Diarrhea in a cat
Diarrhea in cats (or, in scientific terms, diarrhea) is a very common occurrence. However, this doesn't mean you can just leave it alone and let the problem "go away." Diarrhea can often have serious underlying causes. What should you do and how can you treat diarrhea in cats at home? We'll discuss this, as well as each possible cause of diarrhea, in our article today.
If you don’t notice such a deviation in your pet as constipation While it's quite difficult, severe diarrhea in a cat will definitely not go unnoticed. Diarrhea is easy to recognize. The animal empties its bowels frequently (up to 10 times a day). The consistency of the stool can vary considerably:
- Mushy;
- Watery;
- Liquid.
The color and odor of feces also vary widely. Felids are quite picky eaters. Therefore, diarrhea in cats is not common, and owners should pay special attention to their pet's condition.
Content
- 1 Symptoms of diarrhea in cats
- 2 If a cat has diarrhea without complications
- 3 If a cat has watery diarrhea
- 4 If a cat has diarrhea and vomiting
- 5 If your cat has diarrhea with blood and/or mucus
- 6 If your cat has black and/or red diarrhea
- 7 If a cat has yellow diarrhea
- 8 If a cat has white diarrhea
- 9 If a cat has green diarrhea
- 10 Treating a cat's diarrhea at home
Symptoms of diarrhea in cats
The most obvious symptom of diarrhea in cats is frequent loose stools. Additionally, additional symptoms may be present:
- Straining to defecate;
- Flatulence;
- Mucus and/or blood in the stool.
In some cases, secondary symptoms may be observed, such as:
- Decreased appetite;
- Weight loss;
- Dehydration;
- Fevers;
- Lethargy;
- Vomiting.
If your cat's diarrhea is an unusual color, such as red or black, it could be a sign of a serious illness. In this case, it's advisable to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible. After all, your beloved pet's life depends on delay.
But to avoid unnecessary panic, it's worth familiarizing yourself with the symptoms and their causes in more detail. After all, in most cases, everything ends quite well.
Duration of symptoms
Diarrhea in cats can begin suddenly and end just as suddenly. It can also persist for months, virtually continuously, or occur intermittently. A single bout of diarrhea is not cause for alarm, but if a cat's diarrhea lasts for more than two days, it signals a more serious problem.
Conventionally, diarrhea in cats is divided into three groups based on duration and severity of the situation:
- Acute (if several days).
- Chronic (if the cat has diarrhea for a long time - more than a week).
- Intermittent (if month).
If the disorder is caused by poor nutrition, poor-quality food, etc., symptomatic treatment may be sufficient. If the cat has short-term, uncomplicated diarrhea, a one- or two-day fast is the most appropriate treatment. It's also advisable to reduce the cat's water intake in the first few hours after the onset of symptoms. Providing the cat with rest is also helpful.
Diarrhea in cats that lasts for a week or more is a signal that your pet needs to be examined and treated at a veterinary clinic. Prolonged distress can lead to dehydration, which only worsens the cat's condition. Therefore, delaying treatment in this case is highly undesirable.
If a cat has diarrhea without complications
What should you do if your cat only has diarrhea and no other serious symptoms? Besides worm infestations and food poisoning Diarrhea in cats can be caused by an infectious disease, internal organ pathology, or other changes related to the body's normal functioning. It's also important to remember that cats are unique creatures, and similar symptoms in different animals don't necessarily indicate a similar disease. Therefore, to determine the cause and develop an effective treatment, consult a specialist.
Why might a cat have diarrhea? The problem can arise in various situations:
- Bowel disease;
- Infectious disease;
- Psycho-emotional disorder;
- Food allergy;
- Invasive disease;
- Poor nutrition;
- Overeating;
- Poisoning.
How to treat a cat's diarrhea at home? If the cat is feeling well and the diarrhea doesn't affect its appetite or playfulness, then a change in diet or a fasting day is a good way to resolve the problem without resorting to medical treatment. Keep in mind that even if the symptoms of loose discharge are one-time, it's still a reason to monitor the animal's diet.
If diarrhea persists for several days, or worse, if the feces acquire an unusual odor or color, it's time to see a veterinarian. Many feline illnesses progress rapidly, and delay can be fatal for your pet.
If a cat has watery diarrhea
Most often, profuse watery discharge in cats signals a minor, one-time problem. However, it can also be a sign of the onset of a disease. If watery diarrhea persists for a long time, it's best to call a veterinarian or visit a specialized clinic. If this isn't possible at this time, follow these recommendations:
- If your pet only has diarrhea, without vomiting, give it clean, boiled water to drink. This will prevent dehydration;
- The cat's food should be reduced or not fed at all for 24 hours;
At this time, it is best for the animal to eat easily digestible food.
If a cat has diarrhea and vomiting
What should you do if your cat has diarrhea and vomiting? This is most often a sign that the animal's digestive system is struggling with the negative effects of external factors.
| Possible causes of diarrhea and vomiting in cats | What diseases are possible? |
| Poor quality, allergenic, irritating food | Tumor |
| Bacteria and their toxins | Pancreatitis |
| Parasite antigens | Kidney disease |
| Thyroid problems | |
| Intestinal obstruction or obstruction esophagus |
Sunstroke or heatstroke can also trigger vomiting in pets. Quite often, vomiting and diarrhea in cats are the result of their owners' carelessness. When feeding their cats, some owners feed them human food, which is not always compatible with a small cat's digestive system.
Treatment
How to treat a cat with diarrhea and vomiting? It's important to provide first aid and follow these recommendations:
- The water in the bowl should be changed, and the bowl itself should be thoroughly washed.
- You should refrain from feeding your cat for some time, but not more than 48 hours.
- While your cat is fasting, you can go to the store and purchase special canned food for cats with gastrointestinal issues. This food is gentle on the stomach and promotes the absorption of toxins and the formation of fecal mass.
- Until your cat's stool returns to normal, in addition to special canned food, you can give your pet medications recommended for loose stools.
- If all the above recommendations have not had a beneficial effect on the cat's body and diarrhea and vomiting continue to torment the pet, then you need to take the animal to the veterinarian.
If your cat has diarrhea with blood and/or mucus
What to do if a cat has diarrhea with blood or mucus? It has been noted that diarrhea with mucus most often occurs during the period of antihelminthic therapy, after the use of appropriate drugs. This is especially pronounced in animals with a large number of worms. The parasites are killed by the medication and are excreted from the body in the form of mucous diarrhea along with the feces.
Diarrhea with blood and mucus in cats can also often be caused by colitis (an inflammatory bowel disease). Colitis can be caused by many factors, so the best thing an owner can do for their pet in this case is take them to the vet.
Treatment
In some cases, changing the animal's diet is enough to restore intestinal function to normal. If the owner decides the cat needs a diet, the first step is to eliminate smoked and sweet foods. Milk should be eliminated as well. Cereals, especially oatmeal and rice, are good choices for the diet.
In advanced cases, a veterinarian may prescribe antibacterial and antiviral medications. These include special serums and immunostimulants. The cat is also treated with:
- Disinfecting enemas;
- Enzymes that improve the functioning of the digestive system;
- Broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs.
If a cat's bloody and/or mucous diarrhea is caused by worms, it will need deworming. This is a standard procedure that helps cleanse the animal's body of parasites. Also, regardless of the type of deworming performed, the cat should be provided with constant access to clean water. After all, if poisoning is the cause of the diarrhea, water is the best way to flush the pet's system without causing any harm to its already fragile health.
If your cat has black and/or red diarrhea
Under normal conditions, a cat's stool can range in color from brown to light brown. However, if a cat has black, runny stool, also known as "melena," it's a sign of a possible problem. What should you do in this case? First, let's look at the possible causes and analyze additional symptoms.
The reason for the change in the color of stool is as follows:
- The animal receives iron-containing vitamin supplements;
- The pet's diet consists of raw meat or blood meal;
- The cat is given iron supplements.
If your cat is feeling well and it's known for certain that it's eating foods that could stain its stool, then everything is fine. However, your pet definitely needs an urgent examination if the following additional symptoms are present:
- Refusal to eat, lethargy;
- Vomiting, diarrhea;
- Abdominal pain;
- Temperature.
Red diarrhea in a cat is an additional alarming symptom. It usually means there's blood in the stool, which is a clear sign of bleeding in one of the gastrointestinal tract sections. In all of the above symptoms, the most reasonable treatment is to consult a specialist. After all, black stool, as a symptom of illness, can accompany the following diseases.
- Helminthic invasion.
- Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.
- Traumatic gastritis, colitis.
- Tumors of the stomach and small intestine.
- Ulcerative enterocolitis, ulcerative gastritis.
In this situation, home treatment can only worsen the situation and lead to the death of the pet, therefore Treatment of cats with possible signs of gastrointestinal bleeding is carried out under the supervision of veterinarians and only after passing tests.
If a cat has yellow diarrhea
When the stomach functions normally, it receives the required amount of bile, which contains yellow bilirubin. During digestion, bilirubin is converted into stercobilin, the standard brown color typical of the feces of a healthy animal.
In principle, yellow diarrhea in cats is normal, as diarrhea accelerates digestion and bilirubin is excreted in an undigested, yellow form. However, if the stool is very yellow, even orange, it's a clear sign of jaundice.
Treatment
Yellow diarrhea in cats primarily indicates poor digestion. Therefore, before undertaking treatment, it's important to analyze your cat's diet. If your cat has recently consumed a lot of milk, raw seafood, liver, or very fatty meat, these foods may be the cause. The best treatment is a change in diet. It's best to keep your cat on a semi-starvation diet or not feed them at all for a while. If simple treatments don't work, you may need to take your cat to the veterinarian for tests. This will best assess liver function.
If a cat has white diarrhea
As is already known, the color of feces is influenced by bilirubin, a component of bile. If there's too much of it, the animal's feces take on a yellowish tint. Conversely, a lack of bilirubin causes the opposite effect—white diarrhea in cats. The main cause of this phenomenon is bile duct obstruction and problems with bile production in the liver.
Liver problems of this kind rarely manifest as mild illness. Most likely, your pet has a more serious, chronic condition. Even if white diarrhea is noticed in your cat for the first time, it's a good reason to take your pet to the vet.
If a cat has green diarrhea
Green diarrhea in cats indicates putrefactive and fermentative processes in the intestines. This typically occurs when a cat has consumed spoiled food containing a large number of putrefactive microorganisms.
Green diarrhea in cats is also dangerous because toxic substances are released during the decomposition process. This can cause severe poisoning of the animal's body. This adversely affects not only its health and bowel movements, but also the functioning of all its organs. Therefore, if diarrhea persists for several days, it's important to take your pet to the vet. Treatment for green diarrhea in cats often involves antibiotics and intravenous drips. Only a veterinarian can prescribe the correct medications. Not every pet owner is capable of administering an intravenous drip to their pet.
Treating a cat's diarrhea at home
Below, we'll discuss the basic rules of pet therapy—how to treat a domestic cat for diarrhea. If symptoms of a gastrointestinal upset appear, it's too early to panic or worry about your pet's serious illness. If your cat is vaccinated and doesn't come into contact with other cats, especially strays, then the diarrhea is most likely caused by a simple intestinal disorder. In some cases, the cause isn't illness at all, but nervousness. In this case, the key is to properly assess the situation.
Of course, treating a cat's diarrhea at home, with care and proper nutrition, isn't always the solution. In some cases, medical intervention is required, usually starting with medication. Moreover, some "human" medications are also worth considering.
List of medications (tablets) for diarrhea in cats
We've prepared a list of the most popular medications for diarrhea in cats, with comments on each one to make it easier for you to navigate. Let's be clear, these are the most popular folk remedies, and we don't recommend all of them. Furthermore, if your pet's diarrhea is complicated, the best option is to take them to the vet first before administering medication. So, what should you give your cat for diarrhea?
Furazolidone
The drug has a broad antimicrobial effect. Bacteria have a low resistance to it, which only adds to the drug's advantages.
Indications for use:
- Hepatitis;
- Enteritis;
- Coccidiosis;
- Balantidiasis;
- Salmonellosis;
- Colibacillosis and others.
