does not, please give yourself time to grieve. Dante's death really bothered me because 1. all of the other cats who had been infected and put to sleep at the shelter and 2. because we did everything possible to save him and he still died.

It's now been a year and a half, as I said earlier. My boyfriend and I just adopted two new kittens that are cute and adorable and that we love. Whatever happens, I hope the best for your kitty, and it will be ok.

Answer 8

As a former vet tech for 5 years...Id like to know what kind of vet doesnt keep that kitten hospitalized??With out fluids and distemper and a URI Im willing to bet he doesnt make it.Dont mean to sound negative just want you to be forewarned. Like the previous person said keep him warm however with distemper probaly got a fever so dont over heat him.Good luck!!I really wish you the best!!

Answer 9

actually it sounds like your doing a good job..keep doing that..

the eyedropper is a good idea..its going to be a long hard road though...with a not so good chance of survival..

do make sure that you keep the kitten warm also..it sounds like because of the flea infestation he may be anemic...but I'm not sure..the vet would have said something about it if so.

make sure it's kitten milk (you can buy it at walmart) and canned food..as it's softer.

Good luck..and i commend you for the rescue.

Answer 10

You are doing your best, I'm bummed just from reading your post.

Right now though, try to detach your self from the situation. Try as hard as you can to be a stone-cold robot. Your emotional investment is very high at this point I'm sure. This will eat on you badly. Just try to chill and do the best you can, after all you can do no more.

Be 100% honest with your self...If its suffering, do the right thing.

You're a great person you know that! I really mean it, you have made my day knowing the truly wonderful humans do exist.

Best of luck to you and your little ward.