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What Is Fading Kitten Syndrome and How to Treat Fading Kitten Syndrome
What is Kitten’s syndrome fading away and why do so many breeding kittens die for it? The season of the kitten is here and there has never been a better time to inform you about the syndrome of the faded kitten. Various conditions and diseases can trigger weakened cat syndrome, but there are things you can do to prevent it.
Each spring, mother nature reveals its regenerative power and the remarkable fecundity of cats, in the form of millions of newborn kittens. Wild cats are the main source of this reward. Most kittens born to feral mothers will be wonderful pets if they are properly socialized at an early age. Many of these kittens end up in the care of kind people who raise them after they are orphaned or abandoned. Tragically, as spring turns to summer, mother nature reveals its darker side and often breaks the hearts of good-hearted adoptive parents who have worked hard to feed young kittens. An astonishing proportion of kittens succumb to faded kitten syndrome before they reach nine weeks of age.
Tragically, when spring is passed into summer, mother nature reveals its darker side and often breaks the hearts of kindhearted adoptive parents who have worked hard to feed young kittens. An astonishing proportion of kittens succumb to the “kitten fading syndrome” before reaching nine weeks of age.
What are the statistics of the faded kitten syndrome?
The most recent sources I have seen estimate that even under the best circumstances, in well-managed hatcheries, 15 to 27 percent of kittens die before nine weeks.
It should not be surprising that adoptive kittens do not make the best case scenario statistics. Being orphaned or abandoned at an early age, with no prospect of having a father in the picture under any circumstances, hardly gives the individual an advantage in life. Mortality among litters of breeding kittens can be devastatingly high. It is not uncommon for mortality rates to reach 100 percent.
Why does the fading kitten syndrome occur?
And, what is more important, what can you do to avoid the missing kitten syndrome?
The word “syndrome” should be a piece of advice. The faded kitten syndrome is not a single entity; rather, it describes a large number of problems and conditions that can cause death in young kittens.
Most kittens that die because of the fading kitten syndrome seem to get sick and die suddenly. However, with some exceptions (such as hypothermia and trauma), the problem usually develops gradually, but it is very difficult to detect until a crisis develops. I am sorry to say that the prognosis for kittens in crisis is poor. Therefore, the key to reducing mortality from fading kitten syndrome is the early detection of subtle problems before a crisis occurs.
Causes of faded kitten syndrome
When in crisis, almost all faded kittens exhibit similar symptoms. Deep lethargy, low body temperature, pale gums, low respiratory rate and lack of root and feeding or feeding are almost universal signs of the syndrome. However, these signs can be caused by a lot of problems.
Inadequate maternity, on the part of the feline mother, is one of the main risk factors for the faiding kitten syndrome. Most breeding kittens are subject to this risk factor in the extreme, as they were orphaned or abandoned by their mothers. Even kittens with mothers in the picture may be at risk if the mother has no experience, can not produce enough milk, is not willing to let the kittens suckle, stress, malnourished or, paradoxically, be obese.
Major Causes of fading kitten syndrome
Trauma and hypothermia are two causes of the syndrome of the kitten that fades and that really appear suddenly. The trauma occurs most often when a kitten falls from a height or is crushed. Hypothermia occurs when the kittens are separated from each other and the mother in a cold environment. Keep in mind that hypothermia is a cause or result of a kitten crisis that fades. Almost all kittens that have vanished in crisis will exhibit hypothermia.
Infectious organisms are often guilty of faiding cat syndrome. Kittens are at risk for sepsis due to bacterial infections. Viral infections with organisms such as feline herpesvirus, calicivirus, panleucopenia, FIV / feline AIDS and feline leukemia virus can trigger the syndrome. Parasitic infestations with round worms, coccidia or other organisms can trigger crises. Many of these infections are related to the collapse of the immune system, which is usually associated with a condition called thymus atrophy.
Hereditary defects ranging from heart irregularities to undeveloped immune systems can cause weakened cat syndrome.
Hemolytic anemia is another possible cause of the syndrome. This condition can occur when a kitten has a blood type different from that of its mother. When the kitten nurses during the first days of its life, it ingests antibodies that attack its sanguineous cells.
Treatment of faded kittens and crisis prevention
Kittens in crisis usually require treatment by veterinarians. The pillars of the treatment are thermal support, fluids, dextrose (sugar) and, often, antibiotics. If the affected kitten begins to warm up and recover, nutritional support and antiparasitic medications can be added. Sadly, the prognosis for kittens in crisis is poor, and many of them do not survive even with treatment.
What are the symptoms of the faded cat syndrome?
Crisis prevention is key to reducing mortality from the missing kitten syndrome. The first signs of fainting kitten syndrome are subtle, but often detectable. Sick kittens may not straighten when their backs are turned. They can not root and breastfeed normally. Your eyes may not open at the usual age of five to 14 days. They will often be smaller than their littermates.
The most important thing is that they can not gain weight normally. Healthy kittens should earn 7 to 10 grams per day. Experts recommend that kittens be weighed on a gram scale at least once a day (and many experts recommend weighing twice a day). High-quality gram scales can be purchased at kitchen supply stores, tobacco shops (you can guess at what purpose the grams scales are for some people) and online.
Kittens that do not gain weight at an adequate speed should receive additional attention with special attention to feeding. Newborn kittens should be fed formula or milk every two hours. Weaning in the porridge can begin at approximately four weeks of age.
A kitten lost in the disappearance of the kitten syndrome can sometimes be a harbinger of problems for littermates. A veterinarian must evaluate the mother and the remaining kittens after any incident.
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One last word about kitten syndrome fading
Although this article is intended for foster parents, I will include some tips for breeders. Both the father and the mother should be typed in blood before reproduction, and that information should be used to prevent hemolytic ane
mia. Both must be tested for feline leukemia and FIV. The mother must be completely vaccinated and dewormed before reproduction. And remember that the milk that is consumed on the first day, called colostrum, is the most important milk that kittens will consume, since it contains antibodies that protect kittens from the disease.
With diligence and early detection, some cases of fainting kitten syndrome can be reversed before a crisis develops. However, I regret to say that many other cases will not respond to the efforts of even the most involved foster parents. Foster parents, please know that although the loss of a kitten, or even a whole litter of kittens, is heartbreaking, it does not necessarily mean that you have done something wrong. Please, keep up the good work.
