I snapped this picture with my phone the second I got home with our dear little Von Tussles.
They were a wee bit crusty when they arrived, and a couple of them had goopy eyes. This can be a symptom for upper-respiratory infections, fortunately it did not lead to that, an ointment cleared their eyes right up, and I was greeted by six sets of bright, blinking eyes the next morning.
I was also greeted by a litter box filled with puddles of poo, so everyone went back to the HS to visit the doctor and they returned with medicine, probiotics, a nutritional supplement, a bag of sub Q fluids and a couple dozen needles.
The one part of fostering I do not like is giving fluids to tiny kittens. I don't mind doing it when they're a little older and a little meatier, but when they're only 13 ounces and on the scrawny side, it's difficult to find the right spot to poke them and even harder to hold them while you do it. These guys are wigglers, too, so it was quite the challenge keeping the needle in long enough to get them properly hydrated. Fortunately, my dear friend Sarah is an expert in needle inserting and kitten holding, and she came by a couple of evenings to give the babies fluids. I am so grateful to her for the help! Thank you, Sarah!
The babies are turning it around, and five out of six are now pooping perfectly! Everyone is eating great and on their own. They're gaining weight, getting bigger, and feeling a lot thicker in the middle.
When Malcolm pooped his first solid poop the other night, I snapped a picture of it and sent it to Sarah. I know that sounds kind of gross, but it made her very happy. Don't worry, I deleted it from my phone and I won't be sharing the picture with you!
I'm so glad we moved through this phase quickly! Onwards and upwards, Von Tussles!!
Glad everyone is doing better now! What a sweet little family of kittens :)
ReplyDeleteBeing a mama to a relatively newly diagnosed diabetic cat, I feel you on the needles. Insulin's easy - blood samples are not.
ReplyDeleteWhen I have to give fluids to itty bitties, I use a syringe and needle instead of a bag, that way I can push it in quicker than it can flow, and if they wiggle away I don't get fluids all over everything.
ReplyDeleteI've tried that too, but found the bag works easier for me.
DeleteSorry to hear the babies need SubQ fluids. Would have chuckled at Malcom's firm poo!
ReplyDeleteI've given lots of sub-Q fluids in my time, but never to babies. The closest I came to your problem, ironically, was a 17-year-old cat that belonged to someone else who was squeamish about it. The kitty was so tiny and frail, I was afraid of hurting her, but Muffin was a trooper. She'd finish up and wobble right into my lap for a purr session. And if you feel the need to post a triumphant poop photo, it's okay by me! I think most of your followers share in your happy defecation dance, Laurie.
ReplyDeleteI understand how exciting perfectly formed poop can be. Anyone who fosters kittens knows what a milestone that is. Best wishes to all the Von Tussles!
ReplyDeleteYes! We are all very excited when we see that first firm poo. Even my nephew, who helps me a lot with kitten fosters, will say "yay, tootsie rolls in the litter box!"
DeleteEvery time I see a group of kittens, I say to myself "Those are the cutest kittens I have ever seen"....I guess that I am a sucker for these little sweethearts. Have fun.
ReplyDeleteI've had my moments of joy seeing my critters pop out bricks after particularly nasty bugs, so I completely understand. Glad that the crew is getting stronger and healthier every day.
ReplyDeleteKitty solid-poop happiness. We've all been there!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a teeny preemie back in the Stone Age, they used subQ fluids on me, between the shoulder blades. No tiny IV's then. I'm now just fine. SO hang in there, little von Tussles, just hang in there. All will be well. Little smoochies for all of you.
ReplyDeleteI'm so surprised to hear that vets allow owners to give subQ fluids to their kitties... I mean, I don't think I could do it myself anyway but any vet I've been to has never suggested it, they've always done it and I assumed that's because their the professionals and know how to administer.
ReplyDeleteIt happens all the time. You don't have to be a vet or vet tech to do it, you just need training, which I have had. I bet if we surveyed this crowd, we would find that many who have had sick cats have learned too. It saves unnecessary trips to the vet, time, and money.
