Gypsy Animal Rescue

How to De-flea Kittens and Puppies

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-Kittens and puppies under two months cannot receive flea medication (Capstar/Advantage)

*(In special circumstances Advantage can be used with permission from a vet)

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-To rid these little ones of fleas, you will need Dawn dish soap

*(Enviro-friendly or cheap soaps will not do the trick. It really has to be Dawn!)

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-First, in a WARM bathroom or kitchen, wet the animal all over it’s body with warm (not hot) water using a soaked washcloth

*(You can also run them under a warm tap by scruffing them, but you need to be VERY

careful not to get water in the animal’s eyes or nose - so the washcloth is safest for first-timers)

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-Once the animal’s fur is saturated in water, completely cover the animal with Dawn, starting at the tail an ending with the face (do not put Dawn near eyes, nose or mouth!) and lather

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-Let the dawn stay on for FIVE whole minutes (at least)

*(I like to keep a blow drier on warm facing them while I massage the Dawn into the fur during this time so that the kitten/puppy/critter doesn’t freeze)

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-The Dawn will suffocate the fleas and they will die

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-Then CAREFULLY rinse the animal

*(Again, under the faucet is faster but be VERY CAREFUL and use a warm wet rag if you

are worried about them aspirating)

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-Once all the soap is removed - DRY THE ANIMAL thoroughly.

* (I have found that paper towels dry fur faster than rags, but are more wasteful)

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-Throw ALL blankets and towels straight into the washing machine and do not let the clean kitten/puppy come into contact with the towels he or she was on before the bath.

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-You will probably need to repeat this process in a day or two to ensure all fleas are dead

*************************************************************************************** Disclaimer: * These are the methods I used at the shelter where I worked. I used them on dozens of kittens myself and trained foster parents using them. They were approved by a veterinarian, but that being said, I am not a vet myself and it never hurts to give a professional a call when doing something for the first time. Good luck! :)

Bottle Baby Kittens

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-Bottle baby kittens need to be fed, cleaned, and stimulated to go potty regularly

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-Until about 3 weeks these things will need to be done every 2 hours

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-From 3-4 weeks they can be spaced at longer increments and by 4 weeks kittens can sleep through the night easily without a feeding.

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-At 4 weeks kittens will have their teeth and can begin being weaned.

*If a kitten has been weaned but is quickly losing weight and becoming weak do not

hesitate to put Kitten Milk Replacer (KMR) back into its diet along with solid food and a

supplement of Nutri-Cal.

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-Bottle baby kittens are to be fed KMR and NOTHING ELSE (aka NO cow milk!)

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-To stimulate a kitten, take a warm wet wash cloth/cotton ball/gloved finger and gently rub the rear area until urine/feces come out. It may take some time, be patient and gentle. (And yes, they do tend to scream :/ )

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-Kittens should pee after every feeding and poop at least once per day. If it has been three days without poop you should seek out a vet for a tiny enema.

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-Bottle baby kittens need to be kept warm, so they will need a hot water bottle or a heater nearby. (Be careful not to burn them either.)

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-They also need to be kept clean, which can be done with a warm wet wash cloth (mind the nose, moth, eye and rear areas). Make sure they are dried immediately after cleaning.

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-Often overlooked is their need for physical contact. Hold, pet, or touch your kitten as often as you can. (One thing I like to do is put on a sweater and tuck the kitten gently inside between the sweater and my shirt, taking care not to crush or suffocate it. It is a warm place where the kitten can feel your breathing and it calms them down noticeably. You can relax and watch a movie or get work done.)

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Disclaimer:

* These are the methods I used at the shelter where I worked. I used them on dozens of kittens myself and trained foster parents using them. They were approved by a veterinarian, but that being said, I am not a vet myself and it never hurts to give a professional a call when doing something for the first time. Good luck! :)