Chronic diarrhea

I have a 6 ish month old foster kitten. She was spayed about 3 weeks ago. She has been dewormed several times. She has constant runny poop. Not just runny, liquid. The soonest I can get her into the vet is Christmas Eve. She is not lethargic, she's eating, drinking, and playing just fine. Any thoughts? Right now I have her confined to the spare bedroom with her brother, because she poops on her back legs and it gets everywhere, but I'm going to keep them in there for a little while after she goes to the vet just so I can monitor her poop and see if theres any changes.

The first thing to rule out is protozoa infections, second would be bad bacterial overgrowths (which could be secondary to another problem). Third is food issues - an allergy or intolerance to a certain ingredient.

so what should I tell the vet? I mean, I know vets are supposed to know this stuff anyway, but the vet I have to go to is not my normal vet, and I can't say I trust her instincts like I trust my own vet. I really don't want her to be like "here, feed this hills prescription diet" I want to know what the problem is. Also, I have heard people on here talk about Benebac. Now, I saw it at Petco but it was in the critter section, with pictures of like guinea pigs and mice on it...is this the same stuff you all use? And what are the amounts to give if giving to a 6 lb kitten?

First ask for a fecal... I would suggest asking them to also send some out to a lab if they do a float type in house .. Yeast likely will be found in the ears if an overgrowth most vets catch this on a basic exam
ask about the probiotics like benebac.. it is the same product ... I believe it is one gram per lb for three day ( read online as my memory is not fool proof

Ask the vet to check for giardia, coccida, and tritrichomonas foetus.

Bene-bac is great. I can't remember the dosage, but it has been given in other threads (if carolinalima pops on she could give the exact dosage) in the the past I've just started out with about a half inch ribbon of the gel, then given less for later doses.

A prescription diet may eventually be needed if it's determined to be food related. That will have to be something to discuss with your vet. However, if your kitten has corn, chicken, or soy issues Hills will be pretty much useless. Again, that will be something to discuss when you get to that point.

Marvin had chronic diarrhea as a kitten.... after eliminating parasites as a cause, we got it under control by feeding Hills WD food (dry and canned) with a packet of FortiFlora mixed in with the canned, once per day. We continued this for a few weeks, although within a week he was in good shape and has been since for the most part, even after switching him to non-Rx food.

He's 2 now, and recently things seem to get a bit on the 'soft side' for him again (maybe because of his fondness for all things cheese), and the FortiFlora fixed him right up in a day or so. Seems like his gut just gets a little 'off' once in while, and the probiotics get everything back on track. It's very cheap too. Good luck with the kitty!

Here is a good link about Chronic diarrhea to discuss with your vet - it has a lot of information on it...

http://www.petplace.com/cats/chronic...ats/page1.aspx

As for Bene-bac:
Yes, I often get the one on the ferrets session - it will say it is for all mammals though... Just make sure of that, as they also make one for birds and other for reptiles.
The one for ferrets and guinea pigs if you look closely has a tiny pic of a kitten (if memory doesn't fail me). So, my point is, yes, you are safe, get the one for mammals.

The dosage, for the powder, during diarrhea is as follows:
1-5lbs 1Teaspoon
5-20lbs 2Teaspoons
This dosage is PER DAY, on days 1,3,5 and 7.
I mix it on one feeding of wet food, Bugsy doesn't notice at all....

Because my Bugsy has digestive problems, I give him 1/4 TSP per meal, and follow the above protocol when he has diarrhea.

Benebac ROCKS!!

Here is where I buy mine, it is the cheapest I could find....:
Bene-Bac Powder 1 Pound

Recommend that you talk to your vet about the IDEXX comprehensive Diaherria Panel #2627. It is a PCR test that tests for all the common organisms including Tritrichmonas Foetus. The test runs about $75.00 not including vet markup and collection costs. That will either confirm or rule out parasites. The test is highly accurate.

Ok, update. I have Lilah confined with her brother so she doesn't get poop everywhere. Last week I got a box full of Natural Balance samples, all the green pea and whatever flavors, dry food. So, after thinking back to all the foods I've ever fed and coming to the conclusion that every single one has had chicken in it, I filled their bowls with the samples of the green pea and duck. I went in this morning to check the water bowl and Lilah was pooping...AND IT WAS SOLID!!! Like almost completely. So could I possibly be dealing with a chicken allergy? Or something else thats NOT in the natural balance but is in TOTW, Cal. Natural, and Chicken Soup?

