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Pawbly | 9 years ago
I Took In A Newborn Orphan Kitten Going On 6 Days Ago.. Assuming He’s Only…

I took in a newborn orphan kitten going on 6 days ago.. assuming he’s only about 6 days old, 7 tops. He has been doing amazing! His ears were fully opened yesterday, he lost his umbilical cord on day 3, and his colors started coming in today. (He was an off white.. but now his nose and ears have added black coloring to his mix) he has been gaining weight normally. He eats every two hours, three tops. Hes been finishing 5cc since day one.. now he’s finishinh anywhere between 5cc and 10. I burp him after every bottle as well as stimulate him to use the bathroom. (He pees every time and has been pooping between once and twice a day) I even keep him clean and dry in the event of an accident. He sleeps in a box with half heat pad on low and a blanket covering it, as well as a stuffed teddy for snuggling and comfort. Its my first time doing anything even close to this but his mom dropped him off on my porch only hours old and never returned, when it got dark cold and rainy I had to bring him in. Hes eating KRM I bought from the vet. I also bought a bottle and syringe. Not having much luck with the bottle but doing amazing with the syringe. Noticed his belly being kinda hard and that he hadn’t had his usual poop about 4 hours ago. His bottom is red and raw so im trying to be easy but still try and stimulate him every feeding. I know hand raising newborn kittens is a 50/50 shot especially his mom being a stray but he’s doing perfect other than that. Hes purring and eating and peeing and even wondering around a bit.. just a little fussy over the last two feedings. Im also burping him. Is there anything I can do to help his bottom or get him to poop to relieve the belly bulge? I will take him to the vet if needed. Im just seeing what I can do in the mean time. How long is too long for a kitten to be constipated or not poop if everything else seems normal? *I’ve also been adding a little extra water over his last two feedings hoping that may loosen him up. HELP 🙁

11 Responses

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  1. Monica Santos

    try with a warm wet towel rub your kittens anal. softly. mothers lick their kittens to be able to go pee or poop. hope it helps(:

  2. Cherish Yuppa

    That’s been how I get him to pee after every feeding. But he usually has at least one poop by now.. his little bottom is so red and sore and his belly is so bloated. All I can think is he’s constipated bc its like he tries just can’t. :/

  3. Anonymous

    i’d call the vet first thing, to be honest.

  4. Cherish Yuppa

    I called and they said not to be worried that his belly is just adjusting and if he isn’t better in a day or so then to bring him in

  5. Anonymous

    i hope he starts doing alright tomorrow. you’ve certainly got your hands full with such a teeny baby! may he grow up healthy and strong. 🙂

  6. Cherish Yuppa

    Update: called several vets over the last 24 hours… so far I’ve got a lot of contradictions. To limit feedings to not limit feedings. To water down, to not. To use suppository and/or water enema, to not use. To soak bottom, to not soak bottom. To do an early dewormer, to not. To only stimulate bottom every third feeding, to do it every feeding. To use oil, to not. To use tube/Vaseline, to not. Never the less I’m doing what I can and trying a little off everything. Was able to get a poop today just not the consistency I would like or the amount but it’s something. He’s still eating, peeing, and sleeping normally. Just has a hard belly, hard poop, and a raw bottom. Guess I’ll just try and see if anything works or doesn’t and if he gets worse or doesn’t improve in a few days ill take him somewhere hopefully that specializes in this kinda thing or has personal experience bc this crap is confusing. “Do it… don’t… do it..” OMG!! *DAY SIX. -Signed one exhausted mommy!

  7. Anonymous

    sounds like the parent of a newborn anything. you’re doing well! you’re staying on top of things.

    you. can. do. it. 🙂

  8. Cherish Yuppa

    Thank you! He’s a handful for sure. I have no idea how mommy kitty’s do this with more than one lol. He is much more of a handful than my 3 & 1 year old human boys ever were.. even put together lol

  9. Anonymous

    well, it’s not like they have to worry about going to work or cleaning or anything like that. 😉

  10. Kelly Furgason

    Cherish–I have fostered hundreds of kittens. Usually thinnning out the KMR works well. DO not get the stage 2 KMR, stick with the stage one KMR for all feedings,even as the kitten gets older. Warm up a cotton ball and gently hold it to the anus, barely move the soaked cotton ball around . Try for several minutes. Sometimes it takes awhile to get a bowel movement. Usually thinning the food will get a BM…make sure that you are keeping the kitten warm also with a warm water bottle or heat pad (just don’t put the heat pad directly on the kitten) .GOOD LUCK!!!

