Never ending battle with loose stools

So I was wondering if anyone has ever had this issue or anything similar. My boys Panda, Chip, and Bailey have been having lose stools for some time. I have taken them to the vet and the first few times we treated them for worms, then for giardia, then for something I forgot the name of, and then for coccidia, and every time we have gone to the vet recently I have just been told they have lots of bacteria in their stools moving around and they go on metronidazole for a week. It clears up briefly and then we are back in the same boat we started in. I am draining my bank account trying to help stop this and nothing seems to be working. They don't go frequently, its just when they go it is not solid. They eat fine, and their activity level is normal, I just have no clue what is going on.

What are you feeding them?

That is puzzling-especially since all three of them have it. Honestly, I know it stinks, but maybe try a different vet for a second opinion. Sometimes fresh eyes help a situation.

Do they go outside?

They eat Purina kitten chow, the same thing they have ate since they started eating solid food. The vet is as puzzled as me, she wonders if being bottle fed from birth they didn't develop great digestive systems, but wants to make sure we rule out all parasites and such that could also cause this. They have actually seen 4 different vets and every time they just find something in their stool to treat them for, they all know the history these 3 have. They are 100% indoor only cats and have never been outside a day in their life. They only leave the house to go to the vet. A few months ago I had to bring Bailey in for vomiting and not eating, as well as the usual loose stool. The only thing wrong again was bacteria levels were high. He had an anti-nausea shot and fluids and we came home and he improved overnight. I figured this is related somehow to our never ending problem. I am at a loss, they don't seem bothered by it, but it is not normal for them to constantly have this issue, plus they hate being medicated.

I've been through this with my current fosters.  I've just about concluded they will probably have soft stools until their digestive tracts and immune systems are completely developed. 

Have you tried any pro-biotics?  Live-culture yogurt can help sometimes, as long as you don't give them too much, about 1 teaspoon.

Is he sure they maybe don't have colitis? Or if they do have digestive issues, maybe they need the metronidazole for more than a week. 

I feel for you, I really do. Your poor babies.

I also wonder if a probiotic would help. It puts good bacteria in the belly. I'm thinking about trying that with my cat. Not sure if it firms the stools, though.

I also am going to start adding a bit of canned pumpkin (I get it at the pet store, the grocery store pumpkin can have spices or additives not good for animals) to the wet food consistently.

They are 8 months old and have had all of their shots, hopefully they have fairly developed systems. I gave them Fortiflora that I was given because it was about to expire. Maybe it was too close to the expiration date so thats why it didn't help.

I would change the food to see if that helps. Kitten Chow is actually a pretty lousy food for growing cats. Not a heckuva lot of meat, way too many carbs and hyper-allergenic ingredients:

Poultry by-product meal, brewers rice, corn gluten meal, soy flour, beef tallow preserved with mixed tocopherols (source of vitamin E), fish meal, brewers dried yeast, wheat flour, phosphoric acid, natural flavors,....

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Yeast, corn, soy, wheat and fish are all potential trouble-makers on a cat's digestive system. Plus the fact that it's a dry food increases the risk factor for urinary tract problems to develop. See if you can find a quality canned food to switch to, like Wellness, Nature's Variety, By Nature, Merrick, Weruva, etc.

It is very possible that they need to go on the Metro for longer than one week. It could be Tritrichomonas Feotus http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/digestive/c_ct_tritrichomomas- and that would require a much longer dose of Metronidazole or even Ronizadole. Ask you vet about this parasite - it is more common then people think :nod:. My Pipsqueak had it and had to be on Ronizadole for four weeks . Completely cleared it up. If the vet is still seeing "bacteria" running around in the stools - then that is the problem, not the food....... Much luck to you and your three babies :cross:

Feralvr said:

It is very possible that they need to go on the Metro for longer than one week. It could be Tritrichomonas Feotus http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/digestive/c_ct_tritrichomomas- and that would require a much longer dose of Metronidazole or even Ronizadole. Ask you vet about this parasite - it is more common then people think :nod:. My Pipsqueak had it and had to be on Ronizadole for four weeks . Completely cleared it up. If the vet is still seeing "bacteria" running around in the stools - then that is the problem, not the food....... Much luck to you and your three babies :cross:

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Thankfully we've never had to deal with Tritrichomonas Feotus, but if the vet(s) are finding bacteria in their stools, the problem is not the food. I agree - talk to your vet about a much longer course of metro. :nod:

I have no answers, but we deal with that here too.  Juno and Rex and my problem children and they tend to just have ridiculously sensitive tummies.  If I change one little thing, it sets one or both of them off.  The biggest problem is that they aren't allergic to the same things and when one gets better on a food, sometimes the other gets worse. 

