My newborn kitten gurgles and isn't hungry. Did she aspirate formula?

This would make me concerned about potential aspiration, but it's possible that the gurgling is from upper respiratory congestion. If Ambi is having difficulty breathing, or if she still is not eating well I think you should see a vet tonight even though you have an appointment to be seen tomorrow - these can be serious signs in such a young kitten. If she has been eating well this weekend and gaining weight and seems to breathe normally it is probably okay to wait until your visit tomorrow.

If the kitten has aspirated milk it will have serious trouble breathing. It will get aspiration pneumonia and likely die. This is an emergency. If you think the kitten has aspirated milk and it is showing upper respiratory problems, is lethargic, then it must be seen by a veterinarian now, if it is to have any chance to survive at all. There are no home treatment options. This kitten will need intensive medical care in a hospital.

If you are completely unable to feed him and it has been 24 hours since he has eaten, I would seek emergency care ASAP. There may be a functional issue or deformity that is preventing him from being able to eat properly which may need surgical correction or IV fluids/feeding tubes to bypass so he can get the nutrition he needs. Please try to seek care immediately at your vet or a local ER clinic, especially if he cannot eat at all or seems in distress.

Hi, I'm sorry to tell you bad news but if the kitten aspirated milk, it will likely die. It is very easy for kittens to aspirate at this age and usually results in death. Sometimes early intervention with antibiotics can save them. Likely, he will die in his sleep tonight. If he makes it to morning, you might want to consider euthanasia. On a better note, the remaining kitten can be tube fed instead of bottle fed until it is a little older. A rubber tube is inserted into the mouth and swallowed by the kitten and goes down into the stomach. You attach a syringe and inject a few milliliters into the tube, then pull it out. If you go to a vet and bring him they can demonstrate how to do this. If you notice any signs of eye, nasal discharge or coughing or breathing with effort, bring the kitten to the vet as soon as possible for antibiotics. Good luck, i hope this helps!

First, if one of the kittens has an injury to the umbilical cord it is best to seek veterinary care to ensure it doesn't become infected or need additional treatment. Second, it may be you are not feeding the kittens often enough which is why they are crying and starving by the time you do. It is best to feed smaller meals more often than one large meal as it will prevent aspiration and keep the kittens full in between meals. You also want to make sure they are on their bellies and not their backs when nursing to avoid aspirating milk. I'm including an article on orphaned kittens that may help as well! https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-raise-orphan-kittens/

I am most concerned that Holly could have aspirated some milk into her lungs. Sadly this can be common with bottle-fed kittens and can be very serious if not treated by a veterinarian. Holly needs to see a veterinarian ASAP. She will probably need strong antibiotics and possibly oxygen supplementation to help treat aspiration pneumonia. I do not think you did anything wrong. It just happens sometimes. One thing I would change if possible would be to only offer kitten milk replacer. I do not recommend mixing egg in the milk as it is not cooked and the kitten should not need egg if on a good kitten milk replacer. Good luck!

She might be suffering from a condition called "cleft palate" which is a birth defect, enabling passage between the oral cavity and nasal cavity. You need to take her to the vet in order to get it checked ASAP, if this is the case she will need a surgery to repair this problem.