To our fosters or anyone using this protocol, please read:
This is the protocol I used when we had kittens fall ill with panleuk. While we had a tremendous amount of support and advice from our vet, I am not personally a veterinarian nor am I am a RVT or VTA. This is not guaranteed to work, but if you follow it to the t, your kitten will have a much better chance than if you are lackadaisical with it or worse, ignore the condition entirely. It is imperative that you contact me if you are fostering for us and you aren't sure if the kitten is suffering and should be humanely euthanized. The chances of that being the case are unlikely if you follow the instructions closely, but we do need to consider that this is a possibility. If you need advice, call me.
BE SURE TO ISOLATE ANY SICK KITTENS FROM OTHER CATS, ESPECIALLY IF THE OTHER CATS ARE NOT VACCINATED. THE ONLY REASON A CAT SHOULD BE UNVACCINATED IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT YET REACHED 6 WEEKS OF AGE. IF YOU NEED HELP WITH THIS, CONTACT ME.
This is a terrifying disease. It is manageable though. You can do this, and don't be afraid to ask us for support. Any of us would much rather come help than lose a foster, or a kitten, or have a foster feel overwhelmed by the enormity of this undertaking.
-J
Medications used:
Clavamox at 12.5mg/kg (formula for ml dosing is kg•12.5/62.5
Veraflox at 7.5 mg/kg (kg•7.5/25)
Vitamin B¹² 1000mcg/ml DIN 00521515 injectable - available at Walmart pharmacy without a scrip
Cerenia injectable - dose unknown at this time, appeared to be 1ml/kg but was diluted in order to ensure full delivery
Other supplies:
NaCl or lactated ringers solution injectable
20 g sharps for pulling up fluids
25 or 26 g ⅝" sharps for administration of fluids and B¹²
25 or 26 g butterfly injection sets for administration of sub-q fluids
1 ml oral syringes
1 or 3 ml luer lock or similar syringes
5 ml oral syringes
10 ml luer lock or similar syringes
Electrolyte solution or powder (Fox Valley makes a wonderful electrolyte powder called Day One Electrostat which is available to Canadian buyers through www.henryspets.com. choose regular shipping as DHL & UPS love to play customs agent and charge you through the wazoo. While you're ordering, try out the Miracle Nipples. Expensive but AWESOME.)
Corn syrup
Heating pad (either a cheap one or one you can fully sterilize because if you can't you'll need to throw it out)
Old towels. LOTS of old towels.
Calorie paste such as Cat-Cal or Nutri-Cal
Royal Canin Recovery or Science Diet Urgent Care wet food
Containment kennel
Cheap/disposable litter pan (I use a dollar store foil roasting pan)
Timer (I use my phone)
Probiotic powder
Optional items I found helpful
Fox Valley Day One Dia Stat Stool Consistency Normalizer
Heated blanket to put over containment kennel for added warmth
Disposable plastic dishes
Notebook & pen for taking notes of weights, symptoms, extra actions taken
Parker Protocol info
Schedule of administration
Subcutaneous fluids - 5 to 10 ml depending on severity of dehydration every 6 hours, more frequently if necessary. Check hydration every hour, but do not administer a full 10 ml every hour. In their most vulnerable, dehydrated states, I administered 10 ml at regular time, and if the kitten became dehydrated again prior to the next scheduled infusion I gave 5 ml of electrolyte solution orally and 5 ml sub-q no less than 3 hours after scheduled infusion. If the kitten is tenting, ignore the clock and give 5 ml sub-q.
Clavamox - 1 dose every 12 hours
Veraflox - dose between every other Clavamox dose (so if you're giving Clavamox at 12 am and 12 pm, give the Veraflox at 6 pm but NOT at 6 am, or vice versa, whichever works easiest.)
Calorie push - I made a slurry of 1 tbsp Recovery food, a dusting of probiotic powder, and 1 ml calorie gel, added some water for ease of administration, and syringe fed it every hour. Yes, it will come right out their little bum like a cartoon skeleton drinking a martini, but it is still necessary.
My personal schedule was as follows:
5:00 am - sub-q administration
9:00 am - Clavamox
11:00 am - sub-q administration
3:00 pm - Veraflox
5:00 pm - sub-q administration with 0.1ml vitamin B¹²
9:00 - Clavamox
11:00 pm sub-q administration
Hourly: calorie push with either food, slurry, or simply the calorie paste. Check hydration, administer 1 ml of electrolyte solution if necessary. If kitten is not drinking water, 1 ml electrolyte solution, 4 ml water syringe fed
Keep kittens warm at all times
Have water and food available at all times
Change litter often (1-2× daily), they will smell like a gym bag forgotten in a hot car for a week.
Get rest between treatments. You will be no good to the kitten or yourself if you can't function.
