Most pet owners barely notice if their pets have an internal problem, most usually so because many animals do not display any pain. One of these is diarrhea in cats. By the time the owners realize it, the diarrhea is already in an acute stage that the cat had to be taken into a vet.
Here, we will be examining the causes, symptoms, and remedies for cat diarrhea to help you mitigate potential harmful diseases that may harm your cat. Remember, diarrhea is not a disease by itself. It is only a symptom of an underlying disease that may be ailing your cat. It is therefore imperative that you have a solid background of what goes around this ailment and act accordingly.
Causes of Diarrhea
Although diarrhea is common, it may be caused by many factors, some of which are viral or bacterial in nature. Below is a list of the potential causes which you or your vet may rule out.
Blockage: Cats eat many things, including their own fur. As a result, they develop hairballs in their stomachs. Foreign objects that they have ingested may also cause diarrhea.
Bad Diet: Some cats, depending on age, may not be suitable for some types of food, especially those that were manufactured. Humans buy their pets many types of food in the belief that the cat will like it or appreciate it. Little do they know that this can also cause internal problems. A sudden change in the cat's diet can also cause diarrhea since the cat's digestive system is not yet familiar with the new chemicals introduced to its body. In relation to these, cats, like humans, also have intolerance and allergies to certain types of foods like milk.
Diseases: Colitis is a medical situation where the cat's colon is inflamed and can cause diarrhea. Another disease that can cause it is hyperthyroidism which is caused by benign tumours in the thyroid glands. Kidney and liver diseases can also be the culprit. Infections that come from notorious bacteria and viruses like salmonella, protozoal and worms can also cause diarrhea.
Symptoms of Diarrhea
If it is small intestine diarrhea, it is pretty much characterized by an increased volume in the cat's fecal matter, usually two to three times more than normal. You may also observe the absence of mucous in the cat's stool. For large intestine diarrhea, the volume is rather decreased and there may be blood and mucous and you may also see your cat going at it about five times a day. Other symptoms include: loss of appetite, lethargy or always being sleepy, dehydration, increased thirst, and weight loss. A cat will show increased thirst similar to what it does on hot days when it just stays near its watering hole or container. If the cat does this and does not eat all its food as it normally would, then your cat may have diarrhea.
Determining the Cause
Veterinarians have multiple methods to determine what's causing the diarrhea. It is imperative that they get to the root of the problem so they can address it appropriately. A physical exam is mandatory. They will probe for information and will ask you questions as regards to the physical symptoms shown above. They will need to know if you change the cat's diet or if the cat was exposed to toxins. More importantly, the vet will carry out tests to determine and rule out other diseases. Below are a few tests that may be carried out.
Urinalysis: This will check if the kidney functions are normal and if the body is hydrating normally.
Complete Blood Count: This will check anemia, inflammation, and internal infections
Ultrasound and X-rays: This will help evaluate cancer or blockages along the intestinal linings. Internal organs will also be assessed.
Thyroid Tests: This will evaluate hyperthyroidism. This is usually done in middle aged and old cats.
Endoscopy & Biopsy: This is a process by which a thin tube is passed into the stomach through the anus. The tube has a light and camera that will show the technician how the cat's stomach looks like.
Biochemical Profile: This is a test done to check for the presence of liver and kidney diseases. It also checks pancreatic malfunction. Multiple fecal exams will also be done to check for the presence of parasites, viruses, and bacteria. This may be done through flotation, smear, cytology, zinc sulphate, and other types of laboratory tests.
Medical Treatment for Diarrhea in Cats
Depending on the veterinarian's findings, the medical treatment may also vary. Usually, when the diarrhea is acute and the cat looks well and healthy, the veterinarian will simply withhold food and give it a water diet for a day. This is similar to fasting and it cleanses the cat's stomach. Food will be re-introduced until the cat's digestive organs get accustomed to the new diet.
