to weak to use dewormer med?

Question

My son found this kitten on the side of the road after getting off the school bus. He seems to be about 6 weeks old but is skin and bones. He was eating a little bit of soft cat food but that slacked off overnight. I gave him a bath and combed a handful of fleas off of him. Today I had to start him on KMR with an eyedropper. He was so lethargic. After some KMR, he perked up a bit. He tries to get to his box but the stool is all liquid. I figured he needed to be dewormed but with his weight so low and him already having a runny stool, I was concerned that this would not be a good course for him. But tonight, he meowed from the crate so I picked him up and had him next to me in a shirt. He then threw up and I saw a couple of small batches of roundworms.
Do I dare give him a little bit of dewormer? We just moved up here and into a very rural area and we don't have a vet yet.
Suggestions?
No there is no emergency clinic either.

He didn't make it. He drank some warm sugar water on his own at 530 am and I gave him a little bit more of kmr, but when we went to go leave for the vet at 8, he wasnt breathing. His eyes were frozen over.
Thanks for the help guys. My husband buried him in the yard next to a stillborn puppy from last year. I am going to get some dewormer to my other cats as a precaution but they were basically kept apart but you know how nosey cats can be.
At least he isn't suffering anymore.

Answer 1

He likely has the runny stools because of the worms. And all the symptoms you're observing sound related to the worms, and a bad case of them to(of course there could be other problems).

"Sometimes the cat throws up worms; almost always the appetite is capricious, now abnormally keen, now failing; and most significant of all, the cat loses all pride in its personal appearance. Its coat looks rough and untidy, and it does not care. That is when there is a really serious invasion; if the invasion is not checked, diarrhea is likely to set in."
http://www.oldandsold.com/articles02/cats12.shtml

The only wormer I have used is Pyrantel 50mg/ml with dosage of .35ml for a 7-8 week old kitten. Pyrantel would be safe for a 6 week old kitten.

I've added 1 teaspoon of canned pumpkin(not pumpkin pie filling) to canned food for kittens to control diarrhea.

Wish I could be more help. Keep him really warm. Best of luck.

Answer 2

How long have you had the tiny kitten?

He should be wormed, you know he is infested. But I am not sure it would be a good idea either since he is so skinny.

What type of wormer do you have? Does it give directions to calculate dosage by weight?

He should be checked by a vet soon. The runny stool can be from the roundworms, could be from not having solid foods to eat, or could be from other intestinal parasites he picked up from eating and drinking goodness only knows what before your son found him.

I would continue with the KMR and make him some 'kitty mush'. I make the 'kitty mush' by taking about 1/2 cup of kitten chow and mixing it with 1 cup of boiling water. Let it sit until the kitten chow is soften and cooled. You could stir a little KMR into it too. I had orphaned kittens last year and I made this for them to help wean them from the bottle and get them eating from a dish.

Bless you for rescuing this little sweetie! Purrs and prayers for you, your son and the kitten.

* * * * *
I am so sorry to hear the little sweetie did not make it, too. The wonderful thing is this precious baby was loved and had gentle hands to hold him as he crossed the Rainbow Brigdge.

Purrs and prayers for you, your family and your other cats.

Answer 3

Here's what to do.Do NOT use cat wormer with piperazine! It makes them sick.Get some wormer for puppies with Pyrantel Pamoate as the only ingredient ( you can find it at Wal Mart and other stores) Give the dosage for puppies,but underdose just a little ( it's VERY safe and won't hurt the kitten,honest.) For the diarrhea,cook some rice and chicken breast or hamburger ( boil it) and try to get the kitty to eat some, Meat baby foods ( beef,chicken,lamb) are great,too,as is plain,unsweetened yogurt.You can also mix unflavored Pedialyte in with the KMR to keep him hydrated.He will probably need an antibiotic and an antispasmodic for the diarrhea,but the worm medicine just may do the trick.So,if you have pyrantel,go ahead and give it,but if it's piperazine,I wouldn't chance it in a weak kitten.

Edit: I'm so sorry that the little thing died.It's heartbreaking to lose such a young kitten.

Answer 4

I once found a kitten in very similar circumstances, that had obviously been thrown out and eating whatever it could, which had seriously disrupted it's tiny digestive system.

I would recommend a diet of cooked minced chicken, mixed with made up arrowroot (you should be able to get that from a pharmacy). this will be easily digested and will help to bind his stools safely (this is exactly what was recommended by the vet that my kitten saw).

Comb as many fleas off of him as you can on a daily basis, and once his stools are firmer you can try him with a half dose of a kitten wormer. I'm in the UK and use Panacur, which is very gentle (but effective) and can be accurately measured to administer by weight.

My kitty grew into an enormous and very loving tom cat, who lived to the age of 18 - I hope yours gives you as much reward for your love and care as Pongo did :-)

Answer 5

Find a vet ASAP.

Other than that, it wouldn't hurt to give him a dewormer. If he vomits within 10-15 minutes after giving him the dewormer, you may want to give him a smidge more to cover what was vomited.

Make sure he is getting plenty of water, too. Since his weight is so low, and his stool is runny, he is undoubtedly getting dehydrated.

Other than that, make sure you get him to a vet ASAP to have him evaluated. They may be able to give you something, or suggest something that may bulk him up a bit so that he is healthier and can gain weight easier.

Answer 6

If you're positive it is worms that he puked up, I'd think the risk is better to take.
Since the damn worms are depleting him so and sucking all the nourishment that he is taking in.
ONLY a wee bit, very wee,... maybe then give him some raw egg YOLK only mixed with evaporated (condensed) diluted milk,.. for protein to build up a little strength.
Poor little guy is so lucky he ended up in your home!

Answer 7

First thing in the morning call a vet, any vet. That cat is so full of worms he needs medical attention now if he is to survive. Don't give him anything more as you may be making it worse with the kittens dehydration and malnurished body.

Answer 8

take him to a vet as soon as you can. in the mean time feed him kitten formula, wet food, and try to find some cat vitamins, you can buy them at walmart in the pet section. you can give him dewormer, it will help him a lot. good luck, i really hope the poor little guy makes it.