Bottle Baby Program How is this different? Based on Wildlife Center strategy to save baby wildlife Problem Solving without Euthanizing October 25 28, 2012 1
You can start a bo,le baby program anywhere! Trailer on South Congress Volunteers and Fosters are equally important Don t lose sight of either one October 25 28, 2012 2
BB Organiza<onal Chart Bottle Baby Manager Data Manager Trainers Nursing Mom Coordinator Volunteer coordinator and mentor Bottle Baby Foster Coordinator Bottle Baby Rescue Coordinator 2 Important External Posi<ons Cat Program & Rescue Manager Oversees anything to do with rescuing cats over 6 weeks old and once our babies turn 6 weeks old. Cat Adoption Manager Oversees adoption processes, adoption centers and where our kittens go when they are old enough to find forever homes October 25 28, 2012 3
How do we get and keep volunteers? Posi@ve messaging- Social media Signs Orienta@on Fun Keeping volunteers Train them well Give them ownership Manage expecta@ons Expect turnover Help them Give them specific roles Protocols Intake Sanita@on Preven@on Ringworm URI Diarrhea Illness protocols Fading Ki,en Syndrome URI Ringworm Diarrhea Feeding/Recipes Outcome Vaccina@ons/Tes@ng/Parasite Control October 25 28, 2012 4
What is a Bottle Baby? Unweaned kittens, usually between 0 and 4 weeks old. The youngest require attention every two hours. Typical Course for a new BB Picked up from TLAC within 2 hours by volunteer Tested for felv If positive, retested with serum If still positive, set up in separate area/ foster If negative, proceed in nursery Treated for fleas, worms Pen G Injection Charted- intake Fed- charted Set up in kennel, added to white board October 25 28, 2012 5
Charts Intake Feeding/weight Medications Comments/vet notes Care Basics Bottle Baby Care includes many steps: sterilize, warm, feed, medicate, stimulate, clean, warm, sterilize Feeding basics: mix formula & warm it up record kitten s weight wrap like burrito, hold upright, and give bottle bottle nipple must be loose to release vacuum if no luck with bottle, try oral syringe record amount consumed Consider "topping off" young kittens with a second feeding Give meds if applicable Stimulate kitten with cotton ball & record output (consistency/ color) Wipe kitten with baby wipe If you ever bathe a kitten under 5 weeks old, you should completely dry them with a warm towel before putting them back in crate. NEVER BLOWDRY! Check heat source and put kitten back in SECURE crate or carrier October 25 28, 2012 6
Development Milestones Kittens weigh about 3 to 4 ounces at birth (90-110g); they should double their body weight in the first week. Eyes open at 7-10 days. If eyes seem to be pus-filled or sealed shut, open and clean with a warm wet cloth until infection clears; if it doesn't, contact the Med Techs. Eyes will stay blue until they are about 6-7 weeks old, but true eye color won't settle in until the kitten's about 3 months old. At about 3 weeks, they will start crawling around, but can inch around in as early as 4 days. At 3½ weeks, the ears will start to stand up. At 4 weeks, they'll start to play with each other and develop teeth. Warmth Single most important care you can provide Cannot maintain own body temperature Mother cat 103 F Snuggle Safe disc (or heating pad w/o autoshut off) Never place kittens directly on heating source Nests get damp, so always clean bedding for warmth Carrier or crate, covered with a blanket in a nondrafty area Isolated from other animals Kittens must be kept warm when eating October 25 28, 2012 7
Healthy Weight Progression At birth - 3.0 to 4 oz. (90-110g) 2 weeks - 7.0 to 11.0 oz. (200-300g) dewormed 3-4 weeks - 11.7 to 15.0 oz. (350-450g) dewormed 5-7 weeks - 1 to 1.5 lbs. (450-700g) 6 wks, 1 st vaccinations & begin advertising 8 weeks - 1.7 to 2 lbs. (800-900g) 8 wks AND 2 lbs. schedule for S/N It is critical that babies are weighed at every meal. Weighing before & after can also tell you how much they are actually ingesting. Over time will indicate trends. How Much to Feed 1st week 3.7 cc s per ounce of body weight 2nd week 4.9 cc s per ounce of body weight 3rd week 5.7 cc s per ounce of body weight 4th week 6.3 cc s per ounce of body weight As long as the kitten does not cry excessively, gains weight, and feels firm to the touch, the diet is meeting his/her nutritional needs. October 25 28, 2012 8
