Someone brought me 2 orphaned kittens last week. I've named them Yoko & Dear Prudence (I had just watched a John Lennon documentary the night before and these songs were stuck in my head.) They're about 3 weeks old now and I haven't really had any problems with them.. until today. I ran out of kitten formula last night and was unable to find a store that carried any in our small town. I decided to go with a baby formula until I could run to the feed barn and see if they had kitten formula. The feed barn didn't have any kitten formula, but said a colostrum mix would be just as good, if not better. Yoko is not having anything to do with any of this, and I have to be extra patient with her during feedings. Dear Prudence will eat anything that doesn't eat her first. Here is my problem: Both kittens are having bowel movements, but Dear Prudence has not urinated all day! I'm terribly concerned. I've since found kitten formula and I plan on switching them back during our midnight feeding. Am I making a mountain out of a mole hill? Or should I be concerned? HELP!
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » Purrs
3 week old orphan suddenly unable to urinate
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Welcome to TDK.Since you now have the formula that they better tolerate and that Yoko eats I would switch them now to get them eating. Lack of intake for Yoko is probably what is causing her to have little output.
At least that's my assessment. Please let us know how it goes. We aren't vets but there are many knowledgeable people here.
And thanks very much for taking them both in. -
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Hi, Dittle, you should switch them back as soon as possible -- I hope the midnight feeding is their next feed. What kind of animal was the colostrum mix intended for? What does it have in it, apart from colostrum? I would be inclined to at least ring the vet tomorrow, ask his or her advice and whether he should see Dear Prudence. I guess it's possible that the colostrum mix is a bit strong for her tiny digestive system but it's a good sign that she's pooping.
My concern with Prudence would be, has she not peed because she's dehydrated? It's good that she's got enough fluids in her to poop. I would give her the tent test, which I'll post below -- if she seems dehydrated, you need to get some fluids in her -- pedialyte from the store, or I can also give you a home-made recipe for pedialyte. If you're using powdered KMR, I would mix it with pedialyte instead of water for the next few feeds. If you're using liquid KMR, hopefully that will have enough fluids in it to rehydrate her if that's what the problem is.
I'll also give you the links for kitten glop recipes -- home-made formula. This, or canned goats milk, is much better than human formula. If you use human baby formula, you have to make it up to double strength but it would only be an emergency measure.
You're wonderful for raising these little ones. I hope Prudence pees soon for you, and that it's the right colour (straw-coloured, nearly clear). If it's dark yellow and concentrated, she needs more fluids.
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The tent test:
Pick up a good pinch of her skin at the neck and let go.If it snaps back immediately, she's hydrated okay. If it takes a little time to go back down, or, worse, it stays up in a 'tent' shape, Prudence needs fluids. The best way to get them is for a vet to inject them subcutaneously but you can also give her pedialyte (from a supermarket or store, children's aisle) or we can give you a recipe for home-made.Home-made pedialyte:
* Pedialyte formula (from World Health Organization)...no preservatives so short life-span
* 1 cup water (boiled then cooled)
* 2 tsp sugar
* 1/8 tsp salt
* 1/8 tsp baking soda
* (this Pedialyte formula gives needed electrolytes & some sugar for energy)
Make new after 24 hours. -
Kitten glop:
INGREDIENTS:
* 12 oz can evaporated milk
* 1/2 cup water
* 1 egg yolk
* 1 tsp kayro syrup
* 1-2 drops of vitamin* Pedialyte formula (from World Health Organization)...no preservatives so short life-span
* 1 cup water
* 2 tsp sugar
* 1/8 tsp salt
* 1/8 tsp baking soda
* (this Pedialyte formula gives needed electrolytes & some sugar for energy)Combine all ingredients and warm slightly.
(Don't use egg whites, they're not good for kittens, only the yolk).
More links with recipes for kitten glop:
http://www.hdw-inc.com/glop.htm
http://www.messybeast.com/handrear.htm -
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Thanks for all the info! I tried the tent test on her. She doesn't seem to be dehydrated. (Phew!) But she did wake up and when she heard my voice she came crying, so I went ahead and fed her some formula. I tried to get her to urinate, but nothing. The colostrum is a multi-species colostrum supplement and contains the following:
Dried Whey Protein Concentrate, Dried Whey Product, Animal Fat, Dried Milk, Dried Whey, Dextrose, Calcium Carbonate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Dried Skimmed Milk, Sodium Selenite, I-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate, dI-Methionine, Sodium Silico Aluminate, Maltodextrin, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Taurine, Artificial Flavor, Magnesium Sulfate, Choline Chloride, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Ascorbic Acid, Niacin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Folic Acid, Mineral Oil, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Sulfate, Cobalt Sulfate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Calicium IodateThey don't have a litter box yet. Mainly, because I have to help them eliminate still. I haven't found any wet spots in their bedding either.
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Well, I'm no chemist but so far as I can guess, there doesn't seem to be anything in there that jumps out as maybe not good for her. The only cows milk is skimmed and dried (which means it's not rich enough for her on a regular basis) but it shouldn't upset her wee tum too much, I wouldn't think. (Bear in mind I'm no vet or anything.) But there are a lot of dried products in there. Maybe that's why she's not peeing so much?
