My newborn kitten's bottom is wet and rashy. Should I see a vet?

Normally its mommy would clean it. You will need to regularly rinse off the urine and clean it so it does not scald its skin. Rinse it well, dry it well and put some vaseline on the scalded areas. This will protect the skin. It will likely urinate shortly after eating/drinking, so this is when you will need to clean it. At 4 weeks it will likely not yet be able to learn how to go into the litter box.

I would wash it gently with a mild soap and rinse very well. If you have any a and d ointment or other diaper rash cream available then a very small amount of that applied and rubbed in well is appropriate. If in 12 hours you don’t see improvement then a visit to your veterinarian would be a good idea. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Yes, this is similar to a diaper rash - where the skin gets irritated by the filth and sometimes infected. The fact that it's not as red anymore is a good sign that it's healing. The hair loss is not too concerning right now, because this will often happen when the old skin and hair grows out after being damaged and new skin and hair is growing in. I recommend keeping this area clean by just flushing with cool water once a day. Gently wipe away any debris and pat dry after flushing. Avoid scrubbing, or putting any ointments, soaps, or antiseptics on this area, because this can actually irritate the skin and delay healing. I hope that helps and all is well with the kittens.

Soak her bottom in some warm water to soften the stool, then gently wipe her clean. Offer a quality canned kitten food and mix in some unflavored PediaLyte to keep her hydrated. This will help ease defecation. Submit a stool sample to your veterinarian to diagnose intestinal parasites. Deworm Lily if indicated and repeat in 2 weeks. An exam should also be done since she is a "new" pet. Once she is deemed healthy, you can discuss an appropriate vaccination protocol with your vet.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Barry. The mother cat will lick the kitten's anal area and genitals each time the kitten finishes nursing to stimulate urination and defecation. You can try to replicate this by using warm water on a cotton ball. If this does not work, then he will need to see a veterinarian. Good luck!

Kittens need to eat frequently! What goes in must come out, and on a liquid diet it will be mostly urine. You need to rub and rub and rub the anus with a warm wet washcloth to stimulate defecation. This is a great article on raising orphan kittens: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951456

I would recommend soaking the area in a warm solution of kitten/puppy shampoo diluted 1:5 with water for 3-4 minutes and then gently towel drying to remove the crusts. Applying a small amount of zinc-free bepanthen diaper ointment can help if the underlying skin is become irritated but this can be very difficult to wash out of the coat later!