All cats get a touch of diarrhea from time to time in their lives. Often, they're just a little stressed and it will clear up on its own. But if it doesn't, you'll want to look deeper into the problem and find the root cause of the diarrhea.
Diarrhea in cats can be caused by many things, including:
Intestinal Parasites: These include roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and Giardia.
Viral and Bacterial Infections: Kittens are very susceptible to infections because their immune systems are still developing. Feline infectious peritonitis and distemper are two of the more deadly viruses that can cause diarrhea.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An inflammation of the intestinal lining, IBD can also cause weight loss and abdominal pain.
Overfeeding: It's tempting to spoil a cat or kitten, but overfeeding can also cause diarrhea. Large heavy stools are an indication of overfeeding.
Dietary Changes Cats need a consistent diet. Changing it, such as using a different brand of food, can upset your cat's tummy. If you must change the food, do it slowly, mixing old with new and then gradually taper off on the old food. This will allow your cat's digestion time to get used to the new food.
Leukemia: If your cat has bloody diarrhea, it could be a sign of feline leukemia. Of course, this can be a big problem for a cat, but bear in mind that the symptoms can be the same for other diseases, so it is just one possibility if the diarrhea is bloody.
Allergies to Food: Some cats are lactose intolerant while others may be allergic to corn. Soy and wheat can also trigger allergic reactions.
Other Causes: Other factors can cause diarrhea as well including a fatty diet, antibiotics, poisons and stress.
Thankfully, treatment is pretty straightforward in most cases of cat diarrhea.
First, make sure your cat is getting plenty of fluids. Cat diarrhea can cause dehydration so make sure your cat has plenty of access to water. Cold chicken broth may also help.
If this doesn't clear things up, take your cat off his diet of food for a day or so. If you changed brands of food, try going back to the old one when you start feeding your cat again. Better yet, introduce your cat to some soft, bland rice first and see if that helps your cat's stool firm up.
If your cat continues to have diarrhea you'll want to schedule a visit with your veterinarian. He will be able to perform a physical examination of your feline and run some specific tests to see if there is another issue causing the diarrhea. Be sure to provide your vet with a complete medical history of the diarrhea so he knows how long it has been going on, what you've done to treat it at home and whether this has been a recurring issue.
No comments:
Post a Comment