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Overview:
Kittens,
especially very young kittens in the first two weeks of life are very vulnerable. Kittens can
fade & die extremely quickly, so it is always important for the
carer to keep a close eye on the kittens & how they are
thriving.
What are the
causes of fading kitten syndrome?
There are many
possible causes of fading syndrome which can be infectious or
non-infectious. Some of which include;
Non
infectious:
-
Congenital
defect. Cleft palate, flat chest, umbilical hernia and other
abnormalities.
-
Environmental
temperature too hot or too cold (hyperthermia/hypothermia).
Especially in the first week because newborn kittens are
unable to regulate body temperature by panting or shivering.
-
Maternal
neglect. This could be due to the mother being nervous,
inexperienced or sick.
-
Prematurity &
or low birth weight. If just one kitten is undersized, then
placental insufficiency is the likely cause, if the entire
litter are undersized, a poorly nourished queen is a likely
consideration. [1]
-
Traumatic/difficult birth.
-
Environmental
toxins.
-
Dehydration
(vomiting, dehydration or lack of milk can all lead to
dehydration)
-
Neonatal isoerythrolysis (blood type incompatibility).
-
Large litters
with not enough nipples for the number of kittens.
-
Inability of
a smaller kitten to compete with other kittens
-
Inadequate
nutrition to the queen during pregnancy or after birth.
Infectious:
-
Viral
infections
-
Bacterial
infections
-
Parasitic
infections
Often there is
no apparent cause for fading kitten syndrome.
What should I look
out for?
As newborns, if
kittens aren't eating, they are sleeping. Your suspicions there
is something wrong should be raised if you see any of the
following;
-
Newborn
kitten sleeping away from mother & siblings.
-
Newborn
kitten crying excessively.
-
Newborn
kitten not nursing.
-
Weakness &
weight loss.
-
Vomiting.
-
Diarrhea.
It is advisable
to keep a good track of each kitten & weigh them every day to
ensure they are gaining weight. They should put on around 7 - 10
grams per day (there may be a large weight gain one day, and a
small one another, but be aware of overall weight gain). Below is a rough timeline for normal kitten
development.
-
0 – 3
days: The umbilical cord is still attached.
-
0 – 10
days: The eyes are closed.
-
2
weeks: The teeth start coming in.
-
2
weeks: The kitten begins to stand, the eyes and ears open.
-
4
weeks: The kitten begins playing and exploring her
environment.
How is fading
kitten syndrome treated?
Your
veterinarian will perform a physical examination of the kitten(s)
& obtain a medical history from you. Questions asked may include
maternal nutrition during & after pregnancy, the delivery, how
she is mothering the kittens, possible exposures to chemicals,
toxins & infections. He will also be interested in the blood
type of the queen, if that is known.
If a cause is
found, then treatment is aimed at addressing the underlying
condition. This may include;
Even with
aggressive treatment, often kittens are too weak to pull
through. It is incredibly important to seek veterinary attention
the moment you see a kitten acting out of sorts. If several
kittens die it may be worth having a necropsy performed to see
if a cause can be determined, especially if you plan to mate the
mother again.
References:
[1] Cat Owner's
Home Veterinary Handbook - Delbert G. Carlson & James M. Giffin.
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