DeleteYep! I was a vet tech in my past life (before I could drink, legally). Anonymous, there are lots of chronic illnesses that require regular sub-q fluids, and it's just not feasible (or cost-conscious) for a mom or dad to be trucking in for every squish of the bag. The process is actually pretty simple and can be mastered with a little guidance. I remember one of my patients got regular sub-q fluids. His mom did most of his treatments, but he'd come in once every two weeks. I always wondered why, since obviously she knew how to do it... then I realized that BOTH she and the kitty just liked to come in and see us! They were just so sweet. - Love, Darin
DeleteMy sister showed me to do sub q fluids on my kitty about 2 yrs ago, and she was shown how by the vet before that for her kitty. Its easy and all you really need to know is where, how much and how often.
DeleteWhen one of my elder kitties was diagnosed with kidney failure, she needed sub-Q 2-3x/week.
DeleteI was taught by the vet tech and then I bit my lower lip and administered that very first 'dose' so I could 'get the feel' while I had someone there to observe.
I made a lovely nook at home with the lower half of her kennel, a lovely soft towel, a pack of her favorite treats, a little catnip on the towel and the bag & stuff ready to go.
I made it a special & indulgent time and pretty soon, if I missed a day - she sat in the hall in front of the half-bath...and meowed loudly. I did not feel so bad once I realized she would *ask* for it...because it made her feel so much better.
Online I found a source that I could get 4x the supplies for the same cost as 1 bag and 2 IV sets and 20 needles with an Rx from the vet.
I had to give sub-q fluids daily to my late kitty, "A" when he had cancer. I learned. It wasn't too difficult & he seemed to appreciate how much better he felt afterward.
DeleteSo pleased the poops are getting there. If you are reluctant to do pooh pics then look up Bristol Stool Chart and use that to describe them :-)
ReplyDeleteHad to give an injection to my diabetic cat for 7 years, you get used to it, although the first time I did, under the supervision of the vet, I was so nervous that I missed Missy and stuck the needle in the vet's hand!
ReplyDeleteHeh! I had no trouble with it at all, although Pumpkin did squirm at me at the wrong moment one morning, and I ended up getting myself with it. Since I run hypoglycemic as it is, I took a candy bar to work with me that morning!
DeleteIs that Langston in the back? He's funny. He's really got that disoriented or shellshocked look going on.
ReplyDeleteI'll be interested to see how he develops.
Ah, the 'joys' of fostering and nursing kittens. I'm glad to hear everything is going well and the Von Tussles are starting to show their tortitude.
ReplyDeleteYAY for Tootsie Rolls!
ReplyDeleteGood looking poop always brings joy! And I was so terrified when the vet said my sweet Vinnie needed subq fluids, but, looking back, I'm glad it was him - he was a such a laid-back boy, all he wanted was to be near me, so he let me stick him with needles. I think he understood that I was trying to help him...
ReplyDeleteIt's only been since I found your website that I've learned all that goes on before little kitties are big enough to find final homes. I had no idea, but now am sooo grateful for you and all the foster family folk who do this wonderful work. God bless.
ReplyDeletep.s. I'd like to adopt every single Von Tussle please - if only!!!!
How old are they?
ReplyDeleteAbout five weeks.
DeleteOnly those of us who foster the motherless kittens can truly understand rejoicing over solid poo.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work. Bless you
Gail
Laurie, is there anything you can do about the Blogger comment system? I have to type the comment just to be able to log in, but then it throws up and loses the comment, and I have to type it all out again. Wordpress doesn't do that :( Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you're having troubles, but the only thing I could do would be to turn off comment monitoring, which I can't do. Maybe report your issue to Blogger, and I'll do the same.
DeleteOh Laurie, we’ve given fluids to two grown kitties at separate times, but nothing like SIX wriggly itty bitties all at the same time. No half measures for you, eh?
ReplyDeleteI’m sure glad everyone’s responding well to all the meds and TLC you and Sarah are administering.