Disruption of the digestive system in animals is not always a consequence of poisoning.
Diarrhea in a cat can occur due to disruption of the digestive system.
Liquid stool with mucus is an alarming symptom that the owner needs to pay attention to and take timely measures to improve the pet’s condition, otherwise irreversible consequences will develop.
Causes
Diarrhea in cats is always a consequence of ill health. It is important to determine the reasons why the animal’s intestines stop working normally.
Poor nutrition
Changing food, switching from liquid substances to dry granules and vice versa, feeding the animal from the owner’s table lead to disruption of digestive activity.
If a cat has unlimited access to food, this also does not have the best effect on the functioning of the liver and pancreas.
Cats fed a natural diet experience diarrhea more often than cats fed commercial food.
Store-bought food contains all the components necessary for proper growth, development and digestion. Dosing granules or pates is easy because the manufacturers have taken into account all the nuances.
When feeding a cat natural food, it is difficult to monitor the composition and dosage of the food. Diarrhea in an animal often occurs after overeating.
In kittens, diarrhea is observed when switching to food after mother's milk.
This reaction of the body does not last long; after a day, digestion is improved.
Milk protein intolerance
Most adult cats are intolerant to lactose, the protein in milk. After consuming dairy products, an adult animal may diarrhea. Natural products are given only to kittens.
Poor quality feed
Not all industrial feeds are of good quality. Some of them contain only protein and lack vitamins and other nutrients. This can negatively affect the digestion process.
For your pet, choose brands with a variety of compositions from trusted manufacturers. If the animal already has health problems, food is selected in consultation with a veterinarian.
Allergic reactions
Food allergies can cause diarrhea in a cat. The owner of the animal needs to monitor what foods the pet’s health worsens after. Such food is completely excluded from the diet.
Helminthiasis
Intestinal parasites violate the integrity of the mucous membranes, and their waste products lead to intoxication of the body. As a result, the animal develops chronic diarrhea.
Veterinarians recommend deworming pets at least 2 times a year.
Features of diarrhea in pregnant and lactating cats
Diarrhea in pregnant cats is often caused by poor diet. A pregnant cat needs a change in diet; it requires more high-calorie food with an increased amount of protein in it. Of the ready-made diets for expectant mothers, kitten food is recommended. Such food covers all the nutritional needs of the mother cat. On the contrary, a pregnant cat does not need milk in her diet; it can weaken the stool and does not contain any nutritional value.
Before planning offspring, the owners of the cat and cat must be tested for infectious diseases, and also be treated for helminths and vaccinated. Illness during pregnancy can cause enormous harm to future offspring. Many common medications cannot be given to pregnant cats, so treating her may be difficult. If a nursing cat is poisoned by spoiled food, she can pass the toxins to the kittens through the milk. Infections and parasites will also inevitably be passed on to offspring. Therefore, monitoring a pregnant and lactating cat should be very careful; if you have any questions, you should consult a doctor.
Diarrhea as a symptom of the disease
Diarrhea with mucus in a cat can occur due to diseases of the internal organs, infectious diseases, and gastritis.
Liver pathologies
Liver diseases are difficult to diagnose in the early stages. If diarrhea is accompanied by other alarming symptoms, it is necessary to send your pet for a full veterinary examination.
What happens to an animal if there are abnormalities in the liver:
- weight loss;
- lack of appetite;
- yellowing of the gums and whites of the eyes;
- thirst;
- diarrhea and vomiting.
The cat's urine darkens, and fluid begins to accumulate in the abdominal cavity.
Gastritis
Inflammation of the gastric mucosa is called gastritis. Symptoms of the disease in cats are not specific, they are similar to signs of general intoxication of the body:
refusal of food;- thirst;
- vomiting after eating;
- loose stool.
In a chronic course, the signs may be blurred, and the disease develops over several years.
What to feed a cat with diarrhea
Many owners are concerned about the question of what to feed their cat during and after diarrhea. The first, main rule is a fasting diet in the first day after the onset of diarrhea. This step may seem pointless, but it is important to understand the following:
- During diarrhea, the mucous membranes work more actively and secrete a lot of fluid.
- Food that enters the intestines ends up in a mucous environment and is not digested.
- Due to incomplete fermentation, food does not soften and scratches the intestinal walls.
Simply put, feeding against the background of full-blown diarrhea is a disservice that will only delay recovery. After eliminating the acute condition, the cat should receive a dietary diet for 3–4 days.
If you do not know the exact reasons for the development of the disease, it is better to exclude whole milk from your diet; fermented milk products and cheeses (without salt) are not included in the exception. Feed your pet boiled meat, low-fat broth, cottage cheese and don’t forget about coarse fibers.
First aid
As soon as the cat has loose stools and the number of bowel movements per day exceeds 3, the animal needs to be given first aid.
