A little Concerned

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S

Solaaris

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Hi there

Sorry for begging for advice as soon I join, but I'm a little concerned for some baby chins that sprang up on Thursday.

I had Sky off a girl who was, well lets say not very loving to her Chins, so I took her, anyway on Thursday I woke up to find 3 kits in her cage, 1 was sadly stillborn.

The other 2 seem to be doing alright though the smaller one I'm not too sure about.

Firstly the older one was born 48g, lost 2g yesterday but is now 51g so seems to be gaining weight.

The smaller one born 41g is now 36g and not gained any weight, but is very active running around the cage like a tool and getting into mischief - is this normal?

I'm slightly worried that she isn't gaining any weight. Sky (the mom) is not pushing her away or anything like that, but she doesn't seem to want to suckle, or at least I aint seen her suckle.

I rang the local vets up who have given me some Cimicat kitten milk (I'm in the UK) to help her along which I have tried with a nipple on a syringe. She does seem to lick the end of the nipple then makes funny grinding noises with her teeth, but generally goes back for more, however I'm very scared of flooding her little lungs.

I've looked at the FAQs on CnH and read the advice there, but am still looking for reassurance.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks

Kain
 
Rotating will probably help. Every two hours round the clock one in and then one out. Do you have access to goats milk? that's what we use to handfeed here - i can find it canned at the grocery store with usually no problems but Im not sure about in the UK
 
The goats milk would be a good start for supplementing. There are times that kits will lose weight the first day, but that little one is so tiny that he (or she) may not have much more to lose. Once the kits lose their desire to eat it can be hard to get them to start up again. It may be better to start supplementing them sooner rather than later maybe with the goats milk...or with what you have already. (I'll have to look that up to see what's in it!)

With the hand feeding of kits I like to give them a tiny drop at a time to lick off. Feed slowly at first. Eventually a kit will want more and more and hand feeding won't take as long. :)

Post any questions that you have or if you need reassurance. Most of the time it seems that there's someone around to help right away. ;)
 
Well firstly I wish I could get the little swine to sit still, even in the cage with Sky shes running around chasing her littermate!

Feeding seems to be going ok, shes now 37g, shes makes this 'chopsing' noise when I'm feeding her and pokes her little tongue out, is that kinda normal?

Sadly my silly syringe with a teat on the end has no mesurements on it, so I have no idea how much shes eating, but she usually refuses when shes full.

She has so much energy, part of me wishes she would sleep more rarther than expand energy.

She has seem to have taken to using the syringe though, more so than suckling of her mom!

Kain
 
Well shes now 40g so thats great, Funny story, I was a little late feeding her tonight, when I picked her up she started biting my fingers lol, she soon nipped on the teat and started sucking! Love how her little ears twitch when shes swollowing lol.

Can you tell I feel alot happier about her now :p

Kain
 
Little bit of bad news, she has dhiorherra this morning, yellowy colour, so I think this kitten milk my be the cause, even though she wolfs it down like its going out of fashion.

Ive looked on the FAQ thread and its says goats milk and baby rice cereal, does anyone know the quantities I should mix? I'm going to pop into the supermarket shortly to see if I can find some goats milk.

I think the cimicat may be a little rich for her.

Oh and shes 41g this morning :D
 
Kit poo is kind of stringy - it's different consistency than adult poo...Mix one can of water to one can of goats milk. It stays good for a maximum of 2 days in the fridge. You will know if its bad - it smells. You can divide it up in an ice cube tray and freeze it - then just pop out what you need. You don't need very much cereal at first and I can't remember the exact amount - I think I start with about 1/2 teaspoon or so at first (in relation to an ice cube amount)- i usually put it in after i heat the milk...The cereal is what builds them up to solid food (like babies) so every week you increase it.
 
Really? Because from my understanding, babies will nibble on solid foods from day one. And unless mom's milk thickens up as time goes in, the statement doesn't really seem to make sense that thickening the supplement up is what transitions them to solid food.

Not arguing, just asking for clarification, as I am curious if that's the true purpose for the baby cereal or if it's more for fiber?
 
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