My kitten was attacked by a dog and has pale gums. What do I do?

Ideally, the kitten should be physically examined by a veterinarian to diagnose any other injuries. If it is a minor bleed, it should stop with some gentle pressure. If there is internal injury, that can be addressed by the veterinarian after the exam. Monitor for lethargy, ataxia (wobbly gait), difficulty breathing, pale gums, uneven pupils or bleeding from the ears or anywhere else.

It's difficult to say what is going on based on your description, but if you are seeing very pale gums and lethargy, then this is an emergency. Clarity needs to go to the veterinarian immediately for treatment.

Oh dear! Pale or white gums can be associated with severe anemia, shock, or heart failure - this is a very concerning sign that warrants immediate veterinary attention. A warm dry nose is a pretty non-specific sign that doesn't really mean anything in particular, and a pale or thinning haircoat can be associated with any kind of long-term illness. It sounds like Bae may be seriously ill, so I would recommend taking him to an emergency clinic tonight to be seen. If this isn't possible, then I would take him to your regular veterinarian first thing in the morning. Your veterinarian can do blood work, x-rays, or other testing if needed to help diagnose the problem and see what kind of treatment is needed.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your kitten. If possible, you need to seek emergency veterinary care. The injuries need to be investigated. He will likely need antibiotics, pain medication and food or sugar to support his blood sugar. In the meantime, you can rub syrup in the gums if the kitten has not eaten recently. I hope this information helps.

If he has a deformity of his ribs then I worry he could also have a deformity of his diaphragm and a diaphragmatic hernia where abdominal structures herniate into the chest and prevent proper oxygenation. This can produce a whitish gum color. The kitten could also be pale from anemia caused by parasites or other infectious diseases. I would highly encourage you to have him evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible. They will be able to access the kitten and give you a more realistic prognosis based on their physical examination findings. Best of luck and I hope he improves! Thank you for using Pet Coach.

If she has pale gums then she needs to be examined by a vet immediately to determine the cause and treat, especially if she also has abnormal breathing. Please call your vet or go to an emergency clinic. She could have an infection, parasite, clotting/bleeding problem, hemolytic anemia, mass, etc. and may need immediate treatment.

If her gums are almost white, she needs to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Respiration infections are highly contagious, so waiting on the foster would strongly be recommended. Doubly so since Wilma is not well and a new kitten could bring illness.