Very Stinky & Soft Poop...Ugh!

We've been battling this with Tumbles for the past 6-8 weeks. He's been on Metro twice, once for 4 days and the second time for 7 days. The 7-day treatment ended about 2 weeks ago and we're back to the VERY stinky (as in open the window to clear out the smell stinky) soft pile o' poop. (Thankfully it's not runny or leaking out his little bum.) He has started to "announce" his intentions as well, which is why I'm suspecting a parasite. He's also frequenting the box to poop more frequently. I've got a call into the vet so he may be taking a little trip today. I'm wondering if he might have some type of parasite.

Other than this issue, he's eating, drinking, and playing well. We've not changed his food. He eats TOTW dry and Innova EVO cat/kitten & venison canned food.

Suggestions, ideas, experiences, prayers appreciated.

Do you mean to say he meows before going to the litter box? And that's what makes you think it's a parasite? (and not the fact that diarrhea is just plain uncomfortable)

My Tomas will meow and complain if he has diarrhea. He can't have chicken because it causes this and that's been a problem with him pretty much since I found him. All parasite tests (after a couple dewormings and revolution, too) have always been negative.

Metro has side effects, it's not a drug to be taken lightly. If it's not working, do more testing first or start working on a diet to rule out food issues instead of repeatedly giving something that isn't helping.

In the meantime make sure to get some probiotics in him. Metro is so broad spectrum that it will kill off good and bad bacteria in the GI. Whatever is upsetting his GI, without the good bacteria there to help protect him he'll have some problems from that alone.

He does cry out before going to the litter box. I'm wondering if it hurts him to go or if he's got a bit of gas and is uncomfortable.

We've been giving him acidophilus daily since prior to starting the Metro. The vet called back and she's got some Royal Canin food (dry) for us to try. It's something for the GI tract for kitties with no other symptoms than soft stools.

After Christmas, I might go ahead and make him an appt to see her and to have either a fecal float done to rule out those parasites. We might even go ahead and have the PCR test done to test for TF.

Metro has been wonderful for Bugsy every time with no side effects, except for this time, that has not worked to its full extent... But then nor has Tylan...
I agree on the probiotics - 2 of my vets recommended Proviable-DC; very strong, in a capsule, it also contains pre-biotics.
The very strong stench makes me think of T. Foetus... But I guess that would make sense only if he had those symptoms ever since you brought him home... I suppose it would be a reasonable question to ask the vet anyways... Good luck!

Originally Posted by stephanietx

He does cry out before going to the litter box. I'm wondering if it hurts him to go or if he's got a bit of gas and is uncomfortable.

We've been giving him acidophilus daily since prior to starting the Metro. The vet called back and she's got some Royal Canin food (dry) for us to try. It's something for the GI tract for kitties with no other symptoms than soft stools.

After Christmas, I might go ahead and make him an appt to see her and to have either a fecal float done to rule out those parasites. We might even go ahead and have the PCR test done to test for TF.

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Good luck after Christmas. If it's TF than Metro wouldn't work for that anyways.

As for why he cries out, personal experience - it's cramping and likely a bit of a sore butt. The cramping can feel like your insides are being twisted around. (sorry it that's TMI)

Try probiotics with more bacteria than just acidophilus. Just like with people, it's great for some, but for others they need another mixture.
Maybe the Royal Canine will work, too. It's always entirely possible that his current food is just too rich for his stomach. Some cats are like that.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

As for why he cries out, personal experience - it's cramping and likely a bit of a sore butt. The cramping can feel like your insides are being twisted around.

(sorry it that's TMI)

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Bugsy would cry out when he had gas, and when his bottom got really sore... Check him bottom... His vet gave me a powder called Neo-Predef - it is truly amazing, it took care of the sore really fast, and he no longer cries in pain...

Is the Neo-Predef a probiotic?

Originally Posted by stephanietx

Is the Neo-Predef a probiotic?

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No. Says here that's it's an antibiotic powder.

But you can get other (multi-strain) probiotics for humans and for pets. Fortiflora is single strain, but has enterococcus faecium, for example.


