Bad diarrhea, please help!

chenxiaoshuai

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We've brought home a new kitten a week ago, since then my 10-month old resident kitten Mushe has been stressed. The symptom was mainly the lower activity level until yesterday he vomited twice and had very bad diarrhea. We then stopped feeding him for a couple of hours then started giving him very small amount of dry food only (blue buffalo dry).  He was also not being himself at all - stayed away from us, growling when we pet him, not playing, depressed-looking face. Today he hasn't vomited and his energy level and mood seem to be significantly better than yesterday - meowed to me, asked for petting and played with me. The only issue is the diarrhea -  had it 5 times today since 5 this morning. Now I am feeding him wet food (wellness minced turkey), and added some rice in it as advised by the vet 6 months ago when he had diarrhea. I'll see what happensand decide if we need an office visit. Regardless, I wonder the likelihood of the cause being stress.... Mushe has been healthy and happy just until a week ago when the new kitten arrived. He had blood and urine testing - both generated normal results - and is on schedule for his deworming sessions. If stress is the reason, what should I do to help him recover? Would it be risky to wait until he accepts and becomes happy about the new addition of our family?
 
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balibabies

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Get your vet to run an Idexx feline diarrhea panel 2526 to rule out intestinal problems related to protozoans, bacteria, viruses, and parasites. This is a comprehensive panel more extensive than the basic O&P that the vets run. Many times these intestinal problems stay hidden until the cat is stressed. The test is expensive but worth it especially if you had diarrhea before. Hopefully nothing shows up. Are you using probiotics on a daily basis? If not start those too. You just sprinkle a capsule a day on its food. Ask your vet for fast balance or buy it on Amazon. This helps to firm up loose stool. Your kitten may have given your 10 month old an illness and the kitten may have to have its stool checked as well. Good luck, keep us posted.
 
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chenxiaoshuai

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Get your vet to run an Idexx feline diarrhea panel 2526 to rule out intestinal problems related to protozoans, bacteria, viruses, and parasites. This is a comprehensive panel more extensive than the basic O&P that the vets run. Many times these intestinal problems stay hidden until the cat is stressed. The test is expensive but worth it especially if you had diarrhea before. Hopefully nothing shows up. Are you using probiotics on a daily basis? If not start those too. You just sprinkle a capsule a day on its food. Ask your vet for fast balance or buy it on Amazon. This helps to firm up loose stool. Your kitten may have given your 10 month old an illness and the kitten may have to have its stool checked as well. Good luck, keep us posted.
Thanks @balibabies

Mushe had another 3 times during the past 9 hours. I'm not sure if he is getting better, since I do see a darker colored well formed segment in his litter box and I can tell that's from a later time. I will make a vet appointment this afternoon anyways, just to be sure.

The diarrhea panel sounds like a good idea. How much is it in usual?  I have cat insurance and I hope that is covered. 

For the kitten - We've had the vet do a full-body check and bloodwork, the only thing outstanding is stool testing. However, he has been perfectly fine - no diarrhea, good energy level, good appetite and fast growing. I will bring in his stool for testing just to be sure.

For the past week kittens have been segregated and are allowed to meet each other over a short period of time. I've got two litter boxes but for a few times they went to the wrong one. They still want to do the same, especially the younger one, and I have to stop them everytime. Any good ideas on training them to use the right little box? 
 
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chenxiaoshuai

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Hello @balibabies, just wanted to give an update on Mushe and thanks again for responding to my previous inquiries. 

I brought Mushe to the vet yesterday, did a full check, fecal and giardia, and he is fine. The vet gave him medication that helps with the diarrhea, Mushe stopped going to the littlebox that often but still had diarrhea. He also threw up the medicine this morning even though last night he had it twice fine. Today his left eye became swollen all in sudden with third eye lid being red, like infection, and it only happened six months ago during the URI breakout. I gave him eye ointment, now much better.

 I think he is too overwhelmed by the stress coming from the new kitten. He looked a lot better yesterday afternoon after we were back from the vet - active in playing and eating, emotionally fine and not bothered by frequent litterbox visits.  However, I left him in my reading room alone overnight 'cuz I felt guilty for having to ignore the new kitten most time of the day and wanted to compensate by holding him at sleep, then I saw the boggy eye and down face this morning. 

The vet suggested that I stop the medication for now, get him to eat as much as possible and see if he still throws up. Then we'll deal with the diarrhea issue.

Regarding the other post about having heart checked before neutering, an echo is scheduled for 7/2.
 
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