The treatment plan depends on a number of factors and is usually individualized. A therapist develops a course of treatment only after the cat has undergone all necessary tests to determine the cause of the diarrhea. The medication is administered as follows: the daily dose should be mixed with food in three portions, and each portion should be fed to the pet every four hours.
Enterofuril
The drug is beneficial because it specifically treats infectious diarrhea in cats. And because it reduces the risk of bacterial infection, it can also be used for viral diarrhea. It's best to purchase Enterofuril as a pediatric suspension. This makes it easier to administer to your cat, and it's also better absorbed.
Phthalazole
This is an antimicrobial medication. It is effective in treating salmonellosis and dysentery. It is also prescribed for gastroenteritis and colitis caused by strains of E. coli. It is a reliable aid for veterinarians – an old, proven remedy used for various gastrointestinal disorders in cats. To administer Phthalazole to cats with diarrhea, follow these steps: crush ¼ of the tablet, mix it with water, and administer it to the animal using a syringe. Small crystals of powder may remain in the water – this is normal. It is important to note that this medication is not recommended for pets with kidney or liver disease, or during pregnancy.
Levomycetin
The drug shows significant effectiveness in the fight against gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms, such as spirochetes, rickettsia and other large viruses.
Important! Levomycetin does not cause side effects unless the instructions for use are strictly followed. Ignoring this fact can lead to the following side effects when treating diarrhea in cats:
- Inflammation of the oral mucosa;
- Liver damage;
- Skin rashes;
- Intestinal flatulence;
- Hyperemia;
- Dermatitis;
- Diarrhea.
It is also important to consider the cat's individual tolerance to the drug, and it is best not to give it to pregnant animals, pets with fungal diseases, or kidney or liver diseases.
Activated carbon and smecta
Enterosorbents, including activated charcoal, help remove toxins from the gastrointestinal tract. They are given to cats if diarrhea is short-lived. Otherwise, medication is used.
Giving Smecta to a cat for diarrhea is useful, but caution should be exercised. It is impossible to become poisoned by it, but the medicine should only be given to your pet during diarrhea, otherwise it can cause constipation.
Indeed, many "human" medications can be used to varying degrees to treat pets. However, using them on your own, without the advice of a veterinarian, is still undesirable. It's best to treat diarrhea with medications formulated for animals. Alternative (folk) treatments may also be considered in certain circumstances. However, a specialist is, of course, more reliable.
Feeding a cat with diarrhea
Once you notice your cat has diarrhea, you can fast for 24 hours. However, you should provide unlimited amounts of water. Also, if your cat has diarrhea, eliminate any dairy products or foods high in carbohydrates or starches from your pet's diet. After a day, you can begin feeding it a little at a time. However, keep in mind that the portion size should be at least half the standard amount. Your pet's diet should include only easily digestible, low-fat foods.
A cat with diarrhea should be fed several times a day. If medication is prescribed during this time, this is an additional option for administering the medication with food. Recommended foods include:
- Boiled rice;
- Boiled chicken meat;
- Boiled egg yolk.
If your cat has always been fed prepared food, it's best to buy special canned pet food that won't irritate the digestive tract. Reintroducing your cat's regular food should only be done once your pet has fully recovered.
Any questions? You can ask our website's staff veterinarian in the comments below, who will answer them as quickly as possible.
Read also:
147 comments
Daria
Before leaving the dacha, I dripped Bars on the cat's withers. The cat was really pissed off about that... could this have caused the loose stools, and later the bloody ones?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Bars could have triggered the poisoning if I licked it right away. It's usually recommended to hold it in your hands until the medication is absorbed into the skin. If more than an hour passes between application and licking, the risk of poisoning is lower. Infusion therapy and liver protection medications are usually necessary. However, it's possible that the problem is parasites.
Protozoa can also cause loose stools with blood. Lack of vaccinations is also a big risk (especially since the animal is young, there's a risk that other cats have visited and introduced some infectious disease). Take your cat's temperature rectally with a digital thermometer (there are articles on how to do this correctly, and plenty of videos on the website) or take it to a vet immediately.
If the temperature is elevated, there's a high risk of an infectious disease or inflammatory process in the body. If it's normal, it could be parasites or stress from moving (yes, cats are very delicate creatures, and idiopathic enteritis is also possible). However, a normal temperature doesn't guarantee your pet is completely healthy.
If possible, deworm your pet after recovery, and then vaccinate it later to protect it. Initially, vaccinate it twice (don't forget about rabies, and if your cat hunts mice, also against leptospirosis), and then vaccinate it once a year.
Daria
Female cat, 1.4 years old. Not vaccinated, not spayed, dewormed every three months. She spent the summer at the dacha, where her tail was severely injured. They tried to treat it, but it's not healing well.
We returned home, and Cat had loose stools, some bloody ones on the second day, and was going to the bathroom once or twice a day. She needs to be dewormed now, but I read that it's not recommended when she has diarrhea. She's eating well, her food hasn't been changed, and she's drinking water.
Will a visit to the vet be the only solution?
Elena
What do you say if the cat is allergic!?
He's on Purina, and it's the only food out of many I've tried that doesn't cause diarrhea. But this cat is incredibly hungry, and even when the bowl is empty, he sometimes manages to steal dog food (there are two other Pomeranians in the family). As soon as he eats even one pea of their food, the diarrhea starts again! I'm saving him with Sulgin. Although, lately, even Sulgin hasn't helped.
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Well, since your cat is such an extreme person who enjoys wearing things, you'll have to constantly monitor him to make sure he doesn't get into the room where the dogs eat. Don't leave food in the dogs' bowls.
So, you put out the food one at a time, make sure they eat it all in one sitting, wash and put away the bowl, and leave only water. During this time, put the cat somewhere safe and locked up so he can't see or try to steal the food. But it would be a good idea to figure out what's causing this diarrhea. Have you checked for parasites at all? Have you ruled out protozoa? Has the cat ever had a veterinary checkup (general and biochemical analysis, ultrasound)?
Natalia
Good evening, I left a comment yesterday with a question, but it didn't show up. Will it show up with an answer?
Orfu
That's right, once our veterinarian looks at the question and answers it, both the question and the answer will appear. Thank you.
Natalia
Hello, my cat is 1.3 years old. This has happened twice: she begins passing soft, brown, formed stools (like very thick sour cream), foul-smelling stools two, sometimes three times a day. After the stool, there are drops, like diarrhea. There are a lot of them. So, she goes to the toilet, and then she leaks drops, which we can see everywhere in the apartment where she sits.
It's been going on for 13 days now, including 10 days of Pro Plan Forti Flora probiotics. They're not helping. She's active and playful. She had a similar problem four months ago, but she also had bad breath. We went to the vet, and the doctor said it was her teeth and needed to brush them, so he prescribed these probiotics. The loose stools went away after 4-5 days. It's been 10 days now, and there's been no change. She's eating and drinking well. She's taking Purina Pro Plan. She's an oriental, spayed cat.
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Bad breath from your pet's mouth doesn't always indicate an oral problem. Don't forget about the stomach! It can also smell unpleasant. This type of stool requires a full examination: a complete blood count and biochemistry panel, and a fecal analysis (to check for parasites).
Probiotics aren't a treatment! They're a supplement, and they're not always necessary. A simple symptomatic treatment was prescribed. Without addressing the underlying cause, bowel movements won't improve. We're ruling out parasites (including protozoa like coccidia, giardia, and others), inflammatory processes, and food indigestion. It's possible the food isn't suitable (individual intolerance), or someone is feeding it from the table (perhaps the cat is stealing). We need more details about the pet's life.
Catherine
Hello, my 5-year-old British shorthair cat has had runny stools for four days, a dry nose, and is lethargic! She lies down and sleeps constantly. We always feed her Pro Plan (she has sensitive digestion), and we also give her half a pack of liquid Sheba two or three times a day.
But there was no food for her and we fed her Purina Van for 5 days (sensitive digestion)
I started having mushy stools with yellow mucus.
Today we bought her food pro plan
Everything has changed
I give him boiled water now, I gave him Hilak Forte drops twice
What could it be? What should I give it to drink?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! How are your cat's vaccinations and deworming status? Does your cat go outside? Are there other pets? Has their body temperature been checked? If your pet has digestive issues (sensitivities), abrupt changes to their diet are not recommended, as digestive upset is inevitable.
But if this has already happened, then fast for 12 hours (feed in the evening, remove food until morning, and allow only water or chamomile tea free access). Reintroduce the normal diet as soon as possible, adding probiotics or prebiotics. Avoid overdosing medications unless there's a fever or other symptoms. And don't forget to deworm.
Nina
Hello! My cat is 17 years old. She's been eating poorly and has developed runny, dark diarrhea. I took her to the vet. The doctor decided not to injure her or give her an injection. They decided it was just old age... She eats raw chicken liver, drinks, and sleeps. She uses the litter box about five times a day. I tried mixing sulfadimethoxine into her food, but she didn't eat it. Is there anything I can do?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Why did you give sulfadimethoxine right away? Did your veterinarian recommend this after examining you, or did you decide on your own? You can't feed animals only by-products, especially the same product, especially raw.
Heat treatment is essential! You never know what might be in that liver: helminths, infections, or chemicals from poultry processing (after cooking, half of the "nasty stuff" will end up in the broth, so drain it).
Vegetables, grains, and other meats (fish, white poultry, beef at least occasionally) are essential. Add enzymes and vitamins. To reduce her loose stools, give her some rice and see how she reacts—maybe it will improve. How long has it been since she was on a parasite treatment?
Julia
Hello, my cat used to use the litter box, now she has diarrhea everywhere, sometimes she vomits, and there is dust in the corners of her eyes. What could this be?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Your pet needs to be taken to a veterinary clinic immediately! If you wait, your pet will become dehydrated, accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting. Corneal clouding is also a symptom of illness. Your pet may have an infectious disease.
He urgently needs antibiotics, maybe even antivirals. IVs are essential to relieve the symptoms of dehydration. Serenia injections for diarrhea and vomiting. What are you feeding him? How long has it been since he was dewormed? How are his vaccinations going? Have you taken his temperature?
Tatiana
Hello. My cat is 7 years old, Cornish Rex. She eats Acana food and a little Primogial. She started having loose stools. This has never happened before. Her nose is wet. She's active. What should I do?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! First, stop mixing food. Second, administer routine deworming if it hasn't been done before (no more than 3 months). Third, how are your cat's vaccinations? Is there vomiting? Fever? How often is the diarrhea? Have you given her Smecta and probiotics/prebiotics? You should see a doctor. They'll prescribe antibiotics and symptomatic therapy.
Tatiana
The cat is lethargic and has had diarrhea this morning, not too bad, but with poop. Yesterday, I brought him some grass from the street to try, but he ate it. What's wrong with him?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! So, does your cat have diarrhea or loose stools? What are you feeding him? How long has it been since you dewormed him? Why did you bring in grass from outside (to "cleanse" his stomach of hair)? There's a special Malt paste for that purpose.
Anna
A 7-month-old Sphynx has had loose stools for two weeks now, using the litter box once every 1.5 days. Brown, no blood or discharge. Dewormed 3 months prior. Indoor cat, doesn't go outside. I feed Royal Conin for kittens.
I boil chicken, chicken liver, chicken gizzards, or chicken heart (not all at once, it's different). I add buckwheat or rice, carrots, and finely chop the meat in the broth, making a porridge. Or boiled fish. (The main diet.) I sprinkle a little dry food on top. There's cat grass on the windowsill. I give her meat sticks. I don't see any anxiety in the cat; she's happy and playful. What should I do about loose stools?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Well, three months is already the right time to treat parasites in a pet. And don't mix natural food and commercial food. Even supplementing with dry food is not recommended if the animal is on natural food. Give your cat probiotics/prebiotics (Fortiflora has proven effective, but you can also buy Linex and bifidobacteria at a human pharmacy).
Restore the intestinal microflora. Your pet doesn't have diarrhea, just an upset stomach, possibly parasites, or perhaps the diet isn't right. It also doesn't look like any serious gastrointestinal inflammation, otherwise the loose stools would be more frequent, and there would be a host of other symptoms.
