Why Does Your Cat Keep Having Diarrhea?
Posted on: 15 August 2017
Occasional diarrhea is a part of life for anyone, including pets. However, if your cat is regularly having diarrhea, it could indicate that there's a long-term problem at work. If your cat has experienced diarrhea multiple times, keep reading to learn what could be at fault.
Possible Solvable Causes
There are plenty of potential causes for cat diarrhea, so it's important to make sure that your cat doesn't have one of these problems. For example, consumption of fleas that are carrying tapeworm larvae can potentially cause diarrhea in cats. Other common causes include food poisoning, consumption of toxins or toxic plants, or exposure to a gastrointestinal illness.
If you cat is having diarrhea fairly regularly, you should talk to a veterinarian to make sure one of these problems isn't at fault. Any of these illnesses can occur if a cat has been exposed, so it's important to rule these causes out first before investigating a longer-term problem that comes back repeatedly.
What It Means If It Keeps Coming Back
If your cat continues to have diarrhea despite treatment and efforts to limit your cat's exposure to potential causes, like fleas, there could be another problem.
Cats who regularly have diarrhea and other gastrointestional problems may have a form of irritable bowel syndrome. This disorder leads to gastrointestinal cramps, bloating, diarrhea, vomiting, and general stomach upset.
Controlling this disorder is difficult without the help of a vet. Inflammation can occur on its own or if your cat is stressed out or anxious. However, that doesn't mean that treatment isn't possible.
Treatment
Treatment for irritable bowel syndrome focuses on reducing the amount of inflammation in your cat's body. Doing so can help to limit the number of times your cat has diarrhea.
To do this, your veterinarian will most likely prescribe metronidazole or another antibiotic that offers anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, your vet may start your cat on a sensitive stomach diet to make it easier for their body to digest their food.
Lastly, your vet may perform tests to determine if your cat is allergic or sensitive to certain ingredients. For example, if your cat is allergic to chicken, the ingredient could cause tissue inflammation that increases the likelihood of stomach upset.
Rest assured that regardless of the cause, if your cat is frequently having diarrhea, your veterinarian can help. Finding and treating the cause can help to prevent your cat from experiencing excessive discomfort and long-term nutritional deficits. Don't put off seeking assistance from your vet to help your cat stop having diarrhea.
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