My 6-week-old kitten can't move, has pale gums, and sleeps constantly

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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Croshanks needs to go to an Emergency hospital right away!! He looks extremely dehydrated and likely is hypoglycemic (low blood sugar). There is not enough time for you to get Kitten Milk replacer and a bottle to feed this kitten. It likely won't suckle. It needs to be tube fed or put on IV fluids with dextrose. I hope this helps and I wish Croshanks the best!

It sounds like Montana is sick, and he could have a severe GI illness, may have eaten something rotten, or has a foreign body. It's very serious he's barely eating, vomiting, and sleeping a lot. White gums can indicate anemia. He has to see a vet immediately, please take him into one now.

Oh dear, poor Luna! It sounds as though she is extremely ill. In cats, parvovirus causes panleukopenia (aka feline distemper virus), which can be a life-threatening issue. Typically, vomiting, diarrhea, a loss of appetite, fever, and lethargy with extremely low white blood cells are found with panleukopenia. While it is still possible that Luna is affected by this virus, other possibilities such as blood loss anemia from fleas, exposure to anticoagulant rat poisons, blood clotting disorders, or bone marrow issues are also possible causes of her white gums. All of that said, white gums are a medical emergency because this indicates either a severe anemia (low red blood cell count) or extremely low blood pressure preventing blood from moving to the periphery of the body. At this point, I strongly recommend taking Luna to an emergency vet immediately for evaluation. I hope that all goes well!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am very concerned by the pictures of Dior. I recommend that you take him to a Veterinarian ASAP. The missing hair under his chin is minor compared to how lethargic he appears and how he is acting. Possible causes: low blood sugar, Feline Infectious Peritonitis, toxin, severe dehydration or anemia. He is very sick! I wish you the best of luck

The color of gums can help us guess at the red blood cell level, but it is a poor guess. White gums would mean really, really sick, and pink gums don't tell us that a pet is healthy. Mello may have an upper respiratory infection, which most cases are viral. But they can hit the body hard and often the kittens need oral antibiotics, fluids, supplements like Lysine, nutritional support, etc. I would really recommend that you have him examined by the vet since this has been going on for a week and he isn't any better.

I'm sorry to hear that Sabbath is so sick. Pale gums, lethargy, and a fast heart rate may be signs of anemia, or a low red blood cell count. This could be due to a flea infestation, infectious diseases, or cancer. Sabbath really must be seen by a vet. Aside from treating a flea infestation at home (if one exists), there really isn't anything you can do at home to manage clinical signs this severe. Try to ask your vet if they accept payment plans or have other financing options available.