How to help a weak, emaciated rescued kitten survive and thrive?

Question

My wife rescued this kitten from the side of the road. It's between 6 to 8 weeks old. Severely emaciated (can feel each individual bone on it's body) and cannot control his bowels or bladder. What can we do to give this poor kitten a chance for life? We have gotten kitten milk replacement and his feces are beginning to solidify, but he is still very weak. Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | unneutered | 1.5 lbs

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

I would recommend having the kitten checked out by a vet. It likely needs to be tested for intestinal parasites (worms and coccidia are common), get started on vaccinations, and be evaluated for congenital issues. It is old enough to go on kitten food, so I would mix kitten milk replacer with wet kitten food. You can also use a nutritional supplement like NutriCal. If it has any fleas, use an age appropriate flea preventative as fleas can cause anemia in tiny kittens. Pet probiotics are also a good idea. Here is a link to a chart on aging kitten teeth: http://www.ruralareavet.org/PDF/Physical_Exam-How_to_Determine_Age.pdf And here is a link to raising orphan kittens: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=576

How to help a weak, emaciated rescued kitten survive and thrive?

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