Sour Milk?

i am fostering 6 week old kittens. They were dewormed yesterday and since then, they have been having diarrhea and vomiting. They haven’t had diarrhea as bad today but they’ve been vomiting every few hours what looks like chunky white vomit.

I called the shelter and they said it’s either works or the moms milk has gone sour. I didn’t know that could happen!!? She said it wasn’t an emergency today but to call tomorrow and come in if they’re still vomiting.

I don’t see any worms and now that she mentions it, it looks EXACTLY alike sour milk. Is that really a thing? They said to bring mom in and they’ll help her dry up. She doesn’t seem engorged and when I try to sweeter milk out none comes. The kittens vomit around the same time as one another which makes me suspect it probably is after nursing. They’re still playing but one of them seems borderline questionably lethargic. He still plays but he’s not as active (then again he never has been really).

I’ll go in tomorrow if they’re still vomiting but any suggestions? Has anyone been through this? It’s my first fostering experience and I love it but it has been stressful not knowing what to expect!

Thank you!!

Worms* not works

Sorry for all the typos!

Anyway, some pedialyte is necessary now.

Don't have much experience with this, but I do know that de-worming meds can cause vomiting and diarrhea. So, perhaps, it is not sour milk so much as vomiting up semi-digested milk? The reaction to deworming can go on for a few days.

Are these kittens eating any canned/wet food at all? They should be.

I have never heard of a mother's milk going sour, especially at this stage of the kitten's process. Mama cats can nurse for a lot longer than yours.

Yes I leave fresh wet food out multiple times a day for them and they have dry food and fresh water too.

I didn’t know the deworming reaction could go on for days, I thought it was a 24 hour thing! It could be semi digested milk because it definitely looks like milk!

The kittens still seem ok when they’re not throwing up. Should I still give pedialyte?

Thank you

Eloise613 said:

Should I still give pedialyte?

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That certainly cannot hurt anything by any means!! Any re-hydration they can get is all the better.

How many deworming treatments are you due to give? Maybe they should wait for any more until they are a couple of weeks older?

FeebysOwner said:

That certainly cannot hurt anything by any means!! Any re-hydration they can get is all the better.

How many deworming treatments are you due to give? Maybe they should wait for any more until they are a couple of weeks older?

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I agree. They do it at the shelter since I’m fostering them so I just bring them in. Their next appointment is 2 weeks from now. They still have some diarrhea and vomiting but I gave pedialyte and will continue to do so today. I read if it’s from the deworming, it can last 2-3 days. I just don’t want them to go downhill

How are things going now?

FeebysOwner said:

How are things going now?

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Thanks for thinking of us!! One of the kittens was still throwing up so I brought him in and they gave him an injection that’s supposed to stop the vomiting. He continued to throw up through the weekend and was losing weight so I took him in and he’s staying a few days for observation. I feel so bad for him and I miss him!

The vet tech told me to separate the babies and the mom to see if they stop throwing up but the kittens love to nurse still and cry for her so I didn’t think they were ready, plus I haven’t seen any of them throwing up anymore. They’re around 6 weeks old and still aren’t showing much interest in solid food. I tried enticing them with baby food and they still didn’t want to. Plus, as soon as I put the food down, the mom starts gobbling it up!

Last night the mama kitty meowed all night. I think she’s looking for her baby

Poor mama and baby. I hope he returns home to you soon and is feeling better!

Leave wet food down for all of them, including mama. She needs to eat a lot, and if she readily has food available she will end up deferring to her babies and let them eat first. If it is left down for a while, perhaps the babies will get curious and try it.

Also, see if there are any suggestions in this thread that you haven't already tried.

Thank you fostering the little kitty family! On all levels, it is soooo much better than living at the shelter. I agree with feeding Mama Kitty as much as she wants; her body knows what it needs. And if the mother isn't actively trying to wean, then I wouldn't push the issue. Kittens who are forced weaned can develop disliked habits such as "wool sucking" .

FeebysOwner said:

Poor mama and baby. I hope he returns home to you soon and is feeling better!

Leave wet food down for all of them, including mama. She needs to eat a lot, and if she readily has food available she will end up deferring to her babies and let them eat first. If it is left down for a while, perhaps the babies will get curious and try it.

Also, see if there are any suggestions in this thread that you haven't already tried.

How Do I Get My 9-week Old Kitten To Eat Solid Food?​

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Thank you so much!! I will take a look. I’ve tried rubbing the wet food on their paws and lips, mixing with KMR and baby food, I’m at a loss! How long can I leave wet food down? When I made gruel for them with KMR people on here said to leave it around 2 hours- does that apply to cans as well?
Thank you!!

catsknowme said:

Thank you fostering the little kitty family! On all levels, it is soooo much better than living at the shelter. I agree with feeding Mama Kitty as much as she wants; her body knows what it needs. And if the mother isn't actively trying to wean, then I wouldn't push the issue. Kittens who are forced weaned can develop disliked habits such as "wool sucking" .

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Awww poor babies! Yes she’s a good mama and nurses whenever they want. This is my first time fostering and I love it but sometimes it’s stressful! I’d love to continue doing it. There’s so many kittens in need! Thank you and I’ll keep leaving wet food out

I don't like leaving canned food out for too long, but I think you can stretch it a little longer than 2 hours. Some members leave canned out for up to 8 hours, but I would be a bit hesitant to go that long with kittens.

FeebysOwner said:

I don't like leaving canned food out for too long, but I think you can stretch it a little longer than 2 hours. Some members leave canned out for up to 8 hours, but I would be a bit hesitant to go that long with kittens.

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Thank you!!! I have been stretching it to 3 hours. Mama doesn’t even want it after that. She’s a snob

Update:

I’m going to call the shelter tomorrow to ask about my little boy. The other 2 kittens are nursing and drinking water but they’re sleeping a lot and not as playful. They’ve also lost some weight. One is 570 grams and one is 598 grams.

This is my first foster experience and I don’t want to lose them. I’d like to continue fostering more kitties and don’t want the shelter to think I did anything wrong I cried

Best to be safer than sorry. You might want to ask for some help from other fosters - I assume you are involved in some sort of network and could possibly ask for some guidance?? I know that in some cases, the fosters are very willing to help one another out. If you can, do it!!

FeebysOwner said:

Best to be safer than sorry. You might want to ask for some help from other fosters - I assume you are involved in some sort of network and could possibly ask for some guidance?? I know that in some cases, the fosters are very willing to help one another out. If you can, do it!!

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Yes!! I posted in a fb group. They’re closed today for Memorial Day so I’m calling first thing in the morning

My "fall-back" protocol is to give pedialyte water plus probiotic support.