Royal Canin - Diarrhea?

alleygirl · Aug 13, 2008

Johnny Cash has been at petsmart for 3 weeks now. The first 1 1/2 weeks, he ate his regular food mix half and half with Royal Canin maine Coon brand. The last 1 1/2 weeks he's been on the straight RC. Today he had very watery diarrhea.

Do you think there could be something in the RC bothering him? He was previously on a mix of Orijen/California Natural.

alleygirl · Aug 13, 2008

Assuming this is just due to his food switch, (the RC has double the fiber content) is there anything I can give him for a few days to help firm up his stools? Yogurt or anything?

*pepper* · Aug 13, 2008

I know a small amount of pumpkin works well (if the kitty will eat it). You can get it in the baking isle, just make sure you don't get the one with spices in it, just 100% pumpkin.

Has he had a stool test just to make sure he hasn't picked up anything?

xocats · Aug 13, 2008

Awww, that's a shame.

Some kitties are extremely sensitive to food changes....
if possible, it would be best to return Johnny Cash to his old diet until his tummy settles down.
I know that might be a problem in the PetSmart setting.

Sending vibes that the squirts clear up easily.
Johnny Cash

clpeters23 · Aug 13, 2008

Originally Posted by AlleyGirl

Johnny Cash has been at petsmart for 3 weeks now. The first 1 1/2 weeks, he ate his regular food mix half and half with Royal Canin maine Coon brand. The last 1 1/2 weeks he's been on the straight RC. Today he had very watery diarrhea.

Do you think there could be something in the RC bothering him? He was previously on a mix of Orijen/California Natural.

I can't respond to the Maine Coon foumula, but my three have been on RC Light (as adults, not kittens) and done fine.

goldenkitty45 · Aug 13, 2008

Its possible. Not all cats can eat the same foods. We feed RC and haven't any problems. I find that some pieces of cheese usually helps stop it.

Maybe switch back to the other and see what happens. If there still is a problem, then make a vet visit.

alleygirl · Aug 13, 2008

The problem is that he needs to be able to eat one of the petsmart foods and they don't carry orijen and C.N.

There is supposed to be someone coming to look at him Sunday, but now I'm going to have to postpone that until his stomach is straightened out. Do you think this will clear up on its own in a day or two if he keeps eating the food? I'm afraid if I take him some of my food, it will just make things worse and then start all over again when he's switched back. He's been on the straight RC for over a week now, and was on a mix of it before that.

sharky · Aug 13, 2008

can you GET PLAIN pumpkin and some Bene bac>??

laureen227 · Aug 13, 2008

Originally Posted by sharky

can you GET PLAIN pumpkin and some Bene bac>??

& maybe he'd do better on another food? Petsmart's Authority, while not as good [IMO] as RC, is acceptable...

xocats · Aug 13, 2008

Originally Posted by sharky

can you GET PLAIN pumpkin and some Bene bac>??

Bene bac is a really good idea.

Originally Posted by laureen227

& maybe he'd do better on another food? Petsmart's Authority, while not as good [IMO] as RC, is acceptable...

Authority might be worth a try Paula but a fast switch of foods can cause further tummy upsets.

Sending you and Johnny Cash calming vibes and successful adoption vibes on Saturday. vibes:

blaise · Aug 13, 2008

Just a few words of caution...someone needs to make sure this kitten/cat doesn't dehydrate in that environment. Personally, I don't understand why he is being left in the store while he is ill.......

alleygirl · Aug 14, 2008

He will be going to the vet today to have a fecal check and to make sure he is not dehydrated. We do not just leave sick cats at the store, but they do stay there if they are being treated for something minor, which this is at this point. His diarrhea is caused by the food switch. RC has twice as much fiber and he was switched too fast. He WILL be treated and taken care of as necessary, but I don't consider ONE episode of diarrhea an emergency and I don't appreciate the insinuation that he is being neglected.

I thought pumpkin was for constipation? Wouldn't that make it worse? I don't know what bene bac is. I can get some if you tell me what it is and where to get it. The reason he is on the RC is because he has to have glucosamine/chondroitin supplement for his arthritis and the RC Maine Coon food already has it in it. He won't eat the powder supplement and we're trying to avoid daily pilling. So we would really rather not switch his food and go back to the pills if possible.

jellybella · Aug 14, 2008

They should actually have bene bac at the petsmart. They usually sell it in little tubes for kittens, it's not the most cost effective way to buy it, but any port in a storm. I've been getting bigger tubes mail order from Drs Foster & Smith.

Is he picky about wet food? When Stan gets a little loose poo, I usually feed them wet food with rice in it to help him firm up.

I know it sounds like he's sensitive to food changes, but it might also be the specific variety of RC. Stan does very well with the "Special 33" variety, which is supposed to help with digestive health.

for Johnny Cash

xocats · Aug 14, 2008

Bene bac is a probiotic that can usually be found at PetSmart.
As described at the link below, it can add to the natural flora of a cat's intestinal tract to aid digestion.
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2751735

I always thought that pumpkin (added fiber) was for constipation too.

Sending vibes that Johnny Cash gets a clean bill of health at the vets this morning.

alleygirl · Aug 14, 2008

Thanks. I hope I don't have to change his food again. If he can't eat something easily available, it will almost ruin his chances of adoption. He has enough against him already because of his bad leg.

The vet may give him something today, but if not, I will get the bene bac at petsmart this evening.

xocats · Aug 14, 2008

Awww, that sweet boy.

Sending more vibes for Johnny Cash.

*pepper* · Aug 14, 2008

Originally Posted by xocats

I always thought that pumpkin (added fiber) was for constipation too.

You can actually use it for both, it is a great "regulator". You give SMALL amounts for Diarrhea and larger amounts for constipation

xocats · Aug 14, 2008

Originally Posted by *Pepper*

You can actually use it for both, it is a great "regulator". You give SMALL amounts for Diarrhea and larger amounts for constipation

Thanks for sharing that info.

laureen227 · Aug 14, 2008

Originally Posted by JellyBella

I know it sounds like he's sensitive to food changes, but it might also be the specific variety of RC. Stan does very well with the "Special 33" variety, which is supposed to help with digestive health.

that's the version of RC mine get, as well.

alleygirl · Aug 15, 2008

He was doing better yesterday. No bowl movement which the vet said was a good sign. He always threw up a hairball, which may have contributed to the problem. He is not dehydrated and is doing well otherwise so she didn't want to medicate him at all. Suggested to give him yogurt and/or bene bac and let it clear up on its own. Hopefully he will still be able to be adopted on Sunday as planned.

Royal Canin - Diarrhea?

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