Diarrhea in a cat

Diarrhea in a cat. What it is?

Diarrhea is an indigestion accompanied by loose stools. It occurs in both humans and animals. There are many reasons for diarrhea. But despite the prevalence, this is a serious symptom that has an acute and chronic form. Without proper treatment, acute diarrhea becomes chronic. There are cases when small animals and children died from chronic diarrhea.

Cause of diarrhea in cats

Why does a cat get diarrhea? Various reasons lead to this: a violation of the diet, poor-quality food, stale water, overeating, infectious diseases, invasions, poisoning, food intolerance, severe anxiety, and others.

The most common causes of diarrhea in cats are inappropriate or poor-quality diets, drastic dietary changes, table supplements, and stress.

There are times when diarrhea accompanies other, more serious diseases of various body systems. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis and determine the cause of the disorder.  

Symptoms of diarrhea

Diarrhea is manifested by loose stools and frequent bowel movements. It may be accompanied by flatulence, the presence of mucus and blood in the feces.

Secondary symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, lethargy, dehydration, nausea, etc. 

Diarrhea in a cat: what to do?

If you have introduced an innovation into your pet’s diet, and his body has responded to it with diarrhea, there is no reason to panic. Just put everything back in place and discuss dietary changes with your veterinarian.

Other minor irritants can also lead to the development of diarrhea. In this case, digestive disorders disappear after a few hours and no treatment is required.

If diarrhea persists for more than two days or is accompanied by vomiting, cramps, and other symptoms, take your pet to the veterinarian as soon as possible. His life depends on it!

Without treatment, diarrhea becomes chronic. Chronic diarrhea in cats leads to severe dehydration, metabolic disorders, beriberi, a weakened immune system, which makes the body vulnerable to viruses and infections. Nutrients in this case are not absorbed, and the animal’s vital resources are quickly depleted. From prolonged diarrhea, the pet may die. 

Treatment and prevention of diarrhea in cats

Treatment of diarrhea is prescribed exclusively by a veterinarian. Any self-activity will inevitably lead to complications. Do not forget that there can be many causes of diarrhea, and depending on them, therapy will differ.

For example, if diarrhea is caused by an invasion or an infectious disease, treatment is aimed at eliminating the underlying causes and normalizing digestion. If diarrhea is caused by an inappropriate diet, it is enough to make adjustments and support the animal’s digestion and immunity.

In many cases, when diarrhea is caused by a non-infectious or other disease, probiotics are prescribed instead of drug therapy to treat it. Probiotics are a natural remedy for regulating the intestinal microflora and increasing immunity, which has no contraindications and side effects. In fact, these are living microorganisms that, when they enter the intestines, eliminate acute and chronic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, relieve symptoms and maintain normal stools. Probiotics have long been used in human therapy and have recently been produced for animals, for example, in the Protexin complex for normalizing digestion. They are also used as maintenance therapy in the treatment of infectious diarrhea.

Along with probiotics, diarrhea prevention is a balanced quality diet, fresh drinking water, lack of stress, routine vaccinations and treatments for parasites. In a word, the most important measures to maintain the health and strong immunity of the pet. By following them, you will protect your cat not only from diarrhea, but also from many other problems that she absolutely does not need.