[b]severe diarrhea/gas[/b]

I previously posted about my two cats having sudden diarrhea. A 6-7 m/o and a 3 yr old. The 3 y/o is fine now, but after the kitten had diarrhea I switched him from Wellness to Nutro Kitten, hoping it would be easier on his stomach. (I read how other kittens reacted badly to Wellness)
Well, this was a few days after Thanksgiving and he did good for awhile. However this past Friday and Saturday (Sun morning) he has severe audible gas when he goes to the litterbox (and on one occassion he couldnt make it to the litterbox) and of course he has diarrhea with it.
I fed him boiled chicken last night, which he just threw up. He was taken to the vet before during the first bout of diarrhea and was declared healthy. She just felt around, though; no xrays/tests or anything.

So I may take him to the vet again Monday morning depending on how he does today. Is there any food appropriate for a kitten that you recommend. Something gentle on the stomach that doesn't have recalls and known deaths associated with the brand (which as far as I know...Nutro does not acknowledge)?

(hurray for a fail title I can't change) D:

Ok.... When you say wellness, are you referring to Wellness Core? Or regular Wellness?
If you want to stay away from recalls, Nutro is definitely not the brand you want to feed
Have you tried adding a bit of probiotics to the food? especially during transition? Also, how slow are you transitioning the food?

Is he eating or drinking anything?

I believe Royal Canin makes a sensitive stomach food.

Some kitties can't handle grain free foods....as well as depending on how you are switching the foods, that could cause a problem as well. Kitties have very sensitive digestive tracts, and dry food switches need to be done very slowly.

As far as foods without deaths or recalls, pretty much all foods have had issues Some less than others, but no company has a completely clean slate.

Is it possible that he got into something that he shouldn't?

I was feeding him grain-free regular Wellness wet. I transitioned him in just a few days, which I know should've been longer, but he responded well and I wanted to get him off what I thought was giving him bad diarrhea/gas. I added a sprinkling of http://www.eaglepack.com/SP_HolisticSolution.html
just once on friday. Is there a probiotic you recommend? I did a brief google search and saw quite a few. I really don't want to transition him to a new food by using this Nutro stuff anymore. Should I transition him to something else using Wellness?

He has an appetite and drinks water. He is energetic/normal otherwise. I really think it's the food and not that he got into something.

I also see that Wellness has a life stage kitten wet food. Which is not available at my local Agway.

I wish I researched Nutro more before I bought it, but I was at the store and after reading the ingredients and the claims I thought it would be an improvement. =/

Thanks for the help. I appreciate it!

Has he been tested recently for worms?

Also, when I switched back to Nutro (several years ago), my cat developed gas and wouldn't eat. She was also throwing up, so I had to switch her to something else. I think I switched her to Royal Canin.

He was dewormed when he was 1-2 m/o and 3-4 m/o, but I don't believe he was checked when he went to the vet after Thanksgiving. My mother brought him for me, since I had to work. I'm surprised Nutro is still available after all these negative reviews and their gas enducing foods.

I've only tried a few cans of the Nutro kitten in the past. And yes, it resulted in bad diarrhea and gas for Tomas, BUT everything with chicken in it does that to him. Sho and Sherman are ok with some of the varieties.

Chances are there's one particular ingredient that's in the Nutro that some cats can't handle in any food. Maybe the specific formulation is too much of that ingredient for some.


BTW: Mars makes (and owns) both Nutro and Royal Canin. When they make foods they don't have special corn or meat just for one brand. (same chicken going into them would be going into Walmart's Maxximum Nutrition for example) It all has to meet the same quality standards and it's only the formulation that changes.

Would I feed Nutro? Some of the canned is fine for some of my cats. The dry for that (and non prescription Royal Canin) costs to much for what's in it.

I believe your best bet is to consult with your vet - there are some prescription foods they can try to deal with delicate stomachs, at least for a while. And, yeah, there's no food out there that hasn't had issues -just like producers of human food.

With my boy, Nutro actually aided his digestion - every cat will be different. And, the internet can be useful when making decisions - but it can also be full of hooey and agendas and 'experts' with no training whatsoever - IMO, your best bet is either a certified feline nutritionist or your own vet. No one on the internet has a personal knowledge of your cat and his history.

Well... You shouldn't be having this much of a problem transitioning wet foods, so maybe it is time for a fecal exam with the vet just to be sure...

As for Probiotics, Here is what I give to my babies: I give 1/4tsp/meal, and it keeps even my worst case, Bugsy, healthy: Benebac Powder, 1lb (here is from Amazon, if you'd prefer: Benebac)

This is the dosage that works for them... There is no daily qty instruction, so I researched other probitiocs for dosages, and also monitored my "kids"... Bene-bac is also fantastic to stop diarrhea and to give during food transitions (instructions included).

I would also see another protein... Turkey might be gentler on his tummy...
Good luck!!

Originally Posted by darlili

I believe your best bet is to consult with your vet - there are some prescription foods they can try to deal with delicate stomachs, at least for a while. And, yeah, there's no food out there that hasn't had issues -just like producers of human food.

With my boy, Nutro actually aided his digestion - every cat will be different. And, the internet can be useful when making decisions - but it can also be full of hooey and agendas and 'experts' with no training whatsoever - IMO, your best bet is either a certified feline nutritionist or your own vet. No one on the internet has a personal knowledge of your cat and his history.

Click to expand...

Normally I say try probiotics but when YOU have no idea what is causing the issue a vet check is best...

I no longer can feed Nutro due to allergies to ingredients which would also not make Royal canin feasible ( most of those have more grains than Nutro )