I am always wondering about Coccidia and Giardia...but my vet is always saying no.  Like you, we have done lots of treatments and like you, it clears for a time and then starts back.  And ours are usually not runny stools, just softer than normal...and occasionally they will have blood or mucous during a "flare."

Good luck with it all!  I know how frustrating it can be!

I would definitely have them tested for T. foetus.  If it's not that, then it's probably the food.  Tumbles had this problem and we did Metro off an on. The vet finally put him on a prescription food (Royal Canin HE for sensitive tummies) and he's done great!

Feralvr said:

It is very possible that they need to go on the Metro for longer than one week. It could be Tritrichomonas Feotus http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/digestive/c_ct_tritrichomomas- and that would require a much longer dose of Metronidazole or even Ronizadole. Ask you vet about this parasite - it is more common then people think

. My Pipsqueak had it and had to be on Ronizadole for four weeks

. Completely cleared it up. If the vet is still seeing "bacteria" running around in the stools - then that is the problem, not the food....... Much luck to you and your three babies

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I will definitely have the vet look into this. It sounds like it, their stools are very smelly too, and they get gassy, which is why the vet is always looking for coccidia and giardia. Once when we treated them for giardia they couldn't find it in their stool they just seemed like they had it. And the time we treated them for coccidia they had 1 little coccidia thing in the sample. We are due back next week for yet another recheck. 4 weeks is a long time to give medicine. My cats are the worst things in the world to medicate, every time I have to medicate them it is a battle. Pills are basically impossible, they eat pill pockets off from around them, same as hiding it in wet food, and attempting to even open their mouths when they know a pill is around they will shred your arms to pieces. But if we can clear this up and keep it that way it is completely worth it.

My kitty had constant loose stools. In fact, he didn't always make it to the litter box. He smelled horrible and would run from his dish to the box. I switched to a raw food diet. It has changed his life. He has a stool once a day sometimes every other day. They are well formed and hardly stink.  

There are lots of sites about switching on the web and somewhat confusing. I use chicken or turkey. I grind it bones and all in a cheap hand grinder. I use a small hatchet on turkey before the grinder because the bones are a larger than a chickens.

I add chicken hearts for extra Ta urine, some brewers yeast, a little salt, and occasionally some fish for the oils.  He is gaining weight, has a luxurious coat, lots of energy. 

I think a higher quality food might solve your problem; however, I'm no vet and ruling out any disease is probably still a good idea. 

Feralvr said:

It is very possible that they need to go on the Metro for longer than one week. It could be Tritrichomonas Feotus http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/digestive/c_ct_tritrichomomas- and that would require a much longer dose of Metronidazole or even Ronizadole. Ask you vet about this parasite - it is more common then people think

. My Pipsqueak had it and had to be on Ronizadole for four weeks

. Completely cleared it up. If the vet is still seeing "bacteria" running around in the stools - then that is the problem, not the food....... Much luck to you and your three babies

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Heyho, 

what apportioning did you had for the 4 weeks ?

Cause we have made 30mg/kg/ once a day for 14 days, and we are after 2 weeks again positive. so we are starting again today with ronidazol but are not sure with the dose our vet gives us. 

thanks for your help.

CatNamedPanda said:

I will definitely have the vet look into this. It sounds like it, their stools are very smelly too, and they get gassy, which is why the vet is always looking for coccidia and giardia. Once when we treated them for giardia they couldn't find it in their stool they just seemed like they had it. And the time we treated them for coccidia they had 1 little coccidia thing in the sample. We are due back next week for yet another recheck. 4 weeks is a long time to give medicine. My cats are the worst things in the world to medicate, every time I have to medicate them it is a battle. Pills are basically impossible, they eat pill pockets off from around them, same as hiding it in wet food, and attempting to even open their mouths when they know a pill is around they will shred your arms to pieces. But if we can clear this up and keep it that way it is completely worth it.

