Causes of diarrhea in cats. Treatment Methods

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Today we will tell you why cats can get diarrhea. Causes and treatment are two important topics that will be discussed in detail in the article. As you know, pets are prone to various diseases. For example, cats can overtake such an ailment as diarrhea. Diarrhea can occur in cats for several reasons.

Causes of diarrhea in cats

Firstly, the wrong diet can cause diarrhea. Second, overeating. Thirdly, intolerance to any products, or, in other words, allergies. Fourth, mental disorder. Cats, just like humans, can experience emotional distress resulting in diarrhea.

What other causes of diarrhea in cats? Diarrhea occurs due to poisoning, infections, worms and diseases associated with the intestines. The normal functioning of the gastrointestinal system in cats is as follows. After eating, the process of processing food takes 8 hours. In this case, the cat's body absorbs water and nutrients. Further, in the large intestine, the accumulation of metabolic products occurs. After that, processed foods exit the intestines. In a normal state of he althcat stool should be of a homogeneous mass, without blood and without pieces of undigested food.

Overeating

What other known causes of diarrhea in cats? Binge eating. In this case, the food does not have time to be digested in the intestines, it moves too fast, and the liquid is not absorbed by the body. Thus, undigested food in a liquid state enters the rectum. Next, the products of metabolism in the liquid state are released. If the cause of diarrhea is that the cat is overeating, then the disorder will be one-time. To avoid diarrhea, you need to make sure that the cat does not overeat.

Unhe althy diet

If we talk about the causes of diarrhea in cats, then we need to remember about malnutrition.

It is important to provide your pet with the right diet. Diarrhea can come from eating mice, rotting food, carrion, any sauces, fatty foods, certain types of plants. Water changes can also cause diarrhea. It is better if the cat will drink the one to which her body is accustomed. Diarrhea is common in kittens when transitioning from breastfeeding to a regular diet. It is better if this transition is gradual. If it is not possible to combine breastfeeding a kitten and the gradual introduction of the main diet, then it is necessary to include liquid foods in the animal's menu. For example, small pets are recommended to give cow's milk diluted with water. You can also include semolina porridge in your diet. In stores, it is worth buying special food for kittens. It is enriched with speci altrace elements that are necessary for the growth of the body.

Changes in dietary habits can also lead to diarrhea in adult cats. Diarrhea is especially common in rare breeds.

Diarrhea from food intolerance

There is a list of foods that cats are allergic to. First of all, in adults, milk can cause such a reaction. A feature of the body of cats is that there is no lactose enzyme. In addition to milk intolerance, there may be an allergy to beef, fish, eggs, corn, feed from certain manufacturers. If it is noticed that the cat has a reaction to some foods, then it is necessary to exclude them from the diet. It should be said that if you remove milk from the diet, then this will not affect the he alth of the pet. At the same time, the use of sour-milk products is allowed. If a cat lacks the enzyme lactose, then it will not tolerate milk in its pure form. This does not affect the absorption of fermented milk products.

Emotional mood

The emotional background of a cat gets upset, usually from fear. The latter may arise from transporting a cat in a car or placing an animal in an unfamiliar environment. Also, fear arises from the appearance of other animals in the house. If the pet has experienced this feeling, then he may experience diarrhea. In this case, no treatment is prescribed, as a rule, the emotional background improves after some time.

Poisoning diarrhea

Poisoning can be not onlyfood, but also toxic from any substances. The latter include gasoline, paint, household cleaners, industrial oils, bleach. As a general rule, cats will not ingest toxic substances themselves. Poisoning can occur when they accidentally enter the body of an animal. For example, when cleaning the tray with household chemicals and poor rinsing with water.

These substances can get on the animal's fur, and then through the tongue into the body. Also, the remnants of household chemicals can remain on the bowl, and then, when eating food, get into the stomach with them. Poor quality veterinary drugs can cause poisoning. The main symptom is vomiting and diarrhea. With such signs, you should contact your veterinarian, perhaps he will prescribe special drugs.

Worms and infections

If a cat has worms, then as a result she will have diarrhea with bloody secretions and mucus. Infectious diseases such as distemper can occur in animals that have not been vaccinated. Even if the cat is always in the apartment, this does not exclude the possibility of an infection in his body. Symptoms of infection are diarrhea, fever and vomiting. With these signs, you should immediately consult a veterinarian. Since the body may not cope with the disease on its own.

