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#11
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Kitten status - day 3
Glad to hear that the two little ones are doing well, other than the diarrhea. They sound adorable! I've done a lot of fostering and have found that mixing some of the KMR formula with wet kitten food (into a gruel) gives them the best of both. I would also get some Forti-Flora (from the vet I think) or some Bene-Bac (pet supply store) to help them with the beneficial bacteria that they would usually get from mom's milk. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...&pcatid=35 63 For dry food, Royal Canin Baby Cat is good - teeny tiny kibbles just the right size. It's kind of expensive though. As far as their sore behinds, We usually put the same stuff they put on human babies when they have sore behinds. Something like Desitin on the sore area to protect it. Good luck with the babies. Keep us informed about how they are doing. Debbie On Oct 31, 6:04*pm, wrote: The two little babies are *adorable*. They're both Siamese/tabby mixes, probably lilac point. They are very playful - all they want to do is attack each other or me. I think I've taught them not to bite hard, which they were doing at first. Each time they bit hard enough to cause pain, I made a somewhat loud, high-pitched noise. Each time I did that, they stopped at looked at me in surprise. But now I notice that when they play-bite me, they're both very gentle. I should probably train them not to scratch, but that's a harder sell, since that's the main thing they do when playing! My arms and hands are covered with tiny kitten scratches. I am worried about them in one way - they've both had diarrhea since Saturday. Jackie, my contact from the rescue group, says that it's because they suddenly had to go from mother's milk to solid food, and their digestive systems are trying to adjust. I hope that's all it is. I have them in a large cage with a metal bottom, so I put a towel in it for warmth and comfort. I've had to switch towels about 6 times since Saturday because they keep pooping on it. They also use the little litterbox I put in there. I've been feeding them Wellness chicken wet food, which was Jackie's recommendation. They don't eat all of it, but they are apparently eating enough, since their litterbox also has several poops in it. Another suggestion from Jackie: a spoonful of pumpkin mixed in their wet food. So I did that yesterday, also adding in some water, because I'm worried they're getting dehydrated. But a few hours later I had to change the towel again because they had more diarrhea, which was a lot more liquid than previous times. That seems like it's getting worse, not better. The other thing I've been giving them is KMR (a kitten milk formula for kittens who've been weaned too soon). I'm wondering if that's what giving them the runs. It's very rich. Anyway, I called Jackie yesterday with a report about their health, and that's when she suggested the pumpkin. I guess I should call her again today to tell her that it might be getting worse. Poor babies. Their butts are also really enflamed and red and look very sore. I put some petroleum jelly on them for that - hope it helps. Despite all this, they seem lively and alert. They clamor for attention whenever I come into the room. (They're shut away from Licky and Roxy for the time being.) As I said, they're very playful and seem to have a lot of energy. They keep biting each other's necks - practicing the killing bite, no doubt. And they're very curious, but I'm not letting them explore the bedroom yet because they're still a bit uncoordinated (they're only 5 weeks old) and I don't want anyone to get hurt. The bedroom isn't exactly kitten-proof. Also, I don't want to discover a puddle of diarrhea on my carpet or bed. If anyone has other suggestions for dealing with kitten diarrhea, please let me know. I know it can be very dangerous, so I'm watching carefully - although to be honest, I can't tell whether the fur on the back of their neck goes down slowly or quickly when I pick it up. They're both small and fuzzy, so it's hard to see something that subtle. But I'm wondering if they should get subq fluids, or if there's something else I can try. Of course, I'm not going to do anything without Jackie's OK, since she's far more experienced with such young kittens, and I wouldn't want to do something inadvertently harmful. Meanwhile, R & L seem to be on a hunger strike of sorts. I guess they're stressed about the kittens. They do eat a little, but I've been tossing out a lot of leftovers from their plates in the past couple of days. I think I'm going to have to buy them some low-end cat food - aka kitty McDonald's. It's not health food, but they *do* eat it. I hope the kittens get over their diarrhea soon, so I can begin introductions. I'm not sure how long I'll have these kittens - it could be several weeks or a few months. I'd like to be able to let them have the run of the house when they get a little bigger. -- Joyce Beauty and music seduce us first; later, ashamed of our own sensuality, we insist on meaning. * * * * * * * * *-- Clive Barker |
#12
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Kitten status - day 3