Originally Posted by Kit E Cat

Ok, update. I have Lilah confined with her brother so she doesn't get poop everywhere. Last week I got a box full of Natural Balance samples, all the green pea and whatever flavors, dry food. So, after thinking back to all the foods I've ever fed and coming to the conclusion that every single one has had chicken in it, I filled their bowls with the samples of the green pea and duck. I went in this morning to check the water bowl and Lilah was pooping...AND IT WAS SOLID!!! Like almost completely. So could I possibly be dealing with a chicken allergy? Or something else thats NOT in the natural balance but is in TOTW, Cal. Natural, and Chicken Soup?

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It could be chicken, or something else... Like soy, or fish... See the common denominators of the other foods she was eating. But it could definitely be food intolerance - Bugsy has bad reactions with chicken.
Make sure to pick one of the Natural Balance foods and stick with it for at least 6-8 weeks. After that you can add one protein at a time to see what he reacts to...

Originally Posted by carolinalima

It could be chicken, or something else... Like soy, or fish... See the common denominators of the other foods she was eating. But it could definitely be food intolerance - Bugsy has bad reactions with chicken.
Make sure to pick one of the Natural Balance foods and stick with it for at least 6-8 weeks. After that you can add one protein at a time to see what he reacts to...

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Yes to the above ... chicken and duck are closely related and likely if one causes issues the other will.... chicken is not a common allergen( Bugsy is not a common cat )

Originally Posted by sharky

Yes to the above ... chicken and duck are closely related and likely if one causes issues the other will.... chicken is not a common allergen( Bugsy is not a common cat

)

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I agree wholeheartedly... I think there are quite a few things that can be ruled out before chicken... For some reason there is a tendency to go straight to chicken... The fact that his poop got so much better so fast on Duck and Green Pea IMO can indicate that the allergen might not be chicken...

Well, I've tried the duck and green pea and the Purina One sensitive systems which also has no chicken, and still no diarrhea. Here's the ingedients of the foods that she has eaten. Maybe someone with more food knowledge will see something right off that could be causing it.
TOTW (horrible diarrhea)
Ingredients
Chicken meal, peas, sweet potatoes, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potato protein, roasted venison, smoked salmon, natural flavor, ocean fish meal, methionine, taurine, choline chloride, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, dried fermentation products of Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin A supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin (vitamin B2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

California Natural (really horrible diarrhea)
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Rice, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavors, Sunflower Oil, Flaxseed, Vitamins, Potassium Chloride, Minerals, Taurine, DL-Methionine), Rosemary Extract

Chicken Soup (horrible diarrhea)
Chicken, Salmon, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), oatmeal, whole grain white rice, potatoes, cracked pearled barley, millet, turkey, duck, flaxseed, natural chicken flavor, salt, choline chloride, chicory root extract, dl-methionine, potassium chloride, taurine, carrots, peas, apples, dried skim milk, kelp, cranberry powder, rosemary, parsley flake. Vitamins and minerals.

Natural Balance Ultra Formula (HORRIBLE diarrhea)
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Duck, Lamb Meal, Potatoes, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, Vitamin E) Canola Oil, Oatmeal, Fish Meal, Brewers Yeast, Rosemary Extract, Dried Skim Milk, Natural Flavor, Dried Eggs, Carrots, Flaxseed Oil, Kelp, Garlic, DL Methionine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Cranberry Powder, Grapeseed Oil, Lecithin, Parsley Flakes, Tomato Pomace, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin C Supplement, Yucca Schidigera, Folic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (a source of Vitamin K activity), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Ethylene Dihydriodide, Sodium Selenite.

Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck (immediate firm poop)
Peas, Duck Meal, Duck, Canola Oil, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Methionine, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Natural Mixed Tocopherols, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamim B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D Supplement, Folic acide (Vitamin B).