Diarrhea from bowel disease

Such a disease as pancreatitis occurs in some breeds of cats. Other bowel diseases are also possible, which are accompanied byreplenishment and disorders of the digestive system. In order to identify the cause of diarrhea, it is necessary to examine the feces. What matters is the color, texture, smell and frequency of bowel movements. If the cat has persistent diarrhea and lasts for a long time, namely more than 10 days, then you need to contact your veterinarian.

Need to stop dehydration

How to stop diarrhea in a cat? It should be remembered that with diarrhea, a large amount of fluid comes out of the animal's body. Therefore, dehydration sets in, the cat loses weight. Also, the general condition of the pet worsens, and it becomes lethargic. Dehydration is accompanied by poor blood circulation. And this leads to insufficient blood supply to the cat's brain. With such symptoms, it is necessary to give the animal the drug "Regidron". This medication will help prevent dehydration. If the diarrhea has bloody discharge and is accompanied by vomiting, you should immediately contact your veterinarian. It should be said that the body of a kitten is weaker than an adult pet.

It is good practice to bring feces with you when you go to the vet with symptoms of diarrhea. Analyzing it will help determine exactly what caused the animal to have diarrhea.

Diarrhea in a cat. Home treatment

If a pet's diarrhea is not accompanied by fever, vomiting and does not have bloody or mucous discharge, then you can cure this ailment yourself. Of course, if the cat has green diarrhea, then you should take it to a specialist.

Beforeall you need to provide a special diet for the cat. Namely, to exclude the use of milk and products that contain starch. It should be remembered that with diarrhea, the digestive system is in an unstable state. Therefore, it is important to monitor the nutrition of the pet. First, you should limit the animal in the diet completely, with the exception of water. It is important that the cat has the opportunity to consume it in unlimited quantities. Since diarrhea can cause dehydration, make sure your pet has access to water.

Restriction in food should be done for an adult animal during the day, and for a kitten a 12-hour break will be enough. Do not worry that the animal will be hungry. Such a break will have the best effect on the condition of the pet.

Nutrition for diarrhea

What to feed a cat with diarrhea? After a break in food, you can give food. It is important that the food dose be reduced by 2 times compared to the usual amount. You should also pay attention to the fact that the food is low-fat and easy to digest. It is better to give the animal food in small portions, but often. It is desirable to feed with dietary products, for example, boiled chicken, chicken broth, rice, mashed meat. If the pet refuses to eat the above products, then you should buy her a special food for animals with a weakened digestive system. It is better to use finished products of those brands to which the cat is accustomed. After the diarrhea has passed, you can return to your normal diet.

Drugs

What if a cat has diarrhea? Treatment at home should be aimed at restoring the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

First of all, you need to give the animal activated charcoal. To do this, dissolve the tablet in water. Then you should feed the cat through a syringe without a needle. You can also give infusions of herbs such as oak bark, St. John's wort and chamomile. Dosage should be discussed with your veterinarian.

What is the best medicine for diarrhea for cats? It is also recommended to use Vetom in the treatment of diarrhea (this is a veterinary drug). It is given once a day at 75 mg / kg of body weight daily until recovery. In addition to it, you can use "Smecta". Dissolve half a sachet of the drug in 0.25 cups of boiled chilled water. You can pour the medicine through a syringe if the pet refuses to just use it. 1-2 ml every three hours. Use the medicine until complete recovery.

What to give a cat for diarrhea? You can use drugs such as Baktisubtil (one capsule for an adult animal) and Bifidum (one bottle for an adult). These funds should be diluted in a small amount in water (1-2 tsp). All of these drugs should be given two to three times a day until the symptoms of diarrhea disappear completely. Of course, it is better to take your pet to the veterinarian so that he looks at his condition and says what to give the cat for diarrhea.

If the treatment does not lead to improvement after 2 days, then it is especially important to go toveterinarian. You also need to monitor the cat's stool, namely its consistency and color. There are times when pet owners do not treat them, and the pet's body cannot cope with the disease. Therefore, it is always better to play it safe and take all possible measures to eliminate the disease. It is also important to keep the litter box and bowl clean to prevent harmful substances from entering the cat's body.

Conclusion

Now you know why cats get diarrhea. Causes and treatment are two important topics that we have covered in our article. We hope that the information was useful to you.