Marina
Hello, my 4-year-old British Shorthair cat hasn't changed his diet. He eats dry Proplan for neutered cats and wet Felix. He's had yellow diarrhea for two days now, going to the bathroom 4-5 times a day. His urine is normal, and he's acting playful. His nose is cold and wet. His appetite has decreased, but not significantly. Yesterday he was fed only dry food, and today we removed all food and left him with only water. Any advice on what to do?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Let's start by eliminating Felix completely! Why mix good food with budget food of inferior quality? Feed activated charcoal (1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight) and smecta (dissolve according to the instructions, give 1/3 of the serving at a time, twice a day) to firm up the stool. If you haven't dewormed your cat for parasites in a while, then deworm him as soon as the stool becomes formed.
Add probiotics and prebiotics to the food to restore the intestinal microflora. Antibiotics may be needed to suppress pathogenic microflora that could be causing the digestive upset.
Svetlana
Hello! My cat has had diarrhea for over two weeks, passing 1-2 times a day, with mushy stools. I gave her a probiotic and she didn't have any diarrhea for three days, but then it started again. She's generally active and has a good appetite. I feed her boiled chicken and she loves pork and ground meat. She also enjoys dairy products, but I'm not giving her any right now. I haven't dewormed her.
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Well, first of all, mushy stools 1-2 times a day aren't diarrhea. Diarrhea is the uncontrolled or poorly controlled bowel movement of liquid stool more than 5 times a day (in simple terms). Secondly, pork is a no-no! It's fatty. It puts too much strain on the liver and pancreas.
Minced meat is also not recommended (especially if it's pork again). Where are the carbohydrates on the menu (cereals, vegetables)? Dairy is only allowed in the form of fermented milk; fresh milk is not recommended. Deworm. Start with a dietary change, continue the probiotics, treat the parasites, and observe. If there's no improvement within a week, then get examined (antibiotics and enzymes may be needed).
Anna
Hello! My cat has had diarrhea for about four days. After going to the bathroom, he scoots around. After the first day of diarrhea and scooting, I wormed him with drops on his withers (I learned later that worming during diarrhea is not recommended). The diarrhea and scooting are still ongoing. He's eating well, drinking plenty, and his behavior hasn't changed. He's quite active. What should I do?
Can I give activated charcoal and how much? Or should I just change the food? We bought Sirius food for the first time, and he's been eating it for three weeks now. The diarrhea only started four days ago.
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! What's the point of activated charcoal? It's a sorbent, meaning it attracts toxins to its surface. It's good for poisoning, for improper feeding, and for flushing out toxins from the intestines. Smecta and serena are needed for diarrhea. It could be due to itching, which is caused by irritation from constant loose stools.
Change the food for animals with sensitive digestive tracts. Add synulox or similar medications, as well as probiotics, to improve digestion. Wash the kitten and inspect for redness in the anus, cracks, sores, or swelling.
Pauline
Good afternoon. My 2-year-old cat has had loose, greenish stools for three days. It started after a trip to the country. We didn't give him any table food; we brought our own food (Go Natural) with us, and we didn't change his food. He didn't go outside.
A month ago, he was dewormed, vaccinated, and given antiparasitic drops on his withers. He started going to the bathroom more frequently (5-6 times a day), his appetite hasn't changed, he's become a little less playful, and he's drinking water as usual. I've been giving him Smecta since the second day. Could you please tell me what else I can do to help him?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! The best way out of this situation is to take your pet to the vet and have them undergo a complete blood count and biochemical analysis. If necessary (or if the vet suspects it), perform an ultrasound of the liver and pancreas. A course of antibiotics may be necessary, or probiotics and enzymes alone may be sufficient.
Elena
Good evening! My cat started having diarrhea last night. This morning, I started giving her Smecta, 2.5 mg twice a day. Her stools have become less frequent, but they have acquired an unpleasant odor and a mushy consistency. My cat's diet hasn't changed. I'm feeding her gourmet pâtés and Sanebel dry food. Her appetite is good. I'm also giving her water from a syringe. She may need an antibiotic or continue with Smecta for now.
How many days? When should I start worrying and take her to the hospital? Can I manage these symptoms at home?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! How are things going with deworming? When was the last time, and what was the treatment? Does the cat go outside or have contact with other animals? Could she have "stolen" something from the table or trash can? Has the pâté gone bad (perhaps it was left in the bowl for too long or got spoiled during storage)? Ideally, you should go to the clinic, get a blood test for biochemistry, and, if necessary, an abdominal ultrasound.
Add a probiotic for now (FortiFlora has shown good results). Before putting your dog on antibiotics, observe. It could be a temporary digestive upset, and a couple of days of Smecta will help. It could even be intestinal parasites (but don't deworm until the loose stools stop). It could also be liver or pancreatic problems, or enteritis (intestinal inflammation).
Valya
Daria, hello! My cat (1 year old, Oriental, 3.7 kg) has been having loose stools for four weeks now, without any impurities or mucus. We thought his food wasn't right, so we switched to Wildcat Tanganika and bought Farmina for skin and coat health with quail and quinoa. This sudden change could be the reason why the loose stools continue? I also gave him Hills fish pouches for digestion.
We dewormed him twice with Milbemax on March 11 and March 21, and vaccinated him with Purevax on March 31. We didn't use any antiparasitic drops. He's in good health overall, playful, not lethargic or vomiting, and has a good appetite. We didn't go to the vet because we were on vacation and left him with his mom, thinking a change in food would clear things up.
What measures are best to take now?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! I would recommend starting with a blood test (complete blood count and biochemistry) to rule out liver and pancreatic problems. I would also recommend asking the mother if she has been feeding supplements from the table. Perhaps sudden changes in feeding led to this upset stomach. But a month of loose stools after switching to high-quality food is clearly suspicious. A health issue (specifically, a gastrointestinal one) needs to be looked for.
Have you tried adding FortiFlora to your cat's food? Instead of water, use Vetom 1.1 or Rehydron to replenish fluid and salt balance due to loose stools.
Sergey
Dasha, hello!
She takes annual injections and deworming medication. My cat is a 17-year-old British Shorthair. For about two months, she's had diarrhea and weakness, and she's lost weight, which is a shame. Her nose is often cold and runny. We've been feeding her Pro Plan cat food for spayed cats forever. She started having diarrhea, so we switched to Mealfeel 7+ and Pro Plan canned food.
But nothing's changed. The stool has become slightly thicker, and only intermittently. It feels like the cat isn't getting enough to eat (she eats and then immediately goes to the bathroom). The vet did an ultrasound, but nothing was found. The internal organs are fine (just a little increased gas production, that's all).
Help, tell me what can be done.
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Well, at 17 years old, my organs are still intact—that's truly amazing. I need a biochemical analysis and blood work. I'll also need a stool test (both for parasites and for a bacterial culture and intestinal swab culture to rule out a bacterial infection). I'll also need to pay attention to my liver and pancreas (age will make a difference).
Have you tried adding enzymes or probiotic supplements to the food? It's possible the intestinal microflora is disrupted (hence the diarrhea and increased gas production). What have you been treating for the past two months (or perhaps you were treating something before this problem)? What did the veterinarian prescribe after the examination?
Catherine
Good afternoon. My cat is 5 years old, has no pedigree, is a house cat (never been outside). He hasn't had any vaccinations, and was dewormed three months ago (spots on the withers). He eats dry food and canned food (all from the same brand), and weighs 4.5 kg.
He had some weird poops last night (half of it was normal, but then it was a sticky mess towards the end, completely dirty). He also had diarrhea this afternoon (a dark, foul-smelling mess). He's been sleeping all day, which is typical for him, but his nose is cold and wet. I'm thinking of going to the vet tomorrow to see what tests he needs to run and what he should do. Please advise.
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! A stool test, a complete blood count and biochemistry panel, and an abdominal ultrasound are recommended. If any suspicions arise, an endoscopic examination is recommended to assess the gastrointestinal tract (possibly an inflammatory bowel disease). And it's not necessary for an animal to be outdoors for it to become infected with a parasitic or infectious disease (likely brought home on a shoe). Three months have already passed—you can treat the parasites again. Besides, topical drops aren't as effective as oral tablets.
Marina
Hello! Please tell me how to properly give Smecta for diarrhea to an 11-year-old cat weighing 11 kg. He rarely has diarrhea; we feed him Grandorf dry food for neutered cats and don't give him anything else. The diarrhea started suddenly yesterday and there seemed to be no cause. Since he usually only has loose stools once or twice a day, I'm using Mezim-Forte, 1/2 tablet twice a day with meals, and it clears up immediately.
This time it didn't work.
He's already gone to the bathroom six times during this time. Today I started him on Smecta (I give him through a syringe) and haven't fed him at all. I just don't know how to properly dilute it; everyone says different things and it's not entirely clear. I don't want to give him too much or too little out of ignorance; I'm afraid it won't help or he'll get constipated.
The stool is now a runny, kefir-like porridge, light brown in color, without mucus or blood. I'm wondering how much smecta (in grams or what part of a packet) should be diluted in how much water, and how many times a day can it be given. Thank you.
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Dilute the sachet as directed. An adult cat will require 0.5 to 1 sachet. Dilute according to the instructions, dividing the resulting amount into 2-3 doses per day. Your cat is very large, so you'll need to dilute the entire sachet. However, if I were you, I'd look for the cause of the loose stool rather than address the symptoms.
Find and eliminate the cause, and the loose stool problem will disappear. How long has it been since you treated for parasites? Were there any other illnesses? Switch to a different brand of food and the Gastrointestinalis series (for sensitive digestion). Provide more water to avoid dehydration.
Elena
A week ago, my cat's stool suddenly changed. It became loose and yellow, and she poops infrequently, once or twice a day. There were no changes in her diet. She became apathetic and sad, spending most of her time lying down, and urinating outside the litter box. Her urine is clear, and there is no blood anywhere. She is 14 years old and has never been sick. She has never been outside. She eats high-quality dry and wet food (Purina, Sheba, Gourmet, raw meat). She has never been to the vet. Any advice on what to do?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Consider feeding your pet different brands a drastic change of food, especially natural foods (raw meat is generally not recommended because it may contain parasitic and infectious pathogens). Your cat is getting older, and her fermentation process has worsened, so mixing foods is not recommended.
Choose one brand (your favorite) and a line for animals with gastrointestinal problems. Deworm if more than 2-3 months have passed since the last deworming. Observe. If stool problems persist after normalizing the diet and deworming, schedule a physical examination to rule out inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract. If any additional symptoms appear (vomiting, lethargy, refusal to eat, etc.), consult a veterinarian.
Volkha
Hello! My 7-month-old kitten has diarrhea up to three times a day, yellow with a strong odor. He's started wiggling his bottom, falling on his hind legs, and when he tries to jump on the sofa, his back legs slide apart. This happened a month and a half ago, and he was diagnosed with panleukopenia. He was given globulin, vitamins, and cortexin injections. Now the same thing is happening again. He's eating, drinking, and playing, though he's not running around the apartment like he usually does, as his pelvis swings when he walks. I don't know what to think.
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! How long has it been since the panleukopenia symptoms completely disappeared? What are you feeding her? How long ago was the deworming done? Has her temperature been measured? Have you been taking antibiotics recently? The foul odor indicates a clear inflammatory process in the intestines (possibly bacteria, possibly parasites).
First, try antibiotics with probiotics/prebiotics. But weakness can also cause symptoms. And nervous system damage due to previous panleukopenia can't be completely ruled out. You can try administering a serum with pre-prepared antibodies again (like Vitafel). But overall, you need to get examined, at least have your blood tested.
Lyudmila
A cheap human version of Phthalazole helped my cat's diarrhea. I gave her a quarter of an adult tablet twice daily on an empty stomach for 12 days straight (E. coli live for at least 7 days). Then, I squirted plenty of water into her mouth using a syringe without a needle. To be on the safe side, I also gave her a quarter of a tablet of Levomycetin (an antibiotic. USE CAUTION) once daily for five days straight, every 2-4 hours. Tylosin injections prescribed by veterinarians didn't help. Thanks to the person who left a review of Phthalazole!
