Expert: Jessica - 12/26/2010

Question
my kitten is 7 weeks old she was sick for 8 days fever not eating or drinking gave her antibiotics for seven days and fluids now she is eating soft food only and still not drinking water she now has bad diarrhea and is having a hard time walking what should i do!

Answer
Hi Pam,

Cats will often not really drink any water when they're on a solely canned food diet.  They get all the water they need from their food.  But her diarrhea is a concern, because this can cause her dehydration, especially if she's not drinking any extra water.  The diarrhea may be caused by a combination of her diet change and the antibiotics, or potentially by an illness.  Some kittens will walk strangely because of rectal pain due to diarrhea.  But weakness from dehydration and malnutrition, or muscle and joint pain from viruses or dehydration can also cause this.  

You should have your kitten checked out by the vet again to sort out what's causing her symptoms.  Treatment might consist of fluids under the skin to address dehydration, a different antibiotic to treat gastrointestinal ailments, a special diet that is gentle on the stomach, and a probiotic, which will add beneficial bacteria to her gut, which her previous course of antibiotics may have destroyed.  These can help correct diarrhea.

Best of luck!

Jessica