Kitten w/ diarrhea

[foster08]

Hello,
I have a foster kitten named brown sugar. She has had cat parvo and coccidia. She is about 12-13 weeks old. She is eating both science diet wet food and dry food, as well as fancy feast kitten wet food. Her sister Pecan has been taken to the vet with the same problems but not eating or drinking much water. They have no idea what is wrong with pecan. Both cats have been cleared for over 2 weeks with the coccidia and a month with parvo.
I have done some research on home remedies, and I have seen that eggs and plain chicken helps.
What have you done to help Diarraha? Any advice?
Thank you!

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

So both of them had coccidia and "parvo", which for cats is actually called panleukopenia, and both have been pronounced free of those things? I think that is what I am reading. Since Pecan still has diarrhea (is it STILL or is it starting up again?), did the Vet recently do another fecal just to make sure she didn't reinfect herself somehow? As far as her not eating, this is critical for a growing kitten. How long has she not been eating? You can try pretty much anything to get her eating, but it needs to be nutritionally complete for a cat, which eggs or chicken are not. A WHOLE chicken would be, meaning if you include the liver and bones, which I'm guessing you are not interested in doing, since that is quite a balancing act to get the ratio's correct. You can feed a poached chicken breast without any herbs or seasoning for a day or two, or eggs for a day or two, but that's really it for a growing kitten. BUT, if she has no appetite, chances are she won't eat them.

A Vet having no idea what is wrong is not really a good "theory" for cat healthcare IMHO. You might try getting a second opinion. Did they offer giving her some sub-q fluids or some nutrition through a nasal tube or anything? To me, the issue of not eating or drinking is much more urgent than the diarrhea at this moment in time. (unless I am completely misreading your post, which may be possible since you posted in Nutrition rather than Health)

 

[foster08]

So pecan is still at the vet and labeled stable. Both kittens are sisters and had contracted the parvo from the queen at birth. Both cats have been cleared of parvo for about a month. They've been cleared of the coccidia for about 2-3 weeks. Pecan has been under observation at the vet receiving care for about a week or a week and a half. Diarrhea just started up about a day or two for brown sugar.
Let me repeat these are foster kittens for the county. I have no control over who they see. Brown sugar is eating and drinking perfectly fine. if anything her hunger and thirst have increased- as a growing kitten should. We have yet to take brown sugar to the vet due to the fact the vet (at the shelter) has still not released her sister thus leaving us without a carrier to transport. They have done a fecal exam on pecan and she tested negative for coccidia. Pecan has been receiving fluid and I'm not concerned about her health.
I am concerned about Brown sugar. She is the one whom I still have at home who is dealing with diarrhea. I am hoping not to have to take Brown Sugar to the shelter to see their vet. i prefer to keep them in my care for as long as possible considering some not-so-nice experiences I've had (One foster kitten I had passed after the shelter did not follow through with their promise to check into a kitten, she passed away 3 days later, the night we were supposed to pick her up)
As long as I can keep her the better. I need to try everything I can before turning her over to the shelter's care.
I simply want to know the best ways to help brown sugar (who is not in shelter's vets care)

 

[StefanZ]

With much diarrhea, more salts and electrolytes are necessary... Lack of these gives by itself the symptoms of being weak and lethargic...
The easiest is to give pedialyte, best flavorless baby style... You may get to "forcefeed" if she is uninterested / lethargic.

sometimes the vet is forced to give a dose with an injection, to perk them up.

Or some other source of salts. Perhaps just sprinkle in a little of low sodium salt, which contains more of other salts then the most usual kitchen salt.

Goats milk is never wrong, and if you can get raw goats milk, its a plus... This milk comes too from an alive momma, so it has some potential plusses, aside of being decent food / supplement.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

OK, I am needing to clarify again. You only need some ideas on how to stop the diarrhea for Brown Sugar? If so, please flag your post and ask the Moderators to move it over to the Health Forum. Being in the Nutrition Forum is quite confusing (at least for me). Again, I could be off base as I thought the issue was with Pecan not eating

editing to say: Oh, never mind, I see this is NOT in Nutrition after all. Pardon my above comment about asking for this thread to be moved.