Katerina
Hello, my cat is 6 months old. For the last few days she has had diarrhea, with bubbles and apparently flatulence. She makes loud noises when going to the toilet. There is also blood in her diarrhea. She has a good appetite, her behavior has not changed, she may have started drinking more. Our doctors are not so great. Please help, what should I do?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! You haven't mentioned anything about vaccinations, deworming, or your pet's diet. This type of diarrhea could indicate either an infectious disease or a digestive disorder if the diet is poor. Moreover, there's blood. Protozoan parasites should also be ruled out. As you can see, without a medical history, it's extremely difficult to diagnose the disease, much less prescribe treatment. More information about your pet's care would be appreciated.
Regina
Hello, please tell me what to do. My British kitten has had diarrhea for a week now. He was dewormed when he was a month old. He is now 4 months old and we feed him homemade food. Can the diarrhea be passed on to children from a kitten?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Well, let's start with the fact that it's been three months since deworming. It's time to repeat the treatment, but only after the diarrhea stops (usually with smecta). Since you're feeding natural food, add rice. Secondly, what exactly are you feeding? From your own table, or are you preparing your kitten's food separately, following all the rules, balancing the diet and avoiding prohibited foods?
Vaccinations? Allowing cats outside? And now the most important thing: infectious diseases in cats that cause diarrhea are almost never transmitted to humans (there are zoonotic diseases, but they're not that common). If parasites are the cause, children can also become infected. Wash your hands thoroughly and disinfect your home.
Irina
Hello! My cat is 5 years old. She's been a house cat and has had her vaccinations. For three weeks now, she's been having loose stools intermittently. I can't figure out why. She eats dry and wet food. We took her to a cat boarding facility when we had to leave, but she was separated from the other cats. Please tell me what to do. Thank you in advance.
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! What kind of food is he using? Was he dewormed upon returning from boarding? Was his temperature taken? How long ago were his vaccinations given, and what vaccines were they? Are you sure the cat was isolated from other animals, or is that just the owner's word? I doubt they followed strict disinfection procedures when handling all animals. Most likely, after handling and feeding other pets, they approached yours without thoroughly washing their hands or changing their protective clothing.
So, don't hesitate to dismiss any thoughts that your four-legged friend couldn't have picked up anything. They simply spread the infection on their belongings. So, please answer my questions to make it easier to find a solution.
Irina
Good evening. My cat eats liquid Tsu Royal and dry Royal Canin food. Cat sausages are her favorite. I occasionally feed her boiled chicken. Her bowel movements have been fine throughout this entire period. She was vaccinated in the fall, before we had to leave. Each cat has a separate room fenced off with screens.
They can play with other cats if they want. But it was clean when we took her there. And when we picked her up, her stool was fine. But we had to take her there a second time due to an unforeseen situation, and when we picked her up, she started having problems with her stool. They didn't take her temperature or deworm her. I can't say anything about the vaccines; the vet here gave them in German.
Daria is a veterinarian
It's essential to stop the diarrhea and immediately treat the parasites with a comprehensive medication. You should have clarified the pet's country of residence =) I'm initially thinking of Russia, Belarus, or Ukraine. And I suspect the worst right away, since I know most people are driven by profit, neglecting proper sanitation.
FortiFlora is a good probiotic (I don't know if it's available in your area). It's possible that a sudden change in diet and stress caused digestive upset, and the intestines need to be repopulated with beneficial microflora. It's best to choose a food for animals with sensitive digestion. If loose stools are regular, a thorough examination (cultures, blood tests, additional tests, and lab work) will be necessary to rule out inflammatory processes or infectious diseases.
Irina
Hello. Thank you so much! I understand everything and I think she caught it at the cat boarding center. Maybe she was playing with another cat, it's hard to say. The conditions here are good for cats.
Daria is a veterinarian
Please =) I hope your pet recovers and that there's nothing serious wrong with him. But don't expect miracles or self-healing. Keep an eye on him, and if anything alarms you, run to the clinic. Happy holidays to you and your pet.
Irina
Hello. Thank you so much! Merry Christmas! Yes, the cat is already feeling better. We took her to the vet, they gave her some toothpaste, which she squeezes into her mouth twice a day. But she doesn't want to take it; she threw it all up. I started giving her boiled meat and stopped giving her cat sausages. I changed her dry food. I'm monitoring her, and everything is fine. I'll see what happens next. If not, I'll have to take her to a different vet. Thank you very much for your advice.
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Happy holidays to you too! What kind of toothpaste did they prescribe for your pet that's making him vomit? Perhaps we can find a similar medication to prevent this reaction. What was the diagnosis after the examination? Meat, make sure it's not fatty. If you have gastrointestinal problems, avoid fatty foods; it can trigger vomiting or diarrhea. Just make sure the vomiting doesn't happen frequently.
Elena
Hello Dasha. My cat is 14 years old. For a month, she's had intermittent diarrhea (not constant), while on a homemade diet. She's also started limping. At the vet, she was diagnosed with intestinal inflammation (by touch, without any other treatments) and prescribed Tylosin-50 injections for 5 days and lactobifadol. They said the pain is so bad it radiates to her legs, which is why she feels weak when jumping on the couch. After the treatment, her bowel movements improved, but her legs feel like they're falling apart.
They said the injection was oily and painful, and that it would pass. But a week has passed since the injections stopped, and my legs haven't improved. When I walk quickly, they spread apart like they're on a wet floor. After lying down, the tips of my paws curl under and don't straighten right away, which looks terrible. There's no pain when I touch them. What could it be?
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Did you inject both paws or just one? Are both paws flexing? Have you tried massaging the area where you injected them? It's possible there are some lumps left inside the muscles that are causing the pain (not all lumps resolve quickly after injections). Did she limp after the injections?
Before the diarrhea treatment, the paws weren't like this, were they? Regarding the diarrhea, I'll ask the standard questions: are they deworming? What exactly are you feeding them? Are you giving them any vitamins? Try touching the paw while it's still bent (is the muscle tight, or does it feel like there's a strong tension, like a cramp).
viknas
Hello. I had injections in both paws; she wasn't limping before the injections. Her paws weren't massaged. She started limping immediately after the first injection. All the injections were given at the clinic.
She was dewormed about a month before the diarrhea, maybe a little less. Usually, she was fed homemade food. But when she got tired of it (she wouldn't eat homemade food), we bought her pate, jelly, or creamy soups. She has missing fangs on one side. After the last time we bought that kind of food, she started having diarrhea. We haven't given her vitamins lately. She seems to have a lump on one of her paws. Currently, her paws are still in place, but she limps on the paw with the lump.
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Don't make such a sudden change to your pet's diet. Either natural food plus vitamins and supplements, or commercial pet food. A sudden change in diet can cause digestive upset. Try stroking the paws at the injection sites several times a day to loosen up any lumps.
Oil injections are very slow to heal, and these lumps put pressure on the nerve endings. If you've ever had painful injections into your buttocks, you can imagine how unpleasant it can be. However, a human's buttocks are larger than a cat's, and the volume injected intramuscularly is almost the same, so it's more painful for the animal. However, humans often make iodine mesh and apply cabbage leaves to the lump to speed up its dissolution. Try briefly applying a heating pad to the injection site; it might help. A couple of days should significantly improve your cat's condition.
Tatiana
I tried changing her food, it helps for a while. Please advise what to do. It looks like a postpartum complication.
Tatiana
Hello! I have the following situation. My cat gave birth to her first kittens on October 9, 2018. Since then, and to this day, she has periodically had loose, brown stools without mucus. She feels fine, is playful, and is nursing her four kittens. However, the problem is that she poops everywhere, not just in the litter box. Even when she's nursing her kittens, she poops on her own, and it seems she doesn't even notice she's doing it. I've tried changing her food, but...
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! What are you feeding her? Did you switch from one food to another? Did you deworm her before pregnancy and birth? How are the kittens behaving? How are their bowel movements? How did the birthing go? Was it difficult or did it go away quickly? Were there any complications? Does your clinic offer ultrasounds? The animal needs to be examined; it's possible there's a problem with the innervation after birth, or perhaps the feeding needs adjusting.
Olga
Hello! After a course of treatment for the genitourinary system and kidneys (Baytril, Traumatin, Cantaren, No-Spa), we are now taking Canephron, changing the food to Hill's K/D, and for the second day we have been taking Linex, 1/2 capsule 2 times a day (prescribed by the vet), because the feces have started to have a sour smell, and the cat (12.5 years old) has had loose stools for two days in a row.
He pees three times a day: normal, large amounts in the morning, but mushy, yellow, and sour-smelling in the afternoon and evening. He hasn't been dewormed. I'm planning to fast for a day, but can he still be given Linex and Renal kidney powder (we feed him daily to support his kidneys)? Please advise!
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! You can stop using Travmatin, it's not helping. Have you read the ingredients? It's homeopathic, with a low concentration of "useful" medicinal herbs (about 1%). If Linex isn't helping, replace it with FortiFlora (it's more expensive, but it's better for many pets). Starving your pet is not recommended, especially if your pet is weak and sick. A maximum of 12 hours without food is acceptable. Antibiotic use can cause changes in stool (dysbacteriosis), and the microflora needs to be restored.
Anna
Hello! We adopted a kitten from a breeder; she's two months old. She started having diarrhea about a week ago. The first couple of days were alternately normal bowel movements and then diarrhea. Then she'd have runny stools, sometimes with mucus. I called the vet, who said to give her Fortaflor and then deworm her. But today, her diarrhea is almost watery. I'm panicking; maybe I should take other measures? She's been acting cheerful, playing, and eating well. I'm trying to feed her little right now.
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Of course, you're right. Simply giving a probiotic isn't enough. Yes, it's good, but alone... He's just getting diarrhea. Ideally, go to a clinic for an in-person examination. At worst, they'll just stop the diarrhea; at best, they'll find the cause (I won't lie, but not all clinics have good diagnostics, especially after reading dozens of complaints on this site, I realize that in cities, diagnostics and labs are a real disaster).
Enterosgel/charcoal to bind toxins, antidiarrheal medication, or smecta (as a last resort). Be sure to give water-salt solutions frequently, but in small amounts, using a spoon or syringe without a needle (Rehydron). Deworming should not be done while diarrhea is present. Antibiotics may be necessary (you never know what kind of infection the baby might have, after all, it was an outdoor infection).
Michael
Good afternoon. My 12-year-old cat has been suffering from diarrhea for three months. We've been treating him with Trichopolum and Smecta... we've taken him to the vet, but there's no diagnosis... he's in terrible pain. He's stopped going to the bathroom and has diarrhea wherever he finds it. It's terrible... how can I get advice, where should I take him? We've had tons of tests, various treatments... the food is hypoallergenic. It's only getting worse.
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! And for the entire three months, Trichopolum? Horrible. Poor animal. It's probably a complete dysbiosis. Smecta is just symptomatic therapy. What tests did you take? What were the results? Did you do a biochemistry test? Did you give her any probiotics? What kind of food are you feeding her? Is there any vomiting? Could you tell us more about what exactly you tested, what diagnoses you made, and what treatment you used? Maybe we can find the end of this thread...
Maria
Hello, I adopted a cat from the Farm. I took her to the clinic and did all the necessary procedures. She had diarrhea from time to time. She ate natural food. Recently, she started having diarrhea, so I decided to switch her to dry food. She ended up eating dry food and having diarrhea. What should I do? I dewormed her a couple of days ago.
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! First, what kind of food are you feeding? Second, what is your pet's age, vaccinations, and veterinary examination results (what exactly did the vet do)? Does your pet have loose stools or actual diarrhea (more than five bowel movements a day, and not in the litter box, but wherever they feel like it)? It could be a reaction to a sudden change in diet.
The simplest solution: a 12-hour fast (no more), but plenty of free access to water (chamomile tea or Vetom 1:1 can be used instead of water). Give probiotics and prebiotics to restore the microflora (the cheapest options are Bifidumbacterin, Linex, NuxVomica, but FortiFlora is best, although it's not cheap). Gradually transition the animal to a therapeutic food line for animals with gastrointestinal problems.