If the cause of the diarrhea is blockage, the solution is surgery. An alternative is to feed the cat laxatives to help it get rid of the foreign object in its intestines or stomach. For colitis, the solution is to change the cat's diet into something that is easy to digest. You may also be advised to avoid changing food types suddenly if the cause of diarrhea is bad diet or change of diet. For allergy, you will be advised to change the food into hypoallergenic brands.
If the cause of diarrhea is hyperthyroidism, there may be a need to surgically remove the tumour. If surgery is not required, treatments that use radioactive iodine may be a good alternative to kill the tumour. For diarrhea caused by pancreatic malfunction, a change of diet that will replace pancreatic enzymes will be the primary course of action. Antibiotics may also be administered. The same applies to infection and parasitic activities in the cat. For kidney and liver diseases, a change of diet rich in protein is required. For others, nutritional IV fluids may be required for a time, including surgery.
Home Treatment for Diarrhea in Cats
Sometimes, you may have noticed the diarrhea yourself, especially so if it is not your pet cat's first time. In cases like this, home treatment may be a viable alternative if the cat is well, active, and still remains playful.
Change of Diet: It is recommended that you change your cat's diet into something bland. Less salt is better. A recommended recipe is a combination of chicken and rice. Mix one cup of cooked chicken breast with a half cup of brown rice or baby food. Just make sure it has no onion or garlic as these spices are toxic to cats. Administer this for several days until the cat's digestive system has recovered.
Plain Yogurt: This is rich in lactobacillus, a type of good bacteria that helps balance the enzymes in the stomach. You may feed it directly as it is or mix it with your cat's food. This type of bacteria resides in all mammals' digestive tract and what it does is to protect the body against harmful diseases.
Fasting: As described earlier, you may put your cat in a fast for a day. Just serve clean water and allow the cat to cleanse its digestive tracts. Once you start feeding and the diarrhea starts again, change it to a bland diet.
Diarrhea in cats in itself may not be fatal. However, if left untreated, the underlying disease may progress to something more fatal. Never postpone treatment once you have noticed that your cat is displaying symptoms as described above. More importantly, consult your veterinarian right away if your cat is showing sluggishness, lethargy, loss of appetite, and abnormally frequent visits to the litter box.
Here, we will be examining the causes, symptoms, and remedies for cat diarrhea to help you mitigate potential harmful diseases that may harm your cat. Remember, diarrhea is not a disease by itself. It is only a symptom of an underlying disease that may be ailing your cat. It is therefore imperative that you have a solid background of what goes around this ailment and act accordingly.
Causes of Diarrhea
Although diarrhea is common, it may be caused by many factors, some of which are viral or bacterial in nature. Below is a list of the potential causes which you or your vet may rule out.
Blockage: Cats eat many things, including their own fur. As a result, they develop hairballs in their stomachs. Foreign objects that they have ingested may also cause diarrhea.
Bad Diet: Some cats, depending on age, may not be suitable for some types of food, especially those that were manufactured. Humans buy their pets many types of food in the belief that the cat will like it or appreciate it. Little do they know that this can also cause internal problems. A sudden change in the cat's diet can also cause diarrhea since the cat's digestive system is not yet familiar with the new chemicals introduced to its body. In relation to these, cats, like humans, also have intolerance and allergies to certain types of foods like milk.
Diseases: Colitis is a medical situation where the cat's colon is inflamed and can cause diarrhea. Another disease that can cause it is hyperthyroidism which is caused by benign tumours in the thyroid glands. Kidney and liver diseases can also be the culprit. Infections that come from notorious bacteria and viruses like salmonella, protozoal and worms can also cause diarrhea.
Symptoms of Diarrhea
If it is small intestine diarrhea, it is pretty much characterized by an increased volume in the cat's fecal matter, usually two to three times more than normal. You may also observe the absence of mucous in the cat's stool. For large intestine diarrhea, the volume is rather decreased and there may be blood and mucous and you may also see your cat going at it about five times a day. Other symptoms include: loss of appetite, lethargy or always being sleepy, dehydration, increased thirst, and weight loss. A cat will show increased thirst similar to what it does on hot days when it just stays near its watering hole or container. If the cat does this and does not eat all its food as it normally would, then your cat may have diarrhea.