  11. Cherish Yuppa

    UPDATE: we are on day 8.. problem seems to have resolved. Thank you so much for everyone’s help!

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
I Recently Rescued An 8 Month Pit Mix From An Animal Control Facility. He Looks…

I recently rescued an 8 month pit mix from an animal control facility. He looks a bit malnourished. He has dandruff all over his coat. I have purchased high quality wet and dry food. I would like to know if I need to add supplements to this. I took him for a walk this morning to eliminate and it all looked normal. Also, is it safe to neuter him if he is a little thin or should I wait a few weeks. Any guidance would be appreciated. Thank you!

3 Responses

Comments

  1. Anonymous

    has he seen your vet yet?  if not, that should be your first step.

  2. PK Dennis

    Yes, Laura is correct.  You should take him to see a vet for a general evaluation — the vet will give you an idea of when the pup will be ready to be neutered (8 month to a year old is ideal if the dog is in good health).  The vet will also be able to give you the best suggestions for supplements.

    The better food should improve his skin condition greatly over time, in the mean time be sure to brush him daily (boar bristle will help bring up a shine in his coat as his skin heals).

  3. Dawn Ferara, DVM

    I agree 100% with PK and Laura.  A vet is a crucial first step!

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
This Morning I Got Up, And As Normal My 2.5 Y/o Lab Mix (95lbs) Jumped…

This morning I got up, and as normal my 2.5 y/o Lab mix (95lbs) jumped up from where he was sleeping on the floor beside me, and followed me into the bathroom.

As we were leaving the bathroom, I noticed he was having trouble walking. His front legs were straight, but his back end was in a squat position (almost like he was going to take a poop) and shaking very hard.

He was trying to walk back towards the bed, but was having a lot of trouble. I panicked thinking he was about to poop, and tryed to drag him back onto the tiled bathroom floor. Just as quickly as it started, it stopped, and he seems normal again. I assumed it was maybe a muscle cramp or hip spasm.

My husband had told me a few months ago that he’d seen the dog have “seizure-like” shaking and today said it looked exactly the same. Could this actually be a seizure? Duke seems fine now, he ate his breakfast no problem, and is acting like his normal self.

Should I be taking him to the vet this week? Would they be able to do much with only knowing of two episodes?

3 Responses

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  1. Anonymous

    i would absolutely notify them of the incidents, with dates, times, and durations if you’re able to give that information.  they may want to see video of future episodes, as well as immediately bringing him in the next time this occurs.

  2. Ashley Wilson

    If I’d had my phone on me I would definitely have videoed it. But I’m not even sure I would have had time. The whole thing lasted maybe 10-15 seconds. I can’t remember when my husband noticed the first one – he told me about it at the time but I brushed it off thinking he was over-reacting

  3. Anonymous

    understood – just trying to help you think of things the vet will probably want to know, especially going forward. they may also want to know about potential triggers…so, what the dog was doing just before the incident, whether they were calm or excited, etc. context clues can be a huge help with things like this.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
Her Eyes Are Watering, Excess Snot, Sometimes It’s Mixed With Blood, Excess Sneezing, Lethargic…

Her eyes are watering, excess snot, sometimes it’s mixed with blood, excess sneezing, lethargic, her appetite is down. Shes been having trouble breathing and coughing. Sometimes her breathing sounds “wet”. My vet said there’s a chance something could be stuck in her nose or could be cancer. I’m very short on money but if theres a really good chance she could have something stuck in her nose I’ll find the funds to get the tests done.