Christina
Good afternoon, we have a similar problem: the cat had diarrhea and his ears were partially peeling (((( we showed him to the vet, he said it was because of chicken protein ((( what should we do if all the food contains chicken? And I have another thing - we gave him Trichapol for 7 days and he was on Royal Conin hypoallergenic food. Dietary, for 3 weeks. Elena then refused Trichapol because of Trichapol, we gave him Fortiflora, we bought Italian food with pumpkin, apple and beef and he started having diarrhea (((((( tell me what to do with the food, we have had a hard time with it, the cat is a Maine Coon, 8200 kg, weighs 5 years and when he was on the dietary food, his stool was excellent
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Try Hill's d/d (it contains one type of protein and one type of carbohydrate, and the protein is broken down so it doesn't cause allergies). Try it for about 3 weeks, then gradually transition to Hill's z/d. If a reaction occurs to the latter, you can switch back to d/d. It's suitable for lifelong feeding. Just don't make the transition abruptly, as it can cause diarrhea.
int
Hello! Our cat has a serious wound. After antibiotic injections, he developed diarrhea. We were prescribed smecta, 1/2 teaspoon twice daily, bifidumbacterin, 1/4 teaspoon twice daily, and then switched to metronidazole and rice water. We also gave him Filtrum.
Nothing's helping. It's been going on for six days now. He passes stool once, twice, or three times a day, sounding like a fountain, apparently gassy, runny, sometimes odorless, sometimes with mucus. It's the color of dry food, and feels like it's just soggy. He eats dry food twice a day. We used to give him beef, but we don't give him that anymore. Any suggestions on what else we can try? We haven't given him antibiotics since yesterday.
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Introduce both prebiotics (they help beneficial microflora settle) and probiotics (they actually produce beneficial microflora) into your diet. Fortiflora has proven itself effective. It's a bit pricey, but it really helps. The capsule design ensures that everything essential reaches the intestines and isn't lost in the stomach acid.
Sasha
Hello. My cat recently died, but I don't understand the cause. Two days before we left, he started having diarrhea. He didn't pass stool often, but his stool was loose and yellow. It had a distinctive odor.
We thought it was because we were upset about leaving soon. We live on the ground floor and left him in the courtyard, which is surrounded by high-rise buildings on all sides. A month passed, and the woman we hired to come every other day to feed him and clean his litter box wrote that he looked fine and was acting normal. But when she arrived, he was already lying dead in the courtyard.
There was no blood anywhere. His food hadn't been touched for two days. And the neighbors recently complained that he was constantly meowing and keeping them awake. He used to scream a lot in the yard, too, but this time much more. On the day of his death, the woman knocked on every door to ask what had happened. No one answered.
And also, all the neighbors always had their windows open, but that day, everyone had them closed. She thinks one of them poisoned him. I think everyone is to blame. Otherwise, why would they all be hiding? They must have conspired. I don't know what to think...
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! The only definitive way to determine the cause of an animal's death is a postmortem examination and laboratory testing (including toxin testing). Suspecting neighbors because their windows are closed (everyone in the apartment building) and because no one opened the door to a woman who keeps knocking on everyone's door asking, "Why did the cat die?" is foolish. EVERYONE has nothing better to do than conspire over the cat's poisoning.
It's your own fault: you left behind a SICK animal with diarrhea! You didn't take it to the vet, didn't treat it, and dumped it IN THE YARD on a woman who only came to feed it once every TWO days (and it's unclear why anyone would clean out the litter box of an animal that lives in the yard)! The only person to blame in this situation is the owner.
Irina
They abandoned a cat on the street and drove away, even a sick one! And who's to blame??? I'm shocked!
Tanya
Hello! My nursing cat has been having diarrhea for about a month. We gave her Enterofuril, and the diarrhea stopped, but as soon as we stopped giving her the capsules, the problem returned. She has an unpleasant odor, as does her litter box. She hasn't been vaccinated; she was dewormed after taking the capsules. She's eating and drinking well. She's lost weight, but she gave birth a month ago. We're feeding her Whiskas. We took her to the vet, but they didn't give her any clear answers, and only prescribed some strange injections of Evinton and Tylosin.
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Change the diet! What's this fad for feeding Whiskas, Kitekat, and Friskies? You're not feeding your pet only instant noodles (I'm saying there aren't any nutrients in cheap food). Switch your pet to a proper diet: either a high-quality super-premium or holistic food, or prepare natural food according to ALL the rules.
Have you examined the feces? Have you ruled out protozoan parasites? What color is the feces? Is there foam or mucus? Are there any gas bubbles? Is there any flatulence? Put the cat on a 12-hour fast (only water or chamomile tea) with white charcoal 3-4 times a day, one hour before or after feeding, and probiotics/prebiotics.
Tylosin is prescribed for diarrhea if a bacterial infection is suspected. You can also add immunostimulants (Ribotan, Immunofan intramuscularly). Ideally, a complete blood count and biochemistry panel would be required.
Amina
Hello!
My cat is almost a year old and weighs 3 kg. He's had loose stools for a week, but he's acting normal. He's playful, goes for walks, and has no fever. He's showing no signs of illness at all. I've put him on a diet, but he's still demanding food. He comes to the cabinet and meows with his paws to indicate his presence.
He drinks a little more water than usual, but he's a water guzzler, especially in this hot weather. He eats dry food, which I buy in bulk, but he's been on it for almost six months now, and I haven't changed anything. He likes it and eats it with gusto. I'm blaming his vitamins; he was shedding a lot. I gave him a couple of tablets every time he ate, as per the instructions. He also eats grass, so maybe that's a factor. Should I sound the alarm and run to the vet, or should I put him back on a diet despite his demands?
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! What are you feeding him? What kind of bulk food do you use? When was the last time he was dewormed? It's a good idea to take him to a doctor. Blood tests for biochemistry and a complete blood count. Feces for parasites and a stool analysis. We're ruling out inflammation in the digestive system and parasites (including protozoa).
Amina
I use "Happy Cat" food, chicken and rice flavor. Yesterday, instead of food, I gave him a boiled egg; he ate it and drank water diluted with Polysorb. He ate it with pleasure, then ran around the house playing. He didn't have any diarrhea.
I asked the whole family what they were feeding him. It turned out that his compassionate dad and brother would sneak him extra food when he asked. He'd come and eat every hour, even though he's on a set diet. Could he be overfeeding? He was dewormed in the winter when he caught a virus. The vet prescribed it. I'll give him boiled rice today, but I'll still take him to the vet. Thanks for the advice.
Tatiana
Hello. Could you please tell me what to do? My cat is 7 months old and weighs 5 kg. He has had loose stools twice. In the evening they are mushy. In the morning they are mucus-filled. He is not eating and is sleeping. Two days ago he was at the dacha for a walk on a leash for about 15 minutes and ate some grass, just a single blade of grass.
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! 5 kg at 7 months? What kind of little horse is this? =) But seriously, it would be a good idea to take him to the vet. Is he vomiting? A single blade of grass wouldn't make him that sick. What are you feeding him? How long has it been since you dewormed him?
Svetlana
Hello! My two-month-old kitten has had diarrhea for three days. We're feeding him Whiskas for kittens. He refuses to drink any water at all. We found him on the street, hungry, emaciated, and weak. Over the past three days, he's become active and cheerful, but his stool isn't improving. The vet examined him on the first day and said he just needed to eat and sleep, and he'd recover.
Also deworming (we've been giving it to him for three days). His appetite is good.
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Did you take her temperature? Second question: why give her deworming medication for a third day? Who recommended this to you? One dose is enough, repeat if necessary, but after 10-14 days! But definitely not three days in a row! Also, deworming should be done after the diarrhea has stopped.
Third, whiskey isn't food. Switch the animal to a normal diet. Fourth: fast for 12 hours, then give water or a decoction. Doesn't drink water but has diarrhea? Use a syringe (without the needle, of course) to forcefully administer a special solution (Rehydron or similar) frequently (every 15-20 minutes), literally a teaspoon (5 ml), every 15-20 minutes. This solution helps restore the water-salt balance in cases of dehydration following vomiting or diarrhea.
Give white charcoal and probiotics. In general, we need to look for the underlying cause. The kitten may have an infection and require antibiotics or antiviral medications.
Pauline
Hello! I have a British Shorthair cat. I took him to my grandmother's dacha for three weeks, so he had free access to nature. Before his little vacation, he ate Meal Feel. At the dacha, he happened to eat Whiskas. I brought him home and he started eating his old food. He has a good appetite, but he sleeps a lot. Four days after his arrival, he started having diarrhea (yesterday) of a normal, average color. What would you recommend?
Thank you!
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! First, we need to stop the diarrhea. So, a 12-hour fast. Then the standard regimen (already described hundreds of times in the comments): charcoal, probiotics/prebiotics, fluids, and feeding.
All of this has been described many times before regarding how to care for your pet in the early days. Second, as soon as the stool becomes at least soft (not runny), deworm. Choose a stronger medication: Milbemax, Drontal, Inspector drops, Advocate, and others. If your cat starts vomiting, has a fever, or experiences a change in body temperature, rush to an in-person appointment. It's important to rule out infectious diseases (since your cat has been free-ranging).
Aika
Hello, we have a Persian-Exotic mix cat. She's been passing loose, mushy, yellow stools for three days now. She eats Royal Canin, Gourmet, and Perfect Fit liquid food, but she won't eat the same food consistently. She also refuses to eat dry food from the same brand. She eats Perfect Fit and Grandoff dry food. She's active and playful, has a good appetite, drinks water, and has no other complaints.
Before this "incident," I ate a piece of cooked sausage, and I think that triggered it (the cat doesn't go outside, is dewormed and vaccinated. I gave her Veterin 1.1, but there was no change. Please tell me what to do).
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! A 12-hour fast (only water/chamomile tea/Vetome 1:!). Then we introduce food. An hour before or after feeding, take 1/5 of a tablet of white charcoal for several days, probiotics/prebiotics, and a catozal injection. Ideally, take your cat for a checkup. Just because your cat isn't out walking doesn't guarantee you haven't brought in any infectious or parasitic pathogens on your shoes. Also, it's important to rule out gastrointestinal inflammation.
Stanislav
Hello!
The cat is 15 years old. We've been torturing her for almost a month by changing her dry food, and she's torturing us.
At first, we switched her from her usual diet to a 12+, and she started eating exactly twice as much. We returned her to the old diet, and this was accompanied by loose stools.
We gave him smecta to drink for a week, then added acipol to the smecta.
While she is taking the medication, she is feeling better, although not completely.
As soon as we stop giving it, it gets bad again.
Please advise what else to treat the cat with.
Food - dry Royal Canin, was and is returning to sensitive with sensitive digestion.
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Her stool may change because she's been changing food abruptly or because the food she's eating isn't suitable. If she's feeling fine, and she's diagnosed with "sensitive digestion," don't change her.
Now you can give her white charcoal (1/3 of a tablet 3 times a day for no more than 10 days in a row, give one hour before or after feeding or other medications). You can also give her probiotics/prebiotics (Emprobio, Hilak Forte, Nux Vomica, and others). But before starting treatment, follow a 12-hour fast (feed in the evening, remove food at night, for example, or for the entire day), and only water/chamomile/Vetome infusion 1:1.
If your pet's digestion is like this, don't experiment with food. Have you dewormed them? Have you had their gastrointestinal tract examined by a veterinarian?
Olga
My cat has had watery, yellow diarrhea for the second evening. What should I do? What could be causing it? He started eating wet food, and he ate sausage, but he still has diarrhea this evening.
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! How did the diarrhea start? What do you feed your pet? Do you even know that feeding sausage to pets is prohibited? Has your pet been vaccinated? Has it been dewormed? Does it go outside? Is its temperature and appetite normal? Have you taken it to the vet, or are you just stalling and hoping it will go away on its own?
It could be anything from a simple digestive upset to an infectious disease. But a diagnosis can't be made based on symptoms alone! A combination of clinical signs, anamnesis data, an in-person examination, and additional testing are needed to accurately determine what's wrong with your pet.
Irina
Hello! Three of my cats (there are eight of them in total) started having diarrhea almost simultaneously, and it's been two days now. They're acting normal: playful and have a good appetite.