What & How Often to Feed Feeding Intervals < 1 week old = every 2 hours 1-2 weeks old = every 3-4 hours 3-4 weeks old = every 5-6 hours 5-6 weeks old = every 6-8 hours x Food Progression < 1 week to 3 weeks formula from bottle or oral syringe 4-5 weeks transition to gruel (mixture of formula & wet kitten food) 6-8 weeks supplement wet kitten food with kibble (e.g.,royal Canin BabyCat) Typical Diseases and Meds URI- doxycycline suspension, zithromax, baytril, or convenia (depends on severity) Diarrhea- Pen G, kaolin, amoxi, metro, panacur, marquis, baytril Vomit/Diarrhea- parvo protocol (5mg/kg baytril sq NOT 20mg/ kg) Ringworm- wait on itraconazole, use topicals until >8wks Fleas- tiny drop of frontline or capstar Constipation- mineral oil PO with each feeding a few drops per feeding until has bowel movement then stop to prevent diarrhea, sq fluids Not eating- tube feed, reglan, sq LRS, antibiotic Almost ALL kittens get sick with something! Fading Kitten Syndrome- usually has underlying problem, treat even if you don t see it October 25 28, 2012 9
Medical Guide URGENT email or call person on call, start fading kitten protocol first!!! Diarrhea Abnormal twitches Bleeding from any part of the body Loss or decrease of appetite Lethargic or depressed Breathing heavily, gasping, breath interval is low Head slumped in food/water bowl and can t wake up Body is completely limp and non-responsive WATCH CLOSELY Coughing Wheezing Sneezing Tires easily Straining to urinate or defecate stimulate, consult vet team if not productive Change in attitude or behavior Behavior that is unusual compared to normal behaviors Fading Kitten Syndrome Sometimes kittens just fade Stop growing Lose weight Stop nursing/eating Can t stay upright Cry continuously Chronic Illness can also pose problems (e.g., persistent diarrhea even after treatment) If kitten becomes lethargic/gasping for air: Wrap kitten in heating source/pad, protected with a blanket, like a burrito Make a sugar water mixture (or diluted Karo syrup) and carefully force feed with dropper or oral syringe Call On Call Person For more details on medical emergencies with examples, refer to the Austin Pets Alive! Bottle Baby Manual: http://austinpetsalive.wiki.zoho.com/bottle-baby-manual.html October 25 28, 2012 10
Aspirating If a bottle baby accidentally gets formula into their lungs while feeding: Firmly pat kitten s back until you hear a cough If no coughing, turn baby upside down (tail over head) and shake GENTLY, then pat back again Because any fluids in the lungs can lead to infection, it may be necessary to start the kitten on Amoxicillin but consult Med Techs. Weaning & Litter Box Training At about 4-5 weeks, introduce gruel to kittens. Gruel is a mixture of wet kitten food & KMR or water. Serve on a flat saucer. At the same time, place a shallow pan for the litter box nearby so kittens always have access. Use shredded newspaper or non-clumping cat litter. Kittens will walk through their food & be quite messy. Kittens will also start learning to clean themselves. Expect accidents! You can place some of the waste in the litter box so they learn what it s there for. October 25 28, 2012 11
Equipment Fridge Microwave Snugglesafes Blankets Hamster cages Bowls (spill proof) Baby wipe warmer SCALE Nursery ATre Smocks for each kennel Gloves Closed toe shoes Hair tied back October 25 28, 2012 12
Supplies KMR Bottles Cat litter Cotton balls Hand sanitizer Disinfectant (nonirritating) Towels (small and paper) Canned kitten food Dry kitten food: (Royal Canin Baby Cat Kibble preferred) Nursery Coverage Feeding shius- 95% + Volunteers! ShiU Leaders Feeder board/log Lock box so it can be accessed 24/7 Chart for each li,er October 25 28, 2012 13
Google Calendar Signup Communica<on Reminder emails to the people who signed up BB Yahoo group pros and cons White board Notes Daily Log Instruc<onal Video Youtube Video on how to feed and care for bottle babies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lifzi3oovo4&feature=relmfu October 25 28, 2012 14
Instruc<onal Video Youtube video on how to feed and care for gruel babies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfncs3mccuq Lessons Learned Trainings - Shadowing is very important Video to help new volunteers understand the nursery before they start (welcome email) Weighing ki,ens before AND auer they eat. Messy gruel babies LOOK like they have eaten a lot when actually they are wearing all of it! Ki,ens fade fast, and some you can t save Vaccinate at 1 # October 25 28, 2012 15
Lessons Learned It is easy to get overwhelmed- set capacity based on volunteers/staff that you have to feed Fosters are just as important as the ward and need to be ready to take kittens as soon as they can eat gruel Sometimes you have to triage- choose between a fading kitten and everyone else who needs to eat Set expectations for that Don t Give Up!!!! October 25 28, 2012 16