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AW I know, piling cat's is a nightmare - but if you offer a really, really, really yummy treat after the pill - my cat's are pigs and love those Greenies or Temptation Treat's. Pipsqueak will sit on the counter now and wait for his pills because he want's his treat. Perla is doing the same thing for her pills now too. You have to be very, very quick and swift giving a pill and then they will just learn to tolerate it for that yummy treat. Have you ever used a pill shooter? It is a a clear plastic tube gun thingy :lol3: - and it works at saving your finger. If I have a real fighter - I scruff and shoot the pill very fast - they don't even know what hit them. Of course, I have had year's of experience piling cat's so I understand this might not be easy for you But give it a try - if you scruff and lift up off of the counter,( just lift by the scruff until the front leg's are in the air - not the whole cat :lol3 their mouth opens slightly and insert the pill gun into the back of the mouth - try to be gentle so as not to scrap the back of their throat - but get it to the back of the tongue. I know - not easy..... Much luck with your babies :cross:

grim said:

Heyho, 

what apportioning did you had for the 4 weeks ?

Cause we have made 30mg/kg/ once a day for 14 days, and we are after 2 weeks again positive. so we are starting again today with ronidazol but are not sure with the dose our vet gives us. 

thanks for your help.

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Yes - 30 mg/kg. less if it is a kitten (10mg/kg.). You can either keep them on it for four week's straight - I know - it is lousy . OR give it for two week's and then wait a week and start again for another two week's. Trit. Feotus is usually resistant to Metronidazole, unfortunately. But of course - do what your vet is suggesting but treat aggressively IMO to get rid of the parasite.

Hey, please go easy on the Metronidazole!  It is extremely irritating to the digestive tract (think chemotherapy).  Since it is not giving them a permanent fix, then it is probably doing more harm than good, in the long run - not to mention how uncomfortable it makes the cats.  I think you need to switch foods.  Purina is pretty bad!  Find a premium (low, or no carb) wet food for them.  If you think these foods are expensive, then consider your vet bills.  If you pay a little extra to put them on a high quality diet, you'll save on vet bills and come out way ahead.  You may need to go online to find a good food.  There are many many high quality brands.  I feed my cats Weruva Chicken & Duck (wet), and they also get EVO Grainless dry.  I am a true believer in food as the ultimate healer (especially for digestive stuff).  Good luck....

Presto said:

Hey, please go easy on the Metronidazole!  It is extremely irritating to the digestive tract (think chemotherapy).  Since it is not giving them a permanent fix, then it is probably doing more harm than good, in the long run - not to mention how uncomfortable it makes the cats.  I think you need to switch foods.  Purina is pretty bad!  Find a premium (low, or no carb) wet food for them.  If you think these foods are expensive, then consider your vet bills.  If you pay a little extra to put them on a high quality diet, you'll save on vet bills and come out way ahead.  You may need to go online to find a good food.  There are many many high quality brands.  I feed my cats Weruva Chicken & Duck (wet), and they also get EVO Grainless dry.  I am a true believer in food as the ultimate healer (especially for digestive stuff).  Good luck....

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The dosage above 30 mg. is for Ronizadole for Trit.Feotus. and the person was questioning if her vet was dosing correctly. That was the dose my Pipsqueak got - so I was concuring. Metronidazole is very effective short-term to help "heal" the digestive tract - not upset it - it is also an antibiotic for intestinal bacteria as well as a parasitc drug. YES - long term use is not recommended and use the lowest dose possible. Even 10 mg/lb. :nod:

Diet absolutely plays a significant role in digestive health. This cat has bacteria swimming around in the feces - so medication is a must to erradicate that bacteria/ parasite, diet won't cure that one.

Weruva - great food - I feed my cat's that line of wet food too :bigthumb:

Ok,

thank you very much for the answer, yes we are very carefull with the ronidazol. We do not want to kill our cats or get self cancer cause this stuff is toxic and mutagen our vet said to us. only with gloves ! 

Normally we are feeding high quality wet food from macs, real nature or bozita from sweden. 

But we have seen that our cats have the best stool int the time  without ronidazol with hills i/d vet food.

many greetings tomi