They live in an apartment and never leave. All but one cat (who eats Edel Cat canned food) eat Happy Cat dry food for spayed cats. What are the best steps to take? The diarrhea started with the cat who eats the canned food. Thanks in advance.
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Animals don't necessarily need to go outside to become infected with an infectious or parasitic disease (on your shoes, clothing, or even your hands if you pet stray or sick animals). Were all your animals initially kept together? Have there been any new animals within the last month? Have you had contact with other cats? When were yours vaccinated and dewormed? Have other cats developed similar symptoms? Can you separate the sick cats?
Do they have diarrhea or loose stools? Has their temperature been taken? Is there any mucus, foam, or other particles in the stool? Is it possible to have a vet come to the house, as it's unlikely you'll be able to bring all the sick animals to the clinic.
Marina
Hello. My Persian cat has been vomiting and having diarrhea for two days now. Before her illness, she ate only raw meat (beef) and doesn't go outside. She's not eating anything, drinking water, and is lethargic. What medication can I give her and what dosage? (She's a 3-4 kg, 15-year-old cat.)
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Ideally, your pet should be examined in person to find and treat the cause of the illness. Stop feeding raw meat and fish. Your first aid measure is a 12-hour fast (remove all food) and allow only free access to water (preferably a chamomile infusion, 1:1 ratio).
Then start giving white charcoal (1/3 tablet every hour before or after giving other medications or food), Emprobio/Hilak Forte/other probiotics and prebiotics to restore intestinal microflora, Katozal, Verakol, and dry food for cats with sensitive digestion or gastrointestinal diseases. However, this is only symptomatic therapy.
If vomiting and diarrhea are severe, intravenous fluids and special solutions to restore fluid and electrolyte balance may be required. This could be due to an infection, parasites, inflammation, or even poisoning. Understand that without an in-person examination, it's impossible to tell exactly what's wrong with your cat and what treatment plan will help.
Natalia
Hello, I have a British Shorthair cat. Guests fed her smoked fish! She's been vomiting and having diarrhea for two days now! Should I give her any medication?
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! A fasting diet for 12 hours (feed in the evening, remove food at night), only free access to water (chamomile tea or Vetom 1:1 are better instead of water). White charcoal three times a day, one hour before or after meals or other medications. Emprobio, Nux Vomica, or other probiotics to restore intestinal microflora. You can give Mezim. If there is no improvement within a day, take your pet to the vet (it may be due to something else the guests fed your pet). Dehydration should also be avoided.
Svetlana
Hello! I've noticed my cat has been having loose stools for three days now. She goes to the bathroom twice a day, but the stools are unformed and mushy. She's active and has a good appetite. She was spayed 19 days ago, and she tolerated it well. We feed her Shezir dry food and occasionally give her Stuzie wet food (she ate all of this before her spaying, and everything was fine).
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Have you had parasite treatment recently? What other symptoms does your pet have? Is there any mucus or blood in the stool? How is their appetite? Switch to a food for spayed animals within a few days of spaying; there shouldn't be any complications. However, if you feed your pet an inappropriate diet for a long time, it can cause urolithiasis (metabolic disorders).
Katerina
Hello! We've been having this problem with our cat family. I've been feeding both my male and female cat Sheba canned food for a long time. The cat started coughing, so I switched them both to RK hypoallergenic dry food.
It helped the cat, but the cat started going to the bathroom loosely. Not often, twice a day at most. He vomited on the first day, but that's stopped now. We've been struggling for a week now. There are a couple of drops of blood in his stool, and after going to the bathroom, the cat sits on his butt and scoots around on the floor. He's done this before, though. Our vets aren't very good, to say the least. I'm afraid to go to the vet. Can you help me?
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Deworm both animals with a good product (don't skimp; buy good tablets, not cheap suspensions). Separate your pets' food. It's possible that Royal Canin isn't suitable for the cat (my cat developed severe allergies in her old age, and the hypoallergenic Royal Canin didn't work for her; she itched and vomited. We were lucky that she didn't have this reaction to Hill's fish and Purine, but poultry causes her to itch and vomit immediately).
Feed each animal from different bowls and with different foods (try this). You may not find a food that's ideal for both kitties. But start with deworming (especially if it's been 2-3 months since the last one).
Irina
Hello. We adopted a two-year-old neutered cat from the shelter a week ago. He's had diarrhea this whole time.
In fact, the first thing I noticed at the shelter was how skinny he was compared to his photos. According to the shelter staff, he'd lost weight in the last six months, but was otherwise perfectly healthy. He'd been dewormed according to his passport in the fall, had his vaccinations (though they weren't due until summer), and at the shelter, he ate regular Royal Canin dry food for neuters. On his first day home, he was given Proplan (Delicate) wet food and RK dry food for picky eaters.
That's how our litter box saga began. At first, we thought it was stress and a change in food, and the volunteers reassured us that everyone experiences this in the first few days. But time passed, and the cat didn't get any better.
At first, we thought it was the unusual wet food, so we switched to dry food only (that was our mistake), and specifically switched to Sensible Royal Canin (for cats with sensitive digestion), but there was no improvement. On the third day, we started giving Enterosgel. Another problem is that he's still a bit of a weirdo, and giving him medication in tablet form or via syringe is absolutely impossible. So, we dipped the medication in the wet food sauce and gave it that way.
On the 4th day he was hungry, we stopped giving him dry food and started feeding him boiled chicken and gastro diet, adding Hilak Forte to his food.
Things seemed to be getting better. He didn't go to the bathroom for almost a day, then he had some stool, although it wasn't fully formed, but at least it wasn't liquid. And yesterday we switched back to Proplan Delicate wet food instead of formula, and it's back to the old way. He's already had about six bowel movements. We also have a cat at home who eats the same Proplan, and there are no problems with his stool. We have no idea what to do now. At the shelter, he was fed dry formula and somehow managed to survive, even though there were really sick cats in the next enclosure who were on gastro… And here he's having these problems.
Otherwise, the cat had been perfectly healthy up until this day, playing, not vomiting, and eating well. But today, I'm concerned that he started showing aggression toward another female cat, whom we'd previously completely ignored—maybe he's starting to feel sick. We're continuing to give him Hilak and Enterosgel. But if we want to try Smecta, should we avoid the latter? There's an interesting treatment plan below with Smecta and Enterofuril, but it's Proplan again, and we're just too scared to give it.
Can we replace it with dry food like RK Gastro? We already have RK Sensible, so is there a difference? Now we want to go back to the tried and true (we hope) diet of RK Gastro and chicken (plus rice), but we have no idea how long this will last or what to feed next...
He's already gone to the bathroom twice in the last hour, even though we've only fed him chicken since last night, and that was a long gap... I'm feeling desperate. Should we really go to the vet? He's still so wild, he's afraid of us. It's terrifying to even imagine the stress he'll be under. And yet, he should have been healthy, at least that's what the volunteers tell us...
Could such problems really be caused by a change in food and stress? Or could he have picked up something at home? After all, the vaccinations are already a couple of months past their expiration dates, and our cat hasn't been vaccinated at all... But she's fine.
Irina
I'd like to clarify that we were feeding him wet food for gastro. We haven't given him dry food at all for several days now.
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Let's start by saying that your first mistake was bringing a cat home from a shelter without ensuring your cat's immunity. She should have been vaccinated, and two weeks after the second vaccination, you should only bring home a new animal (especially from a shelter, where even animals that survive the conditions are already carriers of a wide variety of infections).
Secondly, just because it says deworming and vaccinations were done doesn't mean they actually were. What they used to deworm the cat should be written in the passport. We follow this plan (as with Olga's cat): first, we stop the diarrhea, then we deworm.
1. 12-hour fasting diet (water and herbal infusions are freely available)
2. Diet with food for 4-6 months RK Recovery, RK Gastro, Hill's Diet, etc. (you can give it to your sensitive ones, but it is better to switch to the Gastro series).
3. White coal 1/3 tablet orally three times a day for 5-7 days an hour before or after meals or other medications
4. Emprobio or Hilak (7-10 days)
5. Katozal 0.5-0.7 ml intramuscularly 2 times a day for up to 10 days
6. Verakol 0.7-1 ml intramuscularly twice a day for up to 10 days (well restores the intestinal mucosa)
7. We switch to the new diet gradually, take decoctions of chamomile, oak bark, you can use Vetom solution.
If you like the Smecta regimen, you can take a chance and start with it. Wait until the stool has formed for at least a week and then give anthelmintics like Drontal, Milbemax, or their broad-spectrum equivalents to BOTH cats. Keep us posted on how yours is doing. We'll adjust the regimen to find the perfect one for your pet.
Olesya
Good afternoon! My 20-year-old cat also has digestive issues. I noticed cloudy, yellow-brown urine. I collected a urine sample the next day and sent it to the lab. The results showed protein 0.1 g/L, leukocytes 3-5, platelets: fresh 2-3, dysmorphic 60-80 (maybe I copied it down incorrectly, it's illegible), and positive bacteria.
I took her to the clinic, where they ran all the tests (biochemistry, cell count), and did an ultrasound of her kidneys and bladder. The ultrasound showed poor kidney function, with the conclusion being: signs of diffuse renal changes. Urinary tract: no stones were detected, but small isolated sand was detected. All tests were within normal limits (including urea and creatinine).
The doctor prescribed antibiotics and prednisone. Even before the medication, his urine had returned to normal, becoming yellow and clear. She started giving him Sinulox 50 mg antibiotics twice a day. Two days later, the cat began vomiting, at night or in the morning, and four days later, diarrhea developed. He seemed to be eating, eating a little and then leaving, but he clearly wanted to eat (we also changed his food, switching to Royal Canin Renal). We took him back to the clinic, started an IV, and gave him a Serenia injection under his scruff. He was prescribed phosphalugel, 1 ml twice a day, enterofuril, 2 ml twice a day, and fortiflora once a day.
Everything for 7 days. Now there is no diarrhea or vomiting! I give him medication. The cat comes to the kitchen asking for food, but refuses it; he has lost a lot of weight in four days. I've bought him all kinds of food! He sniffs and leaves. He doesn't want to drink water! After I give him the medication with a syringe, he gets very stressed and won't move.
I don't want to take him to the hospital again, he screams so much there (he's a real pain in the ass). I'm worried that he eats very little, just a teaspoon at a time (and that's only if...)... This morning his bowel movement wasn't quite formed, a bit runny.
But not black without blood and without a foul odor.
Is there any way to adjust the treatment? The doctor can't give a specific diagnosis. He says the cat is old and there are many possible causes: maybe the antibiotics caused diarrhea and vomiting, maybe digestive problems, maybe he's not ok with the new food (which we ate before), or maybe he's stressed!
I lost 3 kg from worrying about it... Please advise, maybe there is something to improve appetite and digestion?!
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Based on your description, vomiting and diarrhea began after taking an antibiotic. This is not uncommon. Antibiotics can cause gastrointestinal dysfunction (diarrhea is common, but vomiting may indicate that the antibiotic is inappropriate and needs to be changed).
But you've been prescribed medications to restore your microflora. It's important that bacteria are no longer detected in your urine (after treatment). Unfortunately, your kidneys won't recover (you should understand that you're already at an advanced age).
Regarding food, good-quality food is already eaten in small quantities. The animal is stressed, which is why it's eating less. Could there be something your pet really enjoys? Don't force food on them; the main thing is to let them drink. They'll start eating eventually (once their microflora is restored).
Irina
Good afternoon! My cat has had loose stools for the second day. He barely eats, only drinks. Can I give him Smecta?
Olga
Good evening! We saw the doctor, and they said it was most likely worms. They prescribed injections of Verakol, Liarsil, and Evinton, as well as Enterosgel, Carsil, and Solizim taken orally.
Dewormers later, once he's better, feed him rice and beef, and that's it for now. We haven't started using IVs; he eats well and doesn't want to drink, but I cook him some liquid rice and feed him that with a syringe, along with herbs and water, and he doesn't refuse it... I'm just wondering if I can transition him back to a regular diet. It's too expensive to keep him on beef all the time.