Thanks, Debbie. I emailed the other woman who took two of the kittens
from the same litter, and she says they're doing fine, no diarrhea. So that makes me think it's *not* a parasite, since wouldn't they all be infected? It seems like a big coincidence if I just happened to get the two that are infected and she got two who, by some miracle, didn't pick up this very contagious parasite. My two had the diarrhea right from the day I first took them home. I left a message with my contact from the rescue group, passing on the suggestions I got here, about bringing in a stool sample. Personally, I'd also like to see them get subq fluids, because after several days of diarrhea they must be getting dehydrated. But I don't know if the vet would recommend that. I would hvae jumped on this faster today, but I had my own medical mini- crisis this morning, and had to drive 50 miles each way to see a specialist (I'm OK now). Anyway, I hope to get this resolved asap. dberrycat wrote: Glad to hear that the two little ones are doing well, other than the diarrhea. They sound adorable! I've done a lot of fostering and have found that mixing some of the KMR formula with wet kitten food (into a gruel) gives them the best of both. I would also get some Forti-Flora (from the vet I think) or some Bene-Bac (pet supply store) to help them with the beneficial bacteria that they would usually get from mom's milk. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...&pcatid=35 63 For dry food, Royal Canin Baby Cat is good - teeny tiny kibbles just the right size. It's kind of expensive though. As far as their sore behinds, We usually put the same stuff they put on human babies when they have sore behinds. Something like Desitin on the sore area to protect it. Good luck with the babies. Keep us informed about how they are doing. Debbie On Oct 31, 6:04*pm, wrote: The two little babies are *adorable*. They're both Siamese/tabby mixes, probably lilac point. They are very playful - all they want to do is attack each other or me. I think I've taught them not to bite hard, which they were doing at first. Each time they bit hard enough to cause pain, I made a somewhat loud, high-pitched noise. Each time I did that, they stopped at looked at me in surprise. But now I notice that when they play-bite me, they're both very gentle. I should probably train them not to scratch, but that's a harder sell, since that's the main thing they do when playing! My arms and hands are covered with tiny kitten scratches. I am worried about them in one way - they've both had diarrhea since Saturday. Jackie, my contact from the rescue group, says that it's because they suddenly had to go from mother's milk to solid food, and their digestive systems are trying to adjust. I hope that's all it is. I have them in a large cage with a metal bottom, so I put a towel in it for warmth and comfort. I've had to switch towels about 6 times since Saturday because they keep pooping on it. They also use the little litterbox I put in there. I've been feeding them Wellness chicken wet food, which was Jackie's recommendation. They don't eat all of it, but they are apparently eating enough, since their litterbox also has several poops in it. Another suggestion from Jackie: a spoonful of pumpkin mixed in their wet food. So I did that yesterday, also adding in some water, because I'm worried they're getting dehydrated. But a few hours later I had to change the towel again because they had more diarrhea, which was a lot more liquid than previous times. That seems like it's getting worse, not better. The other thing I've been giving them is KMR (a kitten milk formula for kittens who've been weaned too soon). I'm wondering if that's what giving them the runs. It's very rich. Anyway, I called Jackie yesterday with a report about their health, and that's when she suggested the pumpkin. I guess I should call her again today to tell her that it might be getting worse. Poor babies. Their butts are also really enflamed and red and look very sore. I put some petroleum jelly on them for that - hope it helps. Despite all this, they seem lively and alert. They clamor for attention whenever I come into the room. (They're shut away from Licky and Roxy for the time being.) As I said, they're very playful and seem to have a lot of energy. They keep biting each other's necks - practicing the killing bite, no doubt. And they're very curious, but I'm not letting them explore the bedroom yet because they're still a bit uncoordinated (they're only 5 weeks old) and I don't want anyone to get hurt. The bedroom isn't exactly kitten-proof. Also, I don't want to discover a puddle of diarrhea on my carpet or bed. If anyone has other suggestions for dealing with kitten diarrhea, please let me know. I know it can be very dangerous, so I'm watching carefully - although to be honest, I can't tell whether the fur on the back of their neck goes down slowly or quickly when I pick it up. They're both small and fuzzy, so it's hard to see something that subtle. But I'm wondering if they should get subq fluids, or if there's something else I can try. Of course, I'm not going to do anything without Jackie's OK, since she's far more experienced with such young kittens, and I wouldn't want to