Determining the Cause
Veterinarians have multiple methods to determine what's causing the diarrhea. It is imperative that they get to the root of the problem so they can address it appropriately. A physical exam is mandatory. They will probe for information and will ask you questions as regards to the physical symptoms shown above. They will need to know if you change the cat's diet or if the cat was exposed to toxins. More importantly, the vet will carry out tests to determine and rule out other diseases. Below are a few tests that may be carried out.
Urinalysis: This will check if the kidney functions are normal and if the body is hydrating normally.
Complete Blood Count: This will check anemia, inflammation, and internal infections
Ultrasound and X-rays: This will help evaluate cancer or blockages along the intestinal linings. Internal organs will also be assessed.
Thyroid Tests: This will evaluate hyperthyroidism. This is usually done in middle aged and old cats.
Endoscopy & Biopsy: This is a process by which a thin tube is passed into the stomach through the anus. The tube has a light and camera that will show the technician how the cat's stomach looks like.
Biochemical Profile: This is a test done to check for the presence of liver and kidney diseases. It also checks pancreatic malfunction. Multiple fecal exams will also be done to check for the presence of parasites, viruses, and bacteria. This may be done through flotation, smear, cytology, zinc sulphate, and other types of laboratory tests.
Medical Treatment for Diarrhea in Cats
Depending on the veterinarian's findings, the medical treatment may also vary. Usually, when the diarrhea is acute and the cat looks well and healthy, the veterinarian will simply withhold food and give it a water diet for a day. This is similar to fasting and it cleanses the cat's stomach. Food will be re-introduced until the cat's digestive organs get accustomed to the new diet.
If the cause of the diarrhea is blockage, the solution is surgery. An alternative is to feed the cat laxatives to help it get rid of the foreign object in its intestines or stomach. For colitis, the solution is to change the cat's diet into something that is easy to digest. You may also be advised to avoid changing food types suddenly if the cause of diarrhea is bad diet or change of diet. For allergy, you will be advised to change the food into hypoallergenic brands.
If the cause of diarrhea is hyperthyroidism, there may be a need to surgically remove the tumour. If surgery is not required, treatments that use radioactive iodine may be a good alternative to kill the tumour. For diarrhea caused by pancreatic malfunction, a change of diet that will replace pancreatic enzymes will be the primary course of action. Antibiotics may also be administered. The same applies to infection and parasitic activities in the cat. For kidney and liver diseases, a change of diet rich in protein is required. For others, nutritional IV fluids may be required for a time, including surgery.
Home Treatment for Diarrhea in Cats
Sometimes, you may have noticed the diarrhea yourself, especially so if it is not your pet cat's first time. In cases like this, home treatment may be a viable alternative if the cat is well, active, and still remains playful.
Change of Diet: It is recommended that you change your cat's diet into something bland. Less salt is better. A recommended recipe is a combination of chicken and rice. Mix one cup of cooked chicken breast with a half cup of brown rice or baby food. Just make sure it has no onion or garlic as these spices are toxic to cats. Administer this for several days until the cat's digestive system has recovered.
Plain Yogurt: This is rich in lactobacillus, a type of good bacteria that helps balance the enzymes in the stomach. You may feed it directly as it is or mix it with your cat's food. This type of bacteria resides in all mammals' digestive tract and what it does is to protect the body against harmful diseases.
Fasting: As described earlier, you may put your cat in a fast for a day. Just serve clean water and allow the cat to cleanse its digestive tracts. Once you start feeding and the diarrhea starts again, change it to a bland diet.
Diarrhea in cats in itself may not be fatal. However, if left untreated, the underlying disease may progress to something more fatal. Never postpone treatment once you have noticed that your cat is displaying symptoms as described above. More importantly, consult your veterinarian right away if your cat is showing sluggishness, lethargy, loss of appetite, and abnormally frequent visits to the litter box.
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