Very Sick Kitten

Question
I need help.  Our 7 week old kitten is going limp and her eyes have dialated almost fully.  She won't move much and is cold.  She seems like she is having trouble breathing and we tried CPR, but she groans & makes little noises in her almost paralytic state like she is fighting to live.  Please give me some advice.  We don't know what to do for her and there are little girls here upset.  

Answer
Hi Susan.  I imagine this advice is finding you too late.  But if the kitten is still hanging on, please rub some Karo Syrup (corn syrup) on the kitten's gums.  Then put on a sweatshirt and hold the kitten inside it, or place her on a heating pad that is set on low heat and wrapped in a towel to bring up her body temperature.  

The most common reason for collapse in kittens of this age is hypoglycemia.  The Karo syrup should absorb through her gums to help raise her blood sugar.  But her body heat needs to be brought back to normal so that she can eat and metabolize food.  Once she is responsive, slowly feed her 1 teaspoon of Karo syrup, and then try feeding her canned food, meat baby foods (for humans), chicken, tuna, or anything meat-based that she will eat.  

Then, she needs to get to a vet on an emergency basis to determine exactly what caused her collapse.  If it was, indeed, hypoglycemia, it means she hasn't been eating enough, or she's been vomiting.  Other possible causes of collapse include dehydration caused by diarrhea or fever, and the feline distemper virus.  Treating the underlying cause of her condition will be imperative to her recovery.

I hope all goes well!

Jessica