do something inadvertently harmful. Meanwhile, R & L seem to be on a hunger strike of sorts. I guess they're stressed about the kittens. They do eat a little, but I've been tossing out a lot of leftovers from their plates in the past couple of days. I think I'm going to have to buy them some low-end cat food - aka kitty McDonald's. It's not health food, but they *do* eat it. I hope the kittens get over their diarrhea soon, so I can begin introductions. I'm not sure how long I'll have these kittens - it could be several weeks or a few months. I'd like to be able to let them have the run of the house when they get a little bigger. -- Joyce Beauty and music seduce us first; later, ashamed of our own sensuality, we insist on meaning. * * * * * * * * *-- Clive Barker -- Joyce There is no alternative to being yourself. |
#14
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Kitten status - day 3
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#15
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Kitten status - day 3
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#16
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Kitten status - day 3
Sorry to hear that you are having some health issues too! I hope that
resolves soon. Diarrhea in young kittens is frequent and can be tough to figure out. Their digestive systems are still maturing and it seems anything can throw them off. I have sometimes found that "kitten" wet food is too rich and they do better on regular wet cat food with some kitten formula mixed with it, and Baby Cat (Royal Canin) along with it. The kittens don't have the flora to digest well yet, so that is why I suggested the BeneBac or Forti Flora. It is possible they have round worms and it might be a good idea to go ahead and deworm them. We use Strongid, which is pretty benign to the kittens. For their age/size I would use .25 ml each, then again in 2 weeks to get the worms that were still eggs. It probably would be a good idea to take a stool sample in to a vet and to have they checked over while you are there just to make sure it isn't anything nasty. I agree though, if one gets a nasty they all usually do. The vet could determine if they need fluids or not. Even without any parasites one kitten can have diarrhea even when none of the others do. Doesn't happen as often with kittens who nurse from their mom. I hope they are doing better soon. If your rescue group can manage the cost, it is always best to have them checked out with the vet just in case. Debbie Berry snipped On Nov 1, 5:09*pm, wrote: Thanks, Debbie. I emailed the other woman who took two of the kittens from the same litter, and she says they're doing fine, no diarrhea. So that makes me think it's *not* a parasite, since wouldn't they all be infected? It seems like a big coincidence if I just happened to get the two that are infected and she got two who, by some miracle, didn't pick up this very contagious parasite. My two had the diarrhea right from the day I first took them home. I left a message with my contact from the rescue group, passing on the suggestions I got here, about bringing in a stool sample. Personally, I'd also like to see them get subq fluids, because after several days of diarrhea they must be getting dehydrated. But I don't know if the vet would recommend that. I would hvae jumped on this faster today, but I had my own medical mini- crisis this morning, and had to drive 50 miles each way to see a specialist (I'm OK now). Anyway, I hope to get this resolved asap. |
#17
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My (fairly minor) medical problem (was: Kitten status - day 3)
dberrycat wrote:
Sorry to hear that you are having some health issues too! I hope that resolves soon. It has been, thank you. This post has a mild grossness warning. The topic in question is ear wax, and lots of it. I've had a lot of wax in my ears that has affected my hearing somewhat over the past several months so I decided to have them flushed out. (Or as they say in the doctor's office, they would perform "lavage", because things sound much less gross if you say it in French. ;-P ) So I went in on Monday afternoon and the nurse put drops in my ears. I waited about 30 minutes for the drops to loosen things up, and then the nurse came back amd started the process, which consisted of her squirting water in my ear from a squirt bottle. Not very effective. Then she and the doctor decided they weren't able to do anything for me and I should see a specialist, so they wrote out a referral. However, the specialist couldn't see me until November 22. In the meantime, my ears were feeling more and more blocked up. It wasn't from the water, because she only did one ear and then gave up, and I was losing hearing in both ears. So it had to be from the drops. By late Monday night, I couldn't hear the sound of two fingers rubbing together, right next to my ear. I started to get alarmed because I thought maybe I was having a bad reaction to the drops and my hearing was getting damaged. Did I mention I'm something of a hypochondriac? By morning, both ears were totally blocked. I was really freaking by then. I called the doctor's office back and asked them to help me get a specialist appointment that