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Overview:
Diarrhea is
the passage of frequent watery stools, not only are stools
watery, but there is also an increased volume output.
It is not a
disease in itself, but a symptom of an underlying disease,
problem. The cause is an excessive amount of water in the
faeces, which may have several causes. It can affect the
small intestine, the large intestine or both. It can be
acute or chronic. Acute diarrhea lasts less than 2 - 3 weeks
& chronic greater than 2 - 3 weeks. [1] Blood may or may not
be present in the faeces, as well as mucous. They may also
be yellowy & or frothy in appearance.
What causes
diarrhea?
-
Blockage
(hairballs
or foreign object)
-
Colitis.
-
Diet:
There are several diet related possibilities. A sudden
switch in your cat's food can cause diarrhea.
Food allergies & food
intolerances may also cause diarrhea. Cows
milk or dairy products being a common cause as
many cats are lactose intolerant. Other foods may
also cause a food intolerance in your cat.
-
Drugs
or toxins (plants, poisons etc).
-
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
-
Hyperthyroidism.
-
Infection:
Bacterial (Salmonella,
Campylobacter), viral (FIV,
FeLV,
Panleukopenia, Rotavirus), protozoal (Giardia,
Cryptosporidium), parasitic (worms).
-
Inflammatory
Bowel Disease
-
Kidney
disease.
-
Liver disease.
-
Neoplasia
(lymphoma, carcinoma & others).
-
Pancreatitis.
What are the
symptoms of diarrhea?
Small
intestine diarrhea: Volume is increased, frequency 2-3 times
normal, no mucous, urgency may be normal to mildly
increased. [2]
Large
intestine diarrhea: Volume is normal to decreased, mucus &
blood may be present, urgency is increased & frequency is
more than 5 times normal. [3]
Other symptoms
include;
How is the
cause of diarrhea determined?
Your
veterinarian will perform a physical examination of your cat
& ask you some questions to determine if the diarrhea is
acute or chronic, if there have been any changes to your
cat's diet, possible exposure to toxins etc.
Tests will
vary depending on other symptoms your cat is displaying,
some tests your veterinarian may wish to perform include;
-
Fecal
examination to determine if the cause is parasitic,
bacterial, protozoal.
-
FIV & FeLV
tests.
-
Complete blood count.
-
Chemical
profile to check for liver disease, kidney disease,
hyperthyroidism etc.
-
Urinalysis.
-
X-Rays.
-
Ultrasound.
-
Intestinal
biopsy.
How is
diarrhea treated?
Treatment
naturally depends on the cause of diarrhea.
If the
diarrhea is acute, and the cat seems otherwise fit & well,
your veterinarian may choose to withhold food for a day or
so. Water is still to be provided. After the fasting period,
food may be re-introduced but this will usually need to be
bland for a few more days.
Treat
dehydration & electrolyte imbalance if necessary.
Treat
parasites.
Treat
protozoal infections.
Antibiotics
for bacterial infections.
Anti diarrhea
medications.
Surgery may be
required if the cause is an obstruction.
More specific
treatments will be required for other causes such as
hyperthyroidism, cancer, kidney disease etc.
Your
veterinarian may recommend your cat be fed Hills I/D for a
short period. Hills I/D is low in fat, highly digestible. It
is specially designed for cats with gastrointestinal
disorders.
References:
[1] [2] [3]
The Feline Patient - Gary D. Norsworthy, Mitchell A.
Crystal, Sharon K. Fooshee & Larry P. Tilley.
Please note:
The medical
articles on this site have not been written by a
veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a
veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for
informative purposes only.
Always seek
immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or
behavioral) in your pets.
While great
care has been made in the creation of these articles, we
cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages.
If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical
advice. |
