My kitten is constipated. Is it safe to switch formula back to powder?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend that bottle fed kittens start to be weaned at 3 weeks due to constipation issues with formula. If it has been a week since she has pooped I recommend a vet exam for an enema if needed. Constipation can be deadly for neonates. I would start canned kitten food. You can try a 1/4 tsp or less of plain canned pumpkin but extra fiber can go either way (more constipated or loosens the stool). I wish Kachie the best!

Canned pumpkin (not pie filling, just the straight-up pumpkin) or liquid paraffin can be used, and should work straight away in the following 8 hours from administration. DO NOT TRY to give an enema as it could be dangerous and cause electrolyte imbalances and colon perforation. If constipation lasts more than 24 hours from administration of those or 48 hours in general, a check up at your local vet is required.

If there is cat formula available I would start him on that, it's more nutritionally balanced for cats and should help stop the diarrhea. This website https://www.thesprucepets.com/kitten-supplement-formula-552272 offers several recipes for homemade kitten formula. Copper actually looks old enough to get started on solid foods. Get some dry kitten food and add some kitten formula, let the dry food absorb the liquid then mash it into a gruel and put it in a shallow dish for her to eat. It will be messy, and she will probably need a bath, but she'll learn how to eat solid food this way. Alternatively, you can get canned kitten food and mix some formula with it to make it into a gruel and feed that. Put another dish in with just the wet or dry kitten food, you'll be surprised how quickly she picks it up. Make sure she has plenty of fresh water in a shallow dish. She may not drink much while she's eating wet food, but if she ends up eating more dry food you'll see her drink more. Good luck with Copper!

I would dilute the formula with a little water, but I don't recommend adding oil. See if the diluted formula works, and if it doesn't, you will need to take Cali into a vet immediately. Best of luck.

Hi Rose, good question! Miralax powder is easier to give and very safe. You will have better luck with it versus docusate. I suggest you start by giving them 1/8 teaspoon mixed in a bit of canned food once a day. You can increase to twice a day if needed. You can even go up to 1/4 tsp once or twice a day but start out slow. The other thing you may want to do is to try to increase water consumption by getting them a water fountain to drink from. Many studies have shown that cats prefer to drink from running water and if offered a fountain they will drink more. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Kachie! Constipation is serious in pediatric puppies and kittens. Since it has been a week I urge you to take Katchie to the Vet and see if an enema is needed. Kitten milk replacer/formula commonly causes GI problems, either diarrhea or constipation. After every bottle feeding the kitten needs to be stimulated with a warm wet soft washcloth over the anus and genitals. I always recommend bottle fed kittens be weaned sooner, around 3 weeks. So I would start offering canned kitten food mixed with formula and decrease bottle feeding. By 5 weeks she should be off formula and eating kitten food 100%. I wish Kachie the best!

I'm assuming you are feeding her a kitten formula, so I would try diluting it a bit with some water to see if that helps her pass feces. If that doesn't help, then yes I would take her back into the vet. Best of luck.