And Purina one sensitive systems, not my fave but was just trying it out (still has firm poop)
Turkey, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, turkey by-product meal, oat meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), dried egg product, whole grain corn, animal liver flavor, phosphoric acid, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, Vitamin E supplement, taurine, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite.E-4186 Manufactured by: NestlÃ[emoji]169[/emoji] Purina PetCare Company, St. Louis, MO 63164 USA Animal feeding tests using Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) procedures substantiate that Purina ONE Sensitive Systems provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult cats.

If you fed each of these foods exclusively for about 6-8 weeks each, and got those results that you are posting, then yes, I would agree with you that the problem would be the chicken. However, I believe that wasn't the case... There is a big chance that it is chicken, but you won't know for sure until you do the elimination diet.

Now... Since the kitty is eating NB Green Pea and Duck and having firm poop, by all means, have her on that diet.

After having her on that diet for a full 8 weeks, start adding 1 protein at a time (wet food) and recording the results - this way you will see what the allergen is. Remember that it can take a few days for you to get a response. Be patient, this takes time...

When you add chicken, if she has diarrhea, remove the chicken from her diet, wait for the diarrhea to subside, and in a week or so, give he chicken again. If she has diarrhea again, then you can confirm chicken is the culprit.

Bugsy has diarrhea even with a couple of treats containing chicken...

Originally Posted by Kit E Cat

Well, I've tried the duck and green pea and the Purina One sensitive systems which also has no chicken, and still no diarrhea. Here's the ingedients of the foods that she has eaten. Maybe someone with more food knowledge will see something right off that could be causing it.
TOTW (horrible diarrhea)
Ingredients
Chicken meal, peas, sweet potatoeshighly unlikely but still possible, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potato protein, roasted venison, smoked salmon, natural flavor, ocean fish mealI personally cannot eat most smoked things as most have allergen s in the liquid smoke often added, methionine, taurine, choline chloride, dried chicory root, tomatoes, blueberries, raspberries, yucca schidigera extract, dried fermentation products of Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, vitamin E supplement, niacin, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, zinc sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), vitamin A supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin (vitamin B2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 supplement, manganous oxide, sodium selenite, vitamin D supplement, folic acid.

California Natural (really horrible diarrhea)
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Rice, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavors, Sunflower Oil, Flaxseed, Vitamins, Potassium Chloride, Minerals, Taurine, DL-Methionine), Rosemary Extract

Chicken Soup (horrible diarrhea)
Chicken, Salmon, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), oatmeal, whole grain white rice, potatoes, cracked pearled barley, millet, turkey, duck, flaxseed, natural chicken flavor, salt, choline chloride, chicory root extract, dl-methionine, potassium chloride, taurine, carrots, peas, apples, dried skim milk, kelp, cranberry powder, rosemary, parsley flake. Vitamins and minerals.

Natural Balance Ultra Formula (HORRIBLE diarrhea)
Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Duck, Lamb Meal, PotatoesLamb can cause or aggravate inflamation, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, Vitamin E) Canola Oil, Oatmeal, Fish Meal, Brewers Yeast, Rosemary Extract, Dried Skim Milk, Natural Flavor, Dried Eggs, Carrots, Flaxseed Oil, Kelp, Garlic, DL Methionine, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Cranberry Powder, Grapeseed Oil, Lecithin, Parsley Flakes, Tomato Pomace, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin C Supplement, Yucca Schidigera, Folic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (a source of Vitamin K activity), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Ethylene Dihydriodide, Sodium Selenite.

Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck (immediate firm poop)
Peas, Duck Meal, Duck, Canola Oil, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Methionine, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Natural Mixed Tocopherols, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamim B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D Supplement, Folic acide (Vitamin B).
This ones vitamins are FAR more absorb able than say the Purina below it


And Purina one sensitive systems, not my fave but was just trying it out (still has firm poop)
Turkey, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, turkey by-product meal, oat meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), dried egg product, whole grain corn, animal liver flavor, phosphoric acid, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, salt, choline chloride, Vitamin E supplement, taurine, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, niacin, Vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper sulfate, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite.E-4186 Manufactured by: NestlÃ[emoji]169[/emoji] Purina PetCare Company, St. Louis, MO 63164 USA Animal feeding tests using Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) procedures substantiate that Purina ONE Sensitive Systems provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult cats.

Click to expand...

Known( ie usual suspects) I put in pink/ magenta
possible in orange

PM me if you need anything super clarified