day, because no way could I put up with being partially deaf for 3 weeks. It was like wearing ear plugs. I could hear louder sounds (people talking to me on the phone had to raise their voice), but normal speech was difficult. Anyway, the nurse managed to find me an appointment to see an ENT*, about an hour's drive away, but it sure was worth it!! The doctor stuck this little metal tube in each ear, and, in under 10 minutes, vacuumed it all out. (He then found it necessary to *show* me what he had removed, LOL.) Woo hoo - low decibels are back! As well as high pitches! I can hear kitten squeaks and Roxy's almost-silent meow! Thanks for asking. (*ENT = "ear, nose and throat" medical specialty) -- Joyce Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me, either. Just leave me the hell alone. -- Unknown |
#18
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My (fairly minor) medical problem (was: Kitten status - day 3)
wrote in message ... dberrycat wrote: Sorry to hear that you are having some health issues too! I hope that resolves soon. It has been, thank you. This post has a mild grossness warning. The topic in question is ear wax, and lots of it. I've had a lot of wax in my ears that has affected my hearing somewhat over the past several months so I decided to have them flushed out. (Or as they say in the doctor's office, they would perform "lavage", because things sound much less gross if you say it in French. ;-P ) So I went in on Monday afternoon and the nurse put drops in my ears. I waited about 30 minutes for the drops to loosen things up, and then the nurse came back amd started the process, which consisted of her squirting water in my ear from a squirt bottle. Not very effective. Then she and the doctor decided they weren't able to do anything for me and I should see a specialist, so they wrote out a referral. However, the specialist couldn't see me until November 22. In the meantime, my ears were feeling more and more blocked up. It wasn't from the water, because she only did one ear and then gave up, and I was losing hearing in both ears. So it had to be from the drops. By late Monday night, I couldn't hear the sound of two fingers rubbing together, right next to my ear. I started to get alarmed because I thought maybe I was having a bad reaction to the drops and my hearing was getting damaged. Did I mention I'm something of a hypochondriac? By morning, both ears were totally blocked. I was really freaking by then. I called the doctor's office back and asked them to help me get a specialist appointment that day, because no way could I put up with being partially deaf for 3 weeks. It was like wearing ear plugs. I could hear louder sounds (people talking to me on the phone had to raise their voice), but normal speech was difficult. Anyway, the nurse managed to find me an appointment to see an ENT*, about an hour's drive away, but it sure was worth it!! The doctor stuck this little metal tube in each ear, and, in under 10 minutes, vacuumed it all out. (He then found it necessary to *show* me what he had removed, LOL.) Woo hoo - low decibels are back! As well as high pitches! I can hear kitten squeaks and Roxy's almost-silent meow! Thanks for asking. (*ENT = "ear, nose and throat" medical specialty) -- Joyce Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me, either. Just leave me the hell alone. -- Unknown I am not sure but I heard using some hydrogen peroxide works wonders http://www.ehow.com/way_5292520_home...-build-up.html |
#19
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My (fairly minor) medical problem
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#20
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My (fairly minor) medical problem
MLB wrote:
I have been there and have done that many times. Some people seem to build up more wax than others. IMHO it is from years of having to use the telephones so much. (Nature's way of protecting the ear drum). In my case, it's from years of listening to loud rock'n'roll through headphones. I now have it done every two to three years. The doctor has me use the softening drops for about five days before my appointment. I tried that and it didn't work (for the primary care doctor). The specialist has better equipment for dealing with this kind of stuff. I asked him why he has it and my regular doctor doesn't, and he said it's very expensive. And since a general practitioner doesn't spend most of their time cleaning people's ears, it would not be a good investment for them. The kittens sound adorable. t will break yur heart when they leave. I think it will be sad, yes. But probably also a relief. It's a lot of work to take care of 4 cats and keep 2 of them separated from the other two. I'm enjoying them, especially now that I don't have to clean and disinfect their cage twice a day. I was really tempted to let Roxy in to see them, but decided not to because I figured that would stress the kittens and that is not what they need. But Roxy often sits outside the door, very curious to see who's on the other side. -- Joyce - Mommy loves you too my sweaty litter baby fire - Ummm what mom? - MY SWEET LITTLE BABY GIRL!! sorry honey! -- damnyouautocorrect.com |
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