Anybody their need help asap please

[Sonumb]

Me again

Managed to get my 5 week old kittens an emergency appointment at the vets today - Were given eye drops & tablets & I were also told I have to feed the little one every 2 hours else she won't make it til the end of the week so obviously I'm going to try my best but as the vet says its pretty much down to luck whether she survives .

it took me half n hour to get a quarter of a tablet in her and some lactose free milk (couldn't get hold of any lactol formula so improvised as beat as I could) she isn't so willing to be fed unlike her brothers who willy happily lie their and drink it all

She is very wriggly/scratchy/bitey when trying to feed etc even though I have her wrapped in something she is like Houdini

Is their a best way to hold them while feeding them ?

How on earth do I get the tablets in to them ? (a quarter each twice a day)

Where on earth do I buy kitten formula from ?

Is their anything else I can do to help her gain weight pretty quickly ?

Sorry for all the questions , The vet I saw was rather evasive

I'm around but I'm afraid that I just don't have the extensive experience of, say, issey or TCN in this area. Hopefully, one of them will check the board before bed.

Did the vet not offer you kitten formula, So ?

Oh - and do you have any nearby rescues who could help you out here? You're having a rough old time with these little ones and they might have some experienced fosterers or rescue staff who could give you a hand for a week or two.

PS - I'm wondering if the vet was evasive because it isn't looking so good for the smallest one. And sometimes, despite best efforts, kittens do fail.

But you knew that anyway.

i havent hand reared kitten but the kitten milk the rescue i work at uses cimicat formula could you ring round other vets and see if they can get you some, and to hand feed kittens stand them upright as if you tip them backwards like a human baby the milk can go in their lungs, did the vet give you kitten feeders or syringes, what you need ar like small baby bottles with a very fine teat on them more natural than a syringe, sorry i cant be much more help, you could also smear the milk on her lips as she will then lick it back off and get some that way, the tablets crush them between two spoons then mix with a little kitten milk and syringe down their throat or face the kitten away from you tip her head back and drop the tab as far as possiblwe, then close her mouth and keep closed till she swallows

Yeah I knew that Cozie

They didn't have any formula in stock at my vets so they couldn't help with that & because the appointment was at 7pm all the pet shops were shut

How would I find out about other fosterers that may be able to help ?

The other two have doubled in weight since last Monday so lord knows why the other one isn't

Issey I were given several syringes which they seem more than happy to drink out of , Its just the female that doesn't seem to want to take any milk in as she just spits it all out

I'll ring round my local vets first thing

i dont know what to suggest with her as all the kittens ive seen hand fed at the rescue have drunk their milk in about ten seconds flat, ring local rescues they might have an experienced fosterer who might be willing to ring you with some advice or take on the poorly kitten for a few days to see if they can do anything

Thanks ever so much issey I'll try that as well

I've just ordered some milk and bottles online so I can collect from Pets at Home first thing

Phew - issey.

Splitting them up might be the thing if it's just her that's needing the extra attention right now.

The best position to feed a kitten is to have them testing on their belly. If the kitten is able to clean himself you could try crushing the tablet with a drop of milk or wet food and smear on his paw. Cats hate being dirty and will usually luck it off but he might be too young for that.
Sorry I'm not much help but good luck and I hope he pulls through x

Well done So. Best of luck and keep us in touch with developments.

*she

*resting not testing. Stupid predictive text!

I'll deffo update as I'm much too scared to sleep

Thanks everybody

your welcome have been drag racing today so wasnt around earlier hopefully someone will be able to help goodnight all slave pit tommorow so i had better go to bed

nippy these little three seem to love been dirty & are constantly rolling about in food etc

They do clean themselves , just not too often

How are they doing?

So far so good I'd say though I did take the little one back to the vets yesterday as I were concerned over her breathing but they said their was nothing they could do to help her

I'm just about to feed her and give them all their medicine so no doubt I'll be covered in lots of bites/scratches

She isn't feeding well at all though she is very reluctant to take the bottle so I have to kinda squeeze a bit in to her mouth every few minutes & just pray it isn't going in to her lungs

She is full of life though running about & playing so hopefully thats a good sign

I was wondering how things were. Fingers crossed for all of them, particularly for the little one.

Thanks Cozie

Her belly seems either full or swollen

How can I tell which it is ?

Have you stimulated her recently, So ? She shouldn't really need it by this stage but she does seem very behind.

PS - did you manage to contact any of the rescue about an experienced fosterer taking her at least off your hands? It doesn't look good for her and - try as you might - with the vets washing their hands of her .....

No such luck with fosterers

Her mum is feeding/stimulating etc I'm just topping her up to help with weight gain etc

Is she getting fair goes at the Milk Bar? And is Mum on a high quality diet with lots of liquid?

Mums on a good diet though I'm going to increase what she eats

she seems to get fair goes .

How can increase what the mum eats without making her Ill/over feeding them ?