Before he got sick, he ate wheat porridge with liver. I added a little carrot to the porridge, and a tomato in the summer... By the way, he really loves tomatoes for some reason...
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Don't worry if you can translate =) You were right when you said we stop the diarrhea first, then deworm. When the animal is weakened, anthelmintics will do more harm than good. So, let's start with treatment. It's good that they've made a diagnosis. You see, some medications were prescribed, while others were different, because different work areas, pharmacy selections, and even doctor preferences vary =)
And it's hard to work without a precise diagnosis. But I hope you get better, and if possible, please let me know how your pet is doing.
Olga
Good evening, thank you for your interest in my cat... While I was giving him all the medications, he was feeling better, but as soon as I stop, his condition gets worse... I only have Verakol now, I can't buy anything else... Neither Liarsil nor Evinton... Today I didn't give him Liarsil or Evinton, and his stool is loose again, which was already starting to happen... There are no veterinary pharmacies in our city, our doctor only has Liarsil, so I don't have any reason to go to him...
A lot of money was spent on my pet's treatment... I really want to give him Tritel, but I'm afraid it will fall through again. And the doctor only said to give him injections for three days, so I can see I'm not finishing his treatment... I'll call the doctor tomorrow; I feel bad about calling the doctor and bothering him...
I'm still giving you the tablets and Enterosgel... Dashenka, I'm a pharmacist myself, I know homeopathy, I really love these medications, I read about Liarsil and Evinton, it's very, very interesting, and I've just had a chance to see them in action, but the medications themselves aren't available... I tried ordering the tablets online, but they refused...
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! It's okay, just ask and be inquire. We even have owners who call 15 times a day to ask if they really need to give this. =) If you're familiar with homeopathy, consider finding alternatives to these medications; maybe you can find them in your city. A wide variety of medications are available in different countries (and even in different regions) but have similar effects.
Have you ruled out protozoa? Could his diarrhea be due to protozoa? Did they prescribe antibiotics to rule out a secondary infection in a weakened body?
Olga
Good evening! Dasha, thank you for the tip. If it's giardiasis, can I try metronidazole? What dose? I was also thinking about trying furazolidone and fluconazole (maybe it's some kind of candidiasis)...
I don't know, probably a lot will happen... Two days ago, his stool was completely formed, there was no diarrhea at all... I was so happy, I thought I would wait 2 days and give him tritel, but in the morning, everything fell apart again and he has diarrhea again... It's as if something is missing in the treatment... I'm not finishing something... And his appetite remains and he is gaining weight, but it is still so sluggish, although he loudly demands food... Happy New Year to you, good luck and the fulfillment of your plans, health to you and your patients!
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Thank you for your congratulations and wishes. Happy New Year to you too =) Metronidazole and furazolidone are both suitable for cats. But you need to know exactly what's wrong with your cat. Regarding dosage, metronidazole is 250 mg, so for a 10 kg cat, about 1/4 of a tablet is needed. Give it twice a day for about 10-12 days. You can also try Ciprinol, Macropen, Serrata, Carsil, or Mezim, as well as Ribotan or Immunofan, which are immunomodulators. However, it would be a good idea to rule out rotacoronaviruses, which can also cause severe, prolonged diarrhea.
And choose an anthelmintic that also works against protozoa. In general, if it really is protozoa, the fight against them will be a very long one. But you would notice streaks of blood and mucus in the stool.
Olga
Good evening! There's no blood in my stool at all, but there was a lot of mucus, now there's very little. And a viral infection... I didn't even think about it...
You give me so much advice, and I'm so grateful... Then I could have given Engystol and Lymphomyazot... But at the beginning of the illness, I had watery, foul-smelling, dirty-green diarrhea, oh how I remember... That's why the antibiotics didn't work to their full potential... Yes, our doctor said we could add sulfadimethoxine, 1/4 tablet twice a day for 5 days...
Dasha is a veterinarian
Well, the antibiotics worked against the secondary infection, suppressing the pathogenic microflora that could have been superimposed on the viral infection. More often than not, animals die not from the viral infection, but from the superimposed secondary bacterial infection. Ribotan/Immunofan can help as immunomodulators (0.3-0.4 ml once every 2-3 days for a course of 4-5 injections).
Add sulfadimethoxine. Have you run out of Verakol yet? With such a long course of treatment, it wouldn't hurt to support your liver and pancreas. By the way, have you ruled out pancreatitis? Pancreatitis sometimes causes severe diarrhea, but certainly not green and foul-smelling... This type of diarrhea usually occurs with an infection, and with partial mucosal detachment.
Olga
Good evening, I'm feeling better, but I'm not completely cured... I was taking Carsil for my liver and Solizim for my pancreas, then Pancreatin... We've stopped all that for now, my stool is normal, but my legs are still tight... I think my tummy still hurts from time to time... My appetite is still there. I'll take some Immunophan, we had some at the pharmacy, and there's enough Veracola left for 1-2 injections. Maybe I should extend the Carsil regimen a bit more?
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Give probiotics/prebiotics to restore the intestinal flora after such prolonged diarrhea. Vitamins and minerals to support immunity (ideally, vitamins A and E in an oil solution to speed up mucosal recovery). There are special multivitamins that can be given discreetly in water or food.
The problem is that chronic diseases are extremely difficult to treat (they're chronic, and the slightest relaxation of the body or weakening of the pet can cause them to recur). Regarding Carsil, check the instructions for the number of days you've been giving it and the maximum course of treatment.
If you have a few days left, then give it. Regarding Verakol, once it wears off, take a break and monitor the overall condition. If diarrhea doesn't occur, then therapy will be aimed at restoring and supporting the animal's strength. If things return to normal, then a new treatment plan will need to be chosen. But I hope the pet is on the mend. What are you eating now?
Olga
Good evening! I gave Karsil for 20 days... I have now analyzed the treatment, I am writing to you: Formazin - 6 days + chloramphenicol, then amoxicillin, from the 1st day of illness - Enterogermina - 4 days, then yogurt in capsules, smecta, lactovit forte in capsules - 20 days + enterol, Karsil - 20 days, Solizim - 10 days, then pancreatin - 5 days, enterosgel 125g the whole package was gone, 25 days, at the same time Liarsin - 6 days, Evinton - 4 days (I was unable to buy more), and Verakol for a long time - maybe 15 injections, Traumeel - 3 injections, herbal decoctions - chamomile, oak bark, alder cones, now I am finishing sulfadimethoxine...
I haven't been giving him herbs for long, maybe I can give him another 10 days? Alder, for example... I haven't given him Verakol for three days now, so far so good... I'll definitely buy some vitamins... If I get Aevit capsules from my pharmacy, can I? What's the dosage? Or is A and E oil solutions separately better? Again, please tell me the dosage? I haven't been able to find Immunofan yet... Could you please tell me what kind of multivitamins there are for cats?
And a new symptom: a spot has appeared on his ear—a bald spot, no redness or flaking, just a spot and that's it. I applied clotrimazole for a couple of days, and I saw it growing. I treated it with methylene blue, and it immediately calmed down, stopped crawling... It doesn't bother him at all...
His appetite remains... The only meals on the menu are rice porridge and boiled chicken (I drain the broth). I tried giving him a piece of stale brown bread, but that made him crave it again... So far, only rice and chicken... He's asking for bread, too. Maybe boiled fish? I wanted to add some carrots to the rice, but I was afraid... And now, as I'm writing this, he's asking to go for a walk, you know... Despite everything, he's gaining weight, after all...
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! Well, it's a success that he's not diarrhea and has started gaining weight. Don't give him bread—why would cats need it anyway? It's not even recommended for dogs.
Try introducing fish (a small piece and see how it reacts). It's like introducing solids to a small child: introduce one food and watch the body's reaction. I hope it won't happen again. You can give her decoctions, good for her. The other medications have already been given for a long time. Don't reintroduce them yet (wait, maybe the body will cope).
If your cat doesn't have diarrhea for a week and continues to gain weight, then get rid of the parasites (it's best to get a good medication from a veterinary pharmacy that works against many types of helminths).
Dasha is a veterinarian
As for going for a walk, don't let him. He's still too weak. He might catch an infection or even parasites. He's just coming around. Let him be patient. Remind him, is he neutered?
Now about the spot. How are the eyes and nose? Is he sneezing? Is he itchy? Is his fur shedding? Have you ruled out allergies?
It could have been caused by medication (the course of treatment is long, after all) or by chicken (it often causes allergic reactions). Can you substitute turkey or rabbit? Try giving a little bit of meat-based baby food (it doesn't have any additives, salt, or spices). Just a tiny bit, like the tip of a knife or spoon, and add it to the porridge.
Olga
Good evening! My eyes and nose are fine, no watering or sneezing, but I do itch, but not often... Yesterday and the day before it was almost constipated... I had no bowel movements for two days, but last night I had a bowel movement on my own, the stool was formed and quite hard at first, but ended up being mushy... Well, and now I've had two bowel movements today—mush, a little mucus.
I brought him some Aevit capsules, but I'm really not sure how to give him one capsule a day. Is that too much? Is Tritel an anti-inflammatory drug good? Dasha, I'm very, very grateful to you... It's a shame you don't work for us... The cat isn't neutered.
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! The rice is causing constipation =) It's aggravating, but no matter. We'll help him regain his weight and he won't have diarrhea. We'll deworm him, and he'll be a handsome cat. Then you should neuter him so he doesn't run away from home or ask to go for walks (he'll gain weight even better and live longer). Pierce the capsules and add them to his water or food. One capsule a day is more than enough.
A week-to-10-day course is fine for starters. Regarding Tritel, I've never used it, so I can't say how well it works. I'd recommend Milbemax, Drontal, and some neck drops (for fleas, ticks, internal parasites, and ear mites), but not Bars. They're not cheap, but I like that they work well (I used Drontal to deworm my cat).
Natalia
Olga, hello. I'm reading your correspondence and I'm horrified by the way your cat was subjected to such torture. I understand it was done with good intentions, but the poor cat, having gone through all this, has clearly acquired a ton of internal problems.
I have two cats. If one gets diarrhea, both have it within a day. So, I'm writing you a plan for the future so your cat doesn't suffer like this, as this clearly won't be the last time. You'll need SMECTA, Enterofuril children's suspension, Proplan Delicate dry food for kittens, and Proplan Fortiflora powder.
The first two are at the pharmacy, the second ones are at the pet store.
Smecta binds, enterofuril kills all intestinal bacteria, 100% effective.
Give smecta in the morning (dissolve half a packer in a teaspoon, draw it into a syringe and give it to drink).
After two hours, give enterofuril in a 5 ml syringe and feed the cat.
Give enterofuril in the evening.
Repeat the regimen for two to three days, depending on the amount of fluid in the diarrhea.
From the fourth day, give Enterofuril 5 ml in the morning and evening with an interval of 12 hours.
You shouldn't starve your cat, otherwise you'll lose him completely.
This dry food is designed for such cases; it can be given constantly, as much as the dog will eat; it does not irritate the intestines, and it contains lactobacilli to normalize digestion.
Buy chicken thighs, cook them until done, add rice, cook until done, reserving a couple of centimeters of broth, blend until smooth, and feed twice a day, morning and evening. For the first two days, don't feed during the day, and remove all food until evening. From the third day, introduce dry food constantly, and feed the porridge twice a day for five days.
Fotriflora is a live bacteria with various etiologies, and is simply indispensable in such disorders. Add it to all your cat's food: sprinkle it on porridge and on top of dry food. Use 0.5-1 packet per day. It's odorless and tastes delicious to cats, so it's easy to administer.
Treat the cat for five days and monitor the formation of feces. If everything is stable, then give Enterofuril in the morning for three more days, and give Fortiflora continuously for another five days.
If everything has returned to normal, cancel everything except dry food, and continue giving it.
In addition to porridge, you can give boiled fish and egg yolk.
That's it, after 10 days your cat is healthy and his liver is not damaged.
Both of mine have just recently been treated, they feel great and are very grateful, they are not offended, they understand that they are getting better.
So, be healthy, restore your cat's flora and immunity for about five days, and then deworm him, otherwise he'll throw up again.
