Penny & Current Issues With Overpopulation

[DeweytheLion]

We'll be home tomorrow. I'll take them to see a vet then.
But anything I should do until then?
Some are in poor condition, like Nathaniel. I'm most worried about him.

 

[Sarthur2]

You know the routine - get as much pedialyte into them as possible, along with food.

They need a vet desperately. They need metronidazole. It kills parasites and cures gastro-intestinal infections.

I'm just hoping it's not panleukopenia.

 

[DeweytheLion]

We took them to a vet at Petsmart, not ideal but I'm not familiar with this area, I pick them up later. So for now I know nothing.
June had a whitish diarrhea. It's weird.
Not parasites?
Everyone still has an appetite and they're playful.
Only Nathaniel has puked, but everyone has diarrhea. They're stinky and going constantly.

 

[DeweytheLion]

I knew I should have bought a probioctic while I was there, but we didn't.
The vet tech present suggested feeding them Petlac by PetAg as it's easier for sick kittens to digest. So they're feeding them that there and I bought some of my own.
I haven't been feeding them Max Cat kitten food for several days, They ate a lot, could that be it?
White poo is a symptom of infection, I think. Or an imbalance?

 

[Sarthur2]

Yes, white poop is indicative of infection. The bloody stools are worrisome too.

Ask when picking them up if they need metronidazole or albon.

 

[DeweytheLion]

They gave me panacur.

 

[Sarthur2]

Is it helping?

 

[DeweytheLion]

They haven't finished their doses, so we'll see. I'm just going home today so I'll be able to closely monitor them. There is still vomiting.

 

[Sarthur2]

I hate to hear they are still vomiting.

Are they eating okay?

 

[DeweytheLion]

They still have great appetites.

 

[DeweytheLion]

They're nearly done with their doses but I'm still not seeing any improvement. Maybe a little, their poo isn't a white color anymore, and I haven't seen any vomit. Shabuda has hard stools now, but he is the only one.
I'm being plagued with illness myself now, and it seems that what I thought were puncture wounds and scratches are actually ringworm? I can't tell where I've gotten from, but myself and my roommate have it on our hands and she has a spot on her face. I've been sick with the flu and a sinus infection. I can't go into work now either because I work around animals and people and my sicknesses are contagious to both.
Huff.
This was always my biggest nightmare of fostering.
Just to be clear, June had two teeth like puncture marks on her tail, which have healed, but the fur hasn't even begun to show new growth. Puma shows no signs of ringworm at all, but Big Boy's two outer toes on his right front paw has no hair growth, and Shabuda has a spot above his eye.
I'm not sure what exactly to do now, I've taken them all to see a vet twice. I've also tried pumpkin in hopes that the fiber would correct their poo, but it just turned it orange. And it was still runny. I'm so tired and feel so bad for these kittens, I'm nearly ready to surrender.

 

[di and bob]

Don't give up. you are a miracle worker! I'll pray that everything resolves. As for ringworm on you, treat it with a tube of athlete's foot cream and keep the lesions covered with a spot bandage that will keep it from spreading. You have been through so much more than the average caretaker, but I have a feeling it is meant to be, you are their savior! It will get better!

 

[Sarthur2]

No white poop and no vomit is improvement.

Add a few drops of olive oil to the wet food of the one having hard poop.

It sounds like progress to me!

I hope you get better yourself soon, and things will look rosier when you do!

Hang in there!

 

[DeweytheLion]

Here is Big Boy and Puma sleeping on their heated chair with Shabuda.

This is beautiful June.

And big boy again.

 

[DeweytheLion]

Junebug just vomited. I called the vet and they're going to get back to me.
They all still have diarrhea and are apparently still puking. And they've finished the panacur as of today.
What could be wrong?
Edit: the vet's secretary just got back to me and said that she would call me back tomorrow morning. I'm upset. This has gone on for too long.

 

[DeweytheLion]

They all have fairly normal temperature readings, June's was 101.3

 

[Sarthur2]

It sounds like they may have panleukopenia. It's very nasty, and can easily kill kittens. The symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea.

It's most important that they stay hydrated. Sub-q fluids will help.

Additionally, they need an anti-diarrheal med AND an anti-nausea med.

Even if not officially diagnosed, the kittens need to follow this protocol in order to survive and recover.

Here is an article:

Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper) in Cats & Kittens

If they do have panleukopenia, it is not safe for you to care for anymore kittens for a year as the virus can live in the environment for that long, and will infect any new kittens that come in.

I've seen several cases of it on this forum through the summer. It's awful. One member lost all of her kittens and had to close her rescue for now.

 

[DeweytheLion]

If they had distemper, surely they'd be in much worse condition after close to two weeks of the same symptoms?
I was in church and missed the phone call from the vet by 1 minute and she didn't answer when I tried calling back.
I'm a little distraught.
If I don't hear back I'm going to take them to see my friend at the shelter here, she said she would help if she could. Sub-q fluids and an antibiotic at the least.
Thank you, I really hope that's not what this is. Five kittens and three adults contracting distemper? A death sentence for a few..

 

[Sarthur2]

I'm not sure what the vet's secretary can do for you on a Sunday unless the vet is available.

I suggest you go ahead and visit your friend at the shelter.

You are lucky your cats are not in worse condition. That is probably thanks to your good care!

Whatever virus it is, and it is clearly very contagious, your cats also need anti-diarrheal and anti-emetic meds.

 

[Sarthur2]

I just re-read earlier posts related to your cats being sick.

You never tried metronidazole. If your shelter friend has access to that, it may be best to try metronidazole first.

It treats parasites and internal infection.