P a g e | 330 the areas where they need it. A simple "butt-bath" will usually do the trick. Never bathe a kitten under three weeks this way. Your body heat is not enough to warm up a cold kitten – you need to use towels/blankets and heating pads set on low. DO NOT LEAVE A KITTEN UNTIL IT IS COMPLETELY DRY!
Parasite Control You should also check their ears regularly for dirt and, especially after initial rescue, ear mites. Dirt can be cleaned gently with a cotton ball or swab; consult the vet team if you find the telltale ear mite "coffeeground" type dirt. If you find fleas or flea dirt on kittens of any age, let the vet team know. They will get them treated with revolution or frontline at a safe dose. Some kittens are so infested they need capstar orally to kill the fleas within 30 minutes. Young kittens can easily get anemia from flea infestation and really endanger its life. First, use a flea comb to remove as much of the dirt and fleas from the fur as you can. After they have been treated and the fleas are dead (30minutes with capstar, 24 hours with frontline/revolution), give the kitten a bath in gentle soap and warm water. Again, only let them get wet for a few seconds then warm them up asap. Make sure water temperature is warm (but not hot) so as not to chill the kitten. Dry the kitten, with a towel then place in dry warm towels on heating pad on low. Cover with fleece to trap heat in “nest”. DO NOT LEAVE A KITTEN UNTIL IT IS COMPLETELY DRY!
Medical Guide Medical Issues - Warning Signs to Watch For If the kitty does any of these things, even once, you should be concerned. In most instances, it will be nothing, but again we always want to be on the safe side because kittens at this age don't give much warning before they start to crash. Sneezing: watch closely unless severe then call vet team Coughing: watch closely unless severe then call vet team Wheezing: watch closely unless severe then call vet team Tires easily: watch closely Diarrhea: URGENT Straining to urinate or defecate: stimulate, consult vet team if not productive Bleeding from any part of the body Abnormal twitches: URGENT Loss or decrease of appetite: URGENT Change in attitude or behavior: watch closely