Dasha is a veterinarian
I agree both with the fact that the cat has suffered during this time, and with your plan (provided that the diarrhea is caused by improper nutrition, and not by parasites or an infection - here specific, and not just symptomatic treatment, is necessary).
The mustachioed cat went untreated for a long time, which worsened the illness. It took a while for the pet to see a vet, and prescribing treatment online is not only difficult but also dangerous (the risk of it not working is high, and then the doctor will be blamed). Furthermore, different regions/provinces/countries have different medications. It's essential to find alternatives.
I disagree about the dangers of a starvation diet. No one is saying to keep a cat hungry for 24 hours—it only needs to be kept for 12 hours. (In fact, when you wrote about removing food during the day, that's what's called a "starvation diet," because the cat has no access to food and tolerates it.) I only recommended removing food from the evening until morning, but using herbal teas instead of water, which also have anti-inflammatory and astringent properties (they won't harm the liver).
The cat seems to have developed an allergy to chicken. He needs to adjust his diet, choosing a less allergenic, yet dietary and nutritious meat. By the way, the food they recommended is good; it's recommended for gastrointestinal issues. It's good that your cat's owner chooses high-quality food, not a budget one. May your cats be healthy.
Olga
Good evening, thank you so much for the advice. I could probably buy nifuroxazide, but as for food... I don't know, our town is small and the veterinary pharmacies are poor, but I'll definitely look into that food. Dashenka recommended a good food at the beginning, but I couldn't find it here. Thank you, ladies, for your good advice and support. I'll definitely copy your treatment plan for myself as well.
Dasha is a veterinarian
Try searching in neighboring cities; maybe you can order it. A friend of mine goes to a regional city for cat food (she was looking for holistic cat food specifically on my recommendation). Our city also doesn't have a great selection of good cat food (Pro Plan, Hill's, Royal Canin, and Purina are still available, but the shelves are covered in Whiskas, Friskies, and other junk).
A friend buys a 10kg bag at a time (she pays about $60-70 for it). It lasts her 5-6 months, and the cat looks amazing (especially compared to when she fed him wet food from Whiskal and Friskies). He's well-fed, shiny, happy, and has become sooooo fat. So consider options like delivery or ordering quality food (the course is at least 4-6 months anyway).
Olga
Good evening! His stool has almost returned to normal, but I still gave him Tritel… The worms (ascarids) have most likely passed, but I still want to give him Drontal (if I can buy them in our pharmacies), in case they haven't all passed yet. I'm giving him oak bark tea… Now he howls at the door at night… He asks to go for a walk… I won't let him go anywhere…
His appetite is still good, he eats the whole portion and still asks for more, I give him more, the fish went down a bit normally, he is gaining weight before our eyes.
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! I'm so glad you're on the mend, gaining weight, eating with appetite, the diarrhea has stopped, and you've finally gotten rid of the worms. If you can't find Drontal, try Milbemax.
If they're not available in your city, ask your friends in neighboring towns (there's probably someone who does). Maybe you can order some from a veterinary pharmacy to have them delivered. You might also want to consider neutering your little one so he doesn't get so eager to go outside, and he'll gain weight even more quickly and won't mark.
Leona
I cured my kittens with propolis (on an empty stomach, early in the morning) with God's help. The one you get at the pharmacy costs 20 rubles (one or two drops per kilogram of the animal), diluted with water, of course. Plus, just in case, I gave them sulfadimethoxine for a few days (one-eighth strength for kittens. It's for protozoa). The doctors were paid a ton of money, and nothing helped.
Not Verokol, nor any other (I don't remember the injections). Verokol actually made me cry so much. It's very painful. I heard about Biogel No. 5, but we don't have it in our veterinary pharmacies. But I read what it's made of: propolis. We tried a lot. And these two remedies helped. Verokol didn't help. Plus, I stopped giving him rice with chicken breast and bought simple, cheap chicken gizzards. Apparently, there's something good in there, too. We forgot about the prolonged diarrhea that didn't go away for months. But that's our case.
Daria is a veterinarian
Hello! Verakol is a pure homeopathic remedy. It only helps when combined with other medications (antibiotics, anthelmintics), but if the other medications had been given without Verakol, the animal would have recovered in exactly the same number of days.
Most likely, the recovery process began after administering sulfadimethoxine, which is effective against protozoan parasites (like giardia), as is metronidazole. In addition to chicken gizzards, the animal needs carbohydrates—vegetables and grains. Otherwise, you risk damaging the kidneys with protein alone (like organ meats).
Olga
When I asked you about medications, I thought Heel also produced veterinary medications... But actually, I'm already very tired and I feel so sorry for my animal, I wish there was a hospital like this for animals... I see that he needs a doctor's care and so do I, well... We live in such a country that people suffer, and animals even more so...
Dasha is a veterinarian
There are clinics with 24-hour inpatient care, but as you can imagine, the cost of a pet's stay there (plus medications and care) is far from small (and a full course of treatment can be quite expensive). And not all major cities offer the opportunity to leave your four-legged friend under the constant care of a veterinarian.
Unfortunately, even hospitalization is no guarantee of an animal's recovery. After all, diagnostics in veterinary medicine are less developed than in human medicine (there aren't as many laboratories and equipment).
Olga
Good evening! I'm going to the vet tomorrow to see the doctor. Nothing has changed, even though I fed him a little. He has diarrhea and everything else. He doesn't have a fever, his appetite is strong, and he's very hungry. I haven't given him a full dose yet. I only managed to buy Verakol at the pharmacy. I'm giving him everything else as you recommended (chamomile, rehydron, glucose, etc.).
I'm going to Nikopol, probably no one in our city can help me... Yes, he came from the street, ran off for a walk, he was gone for three weeks... So, anything could happen, you're right... He left weighing 5 kg, and came back weighing 1.5 kg...
,
Dasha is a veterinarian
Good evening. Temperature isn't measured by touch. Only with a thermometer. A wet, cold nose isn't an indicator either. If he's lost weight so quickly, he's most likely infected with something. If it were viral, he'd be dead, I'm sorry. It's rare for a virus to allow an organism to survive that long. It usually kills within a few days (a week at most).
If poisoning had occurred, he would have recovered long ago, wouldn't have eaten, and would have been vomiting. Krysid wouldn't work either (there would have been bloody diarrhea, pain when touching the abdomen), and the pet would have died within a few days from internal bleeding. It could be bacterial, so broad-spectrum antibiotics should be prescribed along with Catosal (or another metabolism booster). It could also be parasites. He needs to be examined. Get well soon!
Olga
Another question: Nux Vomica, Homacord, Heel, and Hilak, are these medications for humans? Should I treat my Tomchik with these?
Dasha is a veterinarian
Yes, although the medications are for humans, they are also suitable for animals. One (Nux vomica) is homeopathic. It doesn't contain anything harmful to pets (it's important not to overdose).
Moreover, it is used for a wide range of ailments: heartburn, bloating, liver disease, hemorrhoids, functional digestive disorders, central nervous system disorders, cramps and incoordination, myalgia and rheumatism, and much more. Hilak can be considered a probiotic, but it also contains neutralized bacteria that can cause digestive upset.
The immune system begins to produce antibodies, which helps fight the infection more quickly. However, Emprobio, Katozal, and Verakol are purely veterinary medications. Furthermore, Katozal has many similar products.
Sometimes you'll come to resuscitate a calf, and the pharmacy will have a bunch of bottles of medication containing butaphosphan and cyanocobalamin, just with different names (you don't always have time to learn about new products; it's easier to read the ingredients). It helps greatly if you give it to them for 4-5 days along with antibiotics and vitamins. These diarrhea patients, who had given up on their lives, can get back on their feet... But they also give IVs to relieve the symptoms of dehydration.
You can't handle it at home, and after so many days of diarrhea, the vet is unlikely to be able to find a vein (they become flaccid threads). Give glucose/Locke's Ringer's solution and calcium borogluconate subcutaneously.
Olga
My cat has had diarrhea for 10 days now. The treatment started on the 1st day (I went to the vet). They prescribed formazin (if I'm not mistaken) in injections, lactobacilli and a semi-starvation diet, and chloramphenicol 0.25, 1/4 tablet 3 times a day, and enterosgel. It seemed to be getting better, but then things started to get worse, and the diarrhea got worse...
I called the vet, he said not to feed him and increase the dose of lactobacilli, and add enterol... I've been doing everything since yesterday... This evening I gave him some boiled rice with broth and everything poured out of him again, so what should I do? I'm already really tired of him and I'm desperate... I've been fighting his illness for 10 days... Could this clinic cause worms? Can I give him deworming?
Dasha is a veterinarian
Hello! What diagnosis did the vet give? 10 days is a long time. But let's clarify what exactly the animal has: diarrhea or loose stools. Diarrhea is when there's almost constant stool (more than five times a day).
Loose stools occur when a pet begins defecating in the litter box, and then only loose feces are produced. Without determining the cause, it's difficult to find effective treatment. Has an infection been ruled out (when were the vaccinations last)? When was the last time the pet had worms? It's best not to give anthelmintics now. The body is weakened, so giving an anthelmintic won't be helpful. The diarrhea needs to be stopped.
What can I recommend? A 12-hour fasting diet (only water or chamomile tea). This is easy to do: feed in the evening around 6 p.m., then remove all food. Then feed again in the morning. For a month, switch to a special diet with high-quality food specialized for gastrointestinal diseases (Royal Canin Recovery or Gastro, Hill's Prescription Diet Feline). If you can administer a subcutaneous injection (in the withers), then 3-5 ml of 5% glucose 3-4 times a day (for up to 2 days).
You can give Regidron, Vetom 1:1, or chamomile tea (7-10 days). White charcoal/Polyfam/Smecta and other sorbents should be given one hour before meals or medications (to avoid reducing their effectiveness) or one hour after feeding and oral medications. Emprobio or Hilak should be given orally twice daily for a week. Two Nux Vomica capsules should be given three times daily for a week (dissolved in a teaspoon of water). Katozal and Verakol should be given twice daily for 10 days.
Sometimes laperamide is given to completely alleviate loose stools. But remember, it's crucial to find the underlying cause! This regimen is suitable for animals with nutritional deficiencies, but if the cause is an infection or parasite, there will be no recovery without specific therapy.
Olga
Good evening! Thank you so much for the advice! I'm going to the vet's tomorrow morning... I kept my boyfriend on a complete fast for 24 hours... He's really, really hungry... I gave him some thin boiled rice and that's all for now... I'm a little scared, waiting to see what happens... I'm giving him smecta, lactobacilli, and enterol... I gave him deworming medication a while ago. So far, the diarrhea (it's still diarrhea, not just loose stools) has stopped.
Dasha is a veterinarian
You're welcome. I hope it helps the animal. But we still need to find the cause of the diarrhea. Could it have been poisoned (maybe he's been wandering outside)? Maybe he's been in contact with other animals? Has his temperature been taken?
Was there any vomiting? As soon as the cat's diarrhea stops (at least for 3 days), give her a dewormer (Drontal or Milbemax—they're more powerful, eliminating both adult parasites and their larvae). Replace water entirely with either chamomile tea or special solutions for dehydration (they're readily available at even a pharmacy). These will help restore the water-salt balance. Smecta should also help stabilize the cat's fluids.
Olga
Tell me, my cat has had diarrhea for a week now, what should I do? And he constantly licks his butt?
Dasha is a veterinarian
Diarrhea or loose stools? These are different concepts. If the diarrhea lasted a week and there was no human intervention, the animal would have died of dehydration. So, loose stools. Licking her buttocks means irritation and itching have set in. A common question: when was the last time she was dewormed? When was her last vaccination? Were there any treatments (for fleas or ticks)?
What were you feeding? How is your cat's general condition? Is there a fever, lethargy, or vomiting? Why didn't you take your cat to the vet? You need to find the cause of your cat's loose stool. Deworming is recommended for parasitic infestation, antibiotics, smecta, and other symptomatic medications for bacterial infections, and detoxification therapy for poisoning. Treatment regimens depend on the underlying condition. Without a diagnosis, it's impossible to say what to give your cat.
Reader
Very good article, detailed description. Thank you.
Add a comment