 

[StefanZ]

OK, I am needing to clarify again. You only need some ideas on how to stop the diarrhea for Brown Sugar? If so, please flag your post and ask the Moderators to move it over to the Health Forum. Being in the Nutrition Forum is quite confusing (at least for me). Again, I could be off base as I thought the issue was with Pecan not eating

We are already in the preg & kitten forum, so its a suitable forum. Although Health forum is certainly a doable alternative.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

We are already in the preg & kitten forum, so its a suitable forum. Although Health forum is certainly a doable alternative.

Oh! Sorry, yesterday I could have sworn this was in the Nutrition forum. My bad

 

[foster08]

Yesterday, it was in the nutrition forum. I was asking for advice to help Brown Sugar with her diarrhea with home remedies like chicken and rice. Unfortunately, we did have to send her in due to her diarrhea raising significant alarm. This morning she and her sister Pecan were diagnosed with a bacterial infection. After comparing symptoms as now they both are exhibiting the same they were able to narrow down the list of possible illnesses. Treatment sadly takes a minimum of 5 days so I will not have them for what feels like a long time for me. I didn't wanna try anything else when I discovered how bad it had gotten so I decided not to wait anymore and take her in straight away. Once a kitten goes down hill, it is extremely hard to get them to recover (as I know from experience).
Thank you for your help though.

 

[fionasmom]

I didn't wanna try anything else when I discovered how bad it had gotten so I decided not to wait anymore and take her in straight away. Once a kitten goes down hill, it is extremely hard to get them to recover (as I know from experience).

You did the right thing to bring them in for medical help. Please let us know how they do.

The thread was moved from Nutrition because of the conditions mentioned originally and the age of the kittens.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

I know it's lonely without them, but at least now they are can get nutritional support, sup=q fluids as necessary, antibiotics, etc. Hoping they can come back to their temporary home soon

 

[foster08]

At least we have an idea of what was going on. Since we needed to use this specific contracted cleaner, it was quite nice that I didn't have to worry about where the kittens were, or how I was going to clean every inch of my house with them running around. My younger cat Felix (3) has discovered what is going on- he is deeply disappointed. I cleaned my room first (where they stayed) and he slept in my room last night I woke up to him crying at the dog kennel door (the kitten's confined space- commonly spent time there). It's sad- I miss the kitten cuddles but do not miss the scratches. When Felix and I were cuddling last night, he decided he would me. He ended up giving me a little too strong of a love bite and drawing blood on my face. He felt bad and I told him no. I didn't mean to get mad at him, it was 12:30 am. But I apologized and gave him treats, so he accepted my apology and gave me kisses on my nose.
I am awaiting an update from the foster care coordinator to let us know if we will be getting them back after. But the two kitkittens'ther were sent to a cat cafe to get adopted out, she ended up with a serious case of a cold. So the queen is back in the shelter too.
I just keep thinking to myself, this litter has had it rough—Parvo to a slight kitty cold to coccidia and now a bacterial infection. Once the diaphragm stops they are getting a load of cuddles and love.

 

[foster08]

Update!
Last night, we picked up Brown Sugar and Pecan from the vet! Pecan has gained sustainable weight—even the vet has said, " She's fat." Unfortunately, Brown Sugar is on two medications to help with the diarrhea and sores caused by pooing so much.
I checked on them this morning—only one accident outside the box (as there was plenty in the box)! We are keeping them quarantined to ensure the infection is no longer present and to keep our other animals healthy.

 

[fionasmom]

Thank you for letting us know the good news! Please update us as you can.

 

[foster08]

Pecan giving me cuddles before dinner

 

[foster08]

Pecan giving me cuddles before dinner