O/T - Which reminds me, did the Align help you Carolina? Or did you find it comparable to other probiotics you've tried? Even in humans, sometimes it's just a matter of finding what works per that person.

Okay, I was a bit confused there! When we go pick up the food, I'll ask about the probiotic (have used FortiFlora before) and the powder.

Sorry your "free cat" is so problematic! I do know when he was with Jan, he had nice tootsie rolls in the box every time I saw him and Jan never mentioned a poo problem (and she would have!)

I also know he was loaded with tapeworms when you got him, so they could have done some damage, or there could have also been other parasites in him that weren't symptomatic yet.

I think I'd go straight to the fecal analysis if I were you. Rule out what you can, and then look at diet, etc. You may also want to be sure you aren't overfeeding him and he isn't just dumping out food.

I use a nice probiotic for all the humans/pets in our home:
http://www.customprobiotics.net/cust...rmula-cp-1.htm Let me know if you'd like a few sample caps.

That's my .02 worth and again, sorry Tumbles is having tummy troubles.

Cally

Well, we have Royal Canin Gastro HE (High Energy) dry. We're to feed him this for the next few days and then see how he's doing. The problem is it's dry and I don't like feeding too much dry. It does come in cans, but they didn't have any. If this will get us through the holiday, I'm okay with it, but I will continue feeding some of his other wet food, which he prefers. He's not much for dry food unless he's starving.

Carla, he's not a problem at all! Other than annoying the heck out of the girls, knocking down the Christmas tree, and barreling down the hallways! He would still have this problem if we'd have gotten him from a rescue group, too.

It's possible we're feeding him too much, but that wouldn't explain how the poops get firmer then go back to stinky and soft since he gets the same portions. He's now 7 months old, so we're starting to cut back on his food intake anyway and reduce the amount of dry food he's eating.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

No. Says here that's it's an antibiotic powder.

But you can get other (multi-strain) probiotics for humans and for pets. Fortiflora is single strain, but has enterococcus faecium, for example.


O/T - Which reminds me, did the Align help you Carolina? Or did you find it comparable to other probiotics you've tried? Even in humans, sometimes it's just a matter of finding what works per that person.

Click to expand...

OMG - the Align has been a life saver for me! Seriously changed my life - no kidding... Where before I was afraid of eating out, now that is in the past... It is GREAT stuff. And no, there is no comparison with other probiotics in the market... It really controls my IBD.
The other day I started having a flare up.... then I realized I hadn't taken it for a couple of days - ah'ha! It is awesome awesome!

Originally Posted by stephanietx

Is the Neo-Predef a probiotic?

Click to expand...

No, Neo-Predef is a powder for his bottom; it is an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and anesthetic . It is very good... Bugsy's bottom was in terrible shape, as you can imagine from having diarrhea for so long - and this really helps it keeping it healthy and pain free. You get it from the vet only, not too expensive, and it lasts a bunch... You can use it for all sorts of cuts and scrapes as well, I understand.
The probiotic he is taking now is Called Proviable-DC. It was prescribed by his 2 vets (2 different clinics); it is 500X stronger than Fortiflora (yep, it is massively strong ) and it also contains pre-biotics. You can see it Here. I buy it from Amazon, as it is much cheaper than at the vets...

Stephanie, I was joking with you. ALL of us know there is no such thing as a "free cat" and wouldn't have it any other way!!!! We all accept what comes with our little bundles of joy and go on from there.

That being said, I hope he does better soon. Poor little stinker!

Originally Posted by Carolina

No, Neo-Predef is a powder for his bottom; it is an antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and anesthetic . It is very good... Bugsy's bottom was in terrible shape, as you can imagine from having diarrhea for so long - and this really helps it keeping it healthy and pain free. You get it from the vet only, not too expensive, and it lasts a bunch... You can use it for all sorts of cuts and scrapes as well, I understand.
The probiotic he is taking now is Called Proviable-DC. It was prescribed by his 2 vets (2 different clinics); it is 500X stronger than Fortiflora (yep, it is massively strong

) and it also contains pre-biotics. You can see it Here. I buy it from Amazon, as it is much cheaper than at the vets...

Click to expand...

Carolina, thank you so much for providing links. Makes things so much easier! Off to check it out.