2 Responses

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  1. Alexis Renee Wood

    Also I forgot to add she is a 12 year old German shepherd/lab mix

  2. Anonymous

    honestly, if my dog were obviously miserable, i’d do anything and everything i could to figure out the cause and a treatment plan.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
No Changes In Behavior Or Appetite. Have Given Pedialyte & Mixed Rice Water With…

No changes in behavior or appetite. Have given Pedialyte & mixed rice water with a little bit of her food (Eukanuba for mature small breeds)

1 Response

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  1. Megan Hensler

    Angel,
    Several things can cause diarrhea in dogs. I would collect a fresh fecal sample and see your veterinarian. They can test for intestinal parasites which could be the cause and treat accordingly. They can also determine if your pet is dehydrated. Any time I have a pet that is having fluid loss from either end (ie. vomiting or diarrhea) I worry about them becoming dehydrated. Furthermore your veterinarian will perform a complete physical exam and gain adequate history to try and narrow down the cause of the diarrhea and thus which treatment route to pursue. A bland diet for the next few days is never a bad idea either. Some examples of this would be hamburger and rice, chicken and rice, or Hills i/d.
    Best of luck with your pup! Hope she is feeling better soon!!

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
My Pug / Boston Terrier Mix Occasionally Chuffs And Huffs Like A Horse With The…

My pug / boston terrier mix occasionally chuffs and huffs like a horse with the heaves. What could be the cause of this? My old Yellow Lab used to do the same thing. Could it be heartworms? He’s 5 yr. old not neutered male in good health

1 Response

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  1. Dawn Ferara, DVM

    If he is not on Heartworm preventative then your dog could have heartworms.  Why is he not on preventative?  It sounds like it could be a heart problem and he should go to the vet.  A vet is the only one who can diagnose Heartworms or another heart problem.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
I Recently Adopted A Dog, She’s A Year Old Basenji/Lab Mix (two Very Contradicting Breeds…

I recently adopted a dog, she’s a year old Basenji/Lab mix (two very contradicting breeds in terms of behavior). I’m having the worst time trying to potty train her. I’ve tried so many different methods but she refuses to go potty outside. She literally has no warning signs. She already paces and sniffs like its her calling in life. She squats after she already starts going. I have no idea when she needs to go. She will not go potty outside. She acts like grass is her personal enemy and will lay on the sidewalk instead. I’ve tried taking her in and out, I’ve tried waiting her out. We walked in the park in hot weather for five hours and she peed on the floor when we came back inside. Training her to go outside is becoming a hassle that’s frustrating and depressing both of us, should I just give up and house train her to use pee pads or litter instead? We just have a hard time getting outside fast enough with her aversion to stairs and the elevator and there’s a power struggle once we’re outside. How do I react to bad behavior without making her scared of me?

3 Responses

Comments

  1. Anonymous

    so, you should avoid punishing for toilet behavior in the house.  it sounds like she really just doesn’t know the rules yet.  

    these two links are pretty similar and i’d read both.  they should help.

    https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/How%20to%20housetrain%20any%20dog%20regardless%20of%20age%20comp.pdf?token=AWxdrBqVrfn4QMSlFlT8Q67NYPYkvMS7FXamkBNxSse7MPOs_AplyTN_zFvG-Eykkm-msikrbkBvTr5xwl4zav6t5XHohLF7I01ob8FeyaYYRw

    https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/How_to_Housetrain_Any_Dog%20(1).pdf?token=AWzFzr8QX0C6GNFaOKVxlOKyjHpjo4l1GKKLvup9PqoNRBewfhYcPaW8epVfl7TD-hzvF2V2XyFxKavjepjUKq75rqsQH7ckQTKV-VOq-pItBQ

    remember, be consistent.  good luck.  housebreaking is the biggest pain in the butt regardless of the age of the dog.

  2. Anonymous

    oh, one thing…make sure you’re feeding meals rather than just leaving food out for her. meals will help you to better schedule her toilet runs. try to feed a high quality food, as well.

  3. Brittany Herrera

    Thank you so much! Those help a lot!

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
My Husband And I Adopted A 2 Year Old Lab Mix (we Think Possibly Mixed…

My husband and I adopted a 2 year old lab mix (we think possibly mixed with Newfoundland) in November 2015. He’s 94lbs and we are his 3rd owners (first two owners were within the same family).