Therapeutic fasting
First of all, access to food is limited.
After the onset of diarrhea, it is useful for the animal to fast - this reduces the load on the digestive tract and accelerates the removal of toxins from the body.
Tray Access
The cat's litter box should remain clean, regardless of the number of bowel movements per day. A box with filling is placed near the animal.
Fixing decoctions
On the first day, it is useful to give the cat a restorative decoction. It can be chamomile (acts as an antiseptic), St. John's wort (relieves inflammation), oak bark (fixes).
1 tbsp. l. any herb is poured with a glass of boiling water, the liquid is simmered in a water bath for 15 minutes. Afterwards, wrap the container, let it brew and cool. The finished broth is poured into the pet’s oral cavity, 1 tbsp. l. three times a day.
Contacting a veterinarian
If the diarrhea does not stop, or the animal gets worse, then you need to call a veterinarian at home . A specialist will examine the pet and find out the cause of this condition. Treatment is prescribed only after diagnosis.
Pharmacy products
To treat diarrhea in cats, it is recommended to use drugs created for humans.
In case of poisoning, Enterofuril can be used. This is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial drug. It is prescribed for bacterial and viral infections.
Bifidumbacterin helps restore intestinal microflora. The probiotic is effective for intestinal disorders of any etiology.
Activated carbon is a sorbent that removes toxins from the body. It is used for short-term and uncomplicated diarrhea. In this case, Smecta also helps.
Diagnosis of loose stools in cats
First of all, the doctor will ask in detail about the cat’s life. It is necessary to study in detail what the cat is now and what he ate before, whether he receives any treats or food from the table. Have you been treated for internal parasites, with what drug and when was the last time? Has your pet been vaccinated in the last year? Does the cat have access to woolen toys, threads, does he chew his toys. It is necessary to clarify whether the cat has access to the street and whether it can hunt mice. You also need to tell the doctor what medications your pet receives on an ongoing basis, and whether you have started giving anything on your own for diarrhea. The doctor will ask how the pet is feeling, how many times per day there were loose stools and what it looked like. It is advisable to describe its consistency, color, and visible impurities. Based on the collected data, a preliminary diagnosis can be made.
Further, various tests and studies may be required to confirm the diagnosis.
A clinical blood test will show the presence of anemia or dehydration, the degree of the inflammatory process. It can also be used to suggest what process is occurring in the body: bacterial, viral or parasitic.
A biochemical blood test can exclude diseases of the kidneys, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. In addition to a general biochemical analysis, it may be recommended to donate blood for species-specific pancreatic lipase; it is quite sensitive to the presence of pancreatitis in an animal.
Polymerase chain reaction or serological testing can be used to diagnose infectious diseases.
To detect parasites, a fresh stool sample is required, which is examined in a laboratory under a microscope. Helminth eggs do not leave the intestines all the time, so the result may be false negative.
Typically, to make a diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasitosis, a trial of treatment with antiparasitic drugs is prescribed. Success in treatment will also confirm the diagnosis.
Ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity can reveal a pathological process in the area of internal organs. Using ultrasound, you can see the presence of inflammation, a foreign body, intussusception in the intestine, inflammation in the gallbladder, liver and surrounding tissues. Also, importantly, with the help of ultrasound one can suspect an oncological process.
Using an X-ray examination, it is also possible to exclude the presence of contrasting foreign bodies in the intestines and large neoplasms on organs.
Endoscopic examination can help establish the diagnosis of gastritis, erosive and peptic ulcer disease. Also, using endoscopic equipment, you can take material from the intestines for histological examination.
Treatment
Once the cause of the disease is established, treatment is selected.
Prescription of drugs
If the pet’s diet does not meet established standards, medications are used to improve digestion and relieve inflammation. These can be probiotics (Pro Plan, Lactobifid, Lactoferon).
Veterinary medicines for gastrointestinal diseases are also needed - Armavir ASD antiseptic, Veracol. To normalize nutrition, dietary industrial food is chosen.
For complications
If diarrhea is complicated by a viral or infectious disease, antibiotics are used. Then symptomatic treatment is carried out. In severe cases, the animal is left in the hospital.
Strengthening the immune system
Premium food contains all the nutrients necessary to maintain a healthy cat. Your doctor may additionally prescribe vitamin supplements.
Prevention
The deterioration of the cat's condition and the presence of attacks of diarrhea can be prevented. This is not difficult to do: you just need to improve the cat’s nutrition and strengthen its immunity.
Preventive measures:
choose high-quality food from well-known, trusted brands for feeding your cat;- store household chemicals out of reach of animals;
- Deworm your cat every six months;
- Monitor your pet’s appetite and stool, and respond in a timely manner to any changes in your pet’s condition.
It is important to hide sweets from cats: such food attracts animals, but is toxic to them.