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I called the vet and he agreed that I should switch them back to their formula. (Which I had done last night.) Yoko is still doing fine, and is happy to have her formula! But Dear Prudence still hasn't urinated. She also has not had a bowel movement today. Any other ideas?
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It would be good to get them a small catbox(non clumping litter only) and start placing them in it. They will take to it amazingly well. Is Prudence,alert and playful,being her regular self or lethargic and sleeping more than usual? If there is a change in her level of awareness I would take her to the vet. If not I would imagine that she is weeing someplace because after three weeks they can pee on their own but not poo. Let us know.
Who is that in your avatar? She is a gorgeous kitten! -
Try giving her just plain water. Force feed her if you have to. Replace her next feed with water instead of KMR, and if she doesnt pee within the next few hours, I would take her to the vet. If she has a urinary tract blockage or something, she'd be getting really uncomfortable by now. Do you know if its possible that she's maybe peeing somewhere else? Like on the blanket in their box (wherever it is that you keep them)? Do they move around in your house where she might be able to pee on something else? I like keeping puppy training pads in my foster kitty cage - that way I can 'see' any accidents they may have had, since kitten pee doesnt really smell, and it might dry fairly quickly.
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I just started her on electrolytes. When she goes to sleep she props her front legs up against something, like it hurts to lay on her belly. At this point, she's really beginning to swell. On the upside, she did have another bowel movement today. I'm 95% sure she isn't urinating anywhere. I take them everywhere with me, so they don't really have much time to themselves. Prudence isn't her normal playful self either. She is lethargic and hasn't been cuddling with her sister during naps.
Thanks for letting me know about the litter box. I had no idea they could urinate by themselves.. I've been stimulating her sister after every meal still. :) And yes, that's my Dear Prudence as my avatar. I think she's pretty darn adorable, as well.
If she hasn't urinated by tomorrow morning, I'm definitely taking her to see the vet. If she does have a blockage, what will they be able to do to remedy this situation?
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I should hope so. Maybe feed a tiny catheter into her bladder and flush it out, or they would probably manually express the built up urine and then start her on antibiotics.
When you said multi species colostrum was what you used - would that be typically intended for livestock?
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Did they recommend mixing it to a different ration for smaller animals? Large animals like cows and horses need a lot more calcium and phosphates than smaller animals do. I know excess calcium can cause blockages, but I've only ever heard of it happening over a period of time, not this quickly. I would vote for a vet, especially since she's swelling and becoming uncomfortable. That would indicate to me that she is producing urine, she just cant get it out. I'm hoping that just expressing the urine and starting her on antibiotics will do the trick. How soon can you get her to a vet? How long has it been since she has peed?
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Possibility, but not likely. Kittens as young as yours aren't easy to hand raise. There could be any number of problems that have nothing to do with the love and care you are giving them.
Take the container with you to the vet, though, so he can see what's in it.
Posted 1 year ago by CheetahBoysmommy #
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CBM, the hump for me is usually 3 weeks, thats when I stop worrying so much about them. Cant think why everything would have been going ok there i.t.o feeding & toiletting and then now something goes wrong in that department. I've never heard of a disease process that would cause this?
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I think now I'd get her to the vet sooner if you can. One of my kitties, Max, once got a blockage from the old dry cat food and he nearly died. I'm worried that if you keep pushing fluids at her and she just can't pee, that that might hurt rather than help the situation but at the same time, you can't let her get dehydrated -- which is why I'd be ringing the vet.
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I took Dear Prudence to the vet first thing this morning. She did have a blockage and they were unable to get a catheter to her bladder. The vet emptied her bladder with a needle. He must have busted her bladder, because she died on my lap on the way home. I'm absolutely heart broken. He has no idea what formed the blockage.
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Now my poor little Yoko is sick :( She will not eat and has begun sneezing! She was fine until yesterday. I read that spending 20 minutes in a crate, with a humidifier and a towel draped across will help her congestion. Is this a good idea or no? She is so congested that she has begun wheezing. Please help!
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I am so sorry about little Dear Prudence. That picture of her stole my heart.
i would get Yoko to the vet immediately. she probably had a brewing URI already, and the shock of losing her sister weakened her delicate system. I do not know exactly what happened with the other vet, whether you feel comfortable with him or not, but please get Yoko to someone right away. *Hugs*
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Steaming will help Yoko if she has a URI. Do that while you wait for her vet appointment. If you don't have a humidifier, you can use the steam from a shower or bathtub. Hold her and keep her warm and let her breath the steam for 20 minutes.
An older cat can sometimes fight off a cold by herself, but a kitten should really see the vet.
Cats need to smell their food and that's hard to do when their little noses are stuffed up. Kittens can dehydrate very quickly so try mushing up her wet food with warm water. It will make it smell better to her and get some extra liquid into her system.
What did the vet say when you told him about Dear Prudence? It's unusual for a vet to make that kind of a mistake when using a syringe to empty the bladder. Could something else have been the cause of her passing.
Posted 1 year ago by CheetahBoysmommy #
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