Shortly after adopting him, he started developing sores on his belly near his penis. They didn’t seem to ooze, but were bright red, dry, and scabbing over. He also was scratching at his lips and frequently shaking his head.

We took him into the vet who suspected allergies and suggested we change his food, removing any sources of chicken and beef from his diet. She prescribed 3 weeks of cephalexin, and we switched him to a salmon and sweet potato, grain free food. This was in January 2016.

The sores did resolve with the antibiotics, but the shaking his head and scratching at his lips did not. Two weeks ago I noticed a small sore on his belly again, in the same spot as before, and today I noticed there are now two of them. I also noticed that the inside of his lips seem to be very red (unsure as to whether this is new, or I just didn’t notice beforehand).

We can’t afford to keep throwing hundreds of dollars every few months towards vet care, so I’m wondering if anyone has ideas as to what this could be. I have doubts about allergies since the lip scratching and shaking of his head never went away.

Any help or ideas greatly appreciated

2 Responses

Comments

  1. Dawn Ferara, DVM

    It is still allergies, just less likely to be a food allergy.  I would contact your vet by phone and inquire if they want to start him on an anti-histamine etc.

    Good Luck

    Dr Dawn

  2. debra yuhasz

    Just wondering…..Did your vet say what is causing the head shaking? Head shaking usually indicates an ear infection, but it could also be from a rash inside his ears or fluid in his ears like otitis media in children. This very likely is allergy related. Probally not a food allergy but rather something airborne like pollens or grass or dust or maybe something like a brand of carpet cleaner which is a contact allergy. I had a Chihuahua once that was allergic to the brand of laundry soap I was using. Maybe you can call your vet and see if he’ll be ok with you giving him benedryl and get the correct dosage from him.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
Hi, We Are Sitting For Some Friends And Pedro The Pincher Mix Seems To Be…

Hi, we are sitting for some friends and Pedro the pincher mix seems to be trying to cough something up. we think its bark from a tree. is there a home remedy for us to try?

1 Response

Comments

  1. B PJ

    I had a dog for 15 years, she Loved to chew apart a log or stick and this same sound of coughing would happen but only for a few hours, so I know thi IS a common problem. Thanks anyway.

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Pawbly | 9 years ago
Hi I Need Hell Please.
my Mane Is Alexandra And I Have A Puppy Lab Mix…

hi i need hell please.
my mane is alexandra and i have a puppy lab mix golden retrieved 4 months old and for the last 3 days is not eating,not drinking is vomiting and had diarrhoea,i was bring last night in to a vet clinic and i left him in to the drops and antibiotics,and i did a scan for the stomach and check is blood and is fine.is possible to tell me what is wrong with him or if is change to die?i don’t want to lost him thanks so much

10 Responses

Comments

  1. Anonymous

    Alexandra, this is a question for the vet that took a look at him.  what did they say?  what other diagnostics did they do?  i would also talk with YOUR vet this morning about it, because emergency vets aren’t necessarily as thorough as your own vet would be.

  2. Alexandra Cristian Stefan

    he said he cannot not find anything ,he said he need to open his belly to see if is something in his belly .i am really worry for him

  3. Anonymous

    so he didn’t do x-rays or anything like that?

    go to YOUR vet, tell him your concerns.

  4. Alexandra Cristian Stefan

    is still not make improved after 24 hours in the vet,

  5. Alexandra Cristian Stefan

    and the belly he se is in pain,and look full

  6. Anonymous

    wait, are you saying his belly is distended and in pain? that’s bloat. vet, NOW.

  7. Alexandra Cristian Stefan

    hi laura,my dog is not well for the last 3 days and i bring in the vet,and he make scan to his stomach and nothing is see ,he is in fluid and antibiotic,and check is blood 2 times,nothing show,and the vet ring me and he said he need operation to see in his stomach if is something stock.and i get the answer for the operation ,nothing inside but is inflammation and irritation and he said is virus tummy bug , the vet is said is give a chance for live but not 100 pro-cent,is sleep now and is still back in antibiotic and fluid and pain relief, and tonight i going to see him. please god to make some improve.thanks

  8. Alexandra Cristian Stefan

    after the surgery the vet said to my my dog has gastroenteritis ,i really want to back i really miss him so much