Worried about my kitten's GI tract

rbianchi

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I recently have adopted a kitten named Tigger.  She is such a darling, but unfortunately the humane society from which I got her from had left her in poor health by the time I adopted her.  I am a senior college student so money is pretty tight, but nonetheless due to my adoration and worry about her I have spent almost $600 in vet bills in the last 3 months since I have adopted her.  She has been on 3 courses of antibiotics, some for her respiratory infection (clavamox - twice) and some for her digestive issues (metronidzole - twice) along with an amino acid supplement and probiotics.  She has recovered successfully from her respiratory infection but recently she has been experiencing very soft stools that really concern me (which was the reason for her last vet visit and which they gave her the metronidazole and probiotics).  It had dissipated for awhile and now a few times a week she is experiencing the soft stools, so I have been supplementing her with small amounts of pureed pumpkin when this happens and it seems to generally clear up the problem for a short while.  However, I love her so much and I am naturally a HUGE worrier, that I am wondering if what I am doing is just merely putting a band aid on the issue, despite the amount of visits she has had to the vet.  Just on a side note she does eat quality food, I feed her blue wilderness kitten food that is 100% grain free.  Just wondering if someone could offer some helpful advice as I feel like I am going out of my mind. I just want my baby to be happy and healthy. 
 
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rbianchi

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Yes I have had her on probiotics for short periods. Do you think this is something that I should look into giving her on a daily basis? Rather than just supplementally?
 

molly22

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It's sounds like kitty has been on antibiotics for quite a stretch so it may take a while for her tummy to settle with good bacteria.
My vet has told me probiotics can be taken daily forever as a supplement so I think you should be fine.
Maybe try it daily until her stools firm up. Then assess if you need to continue. My newest cat who is about a year and a half went through 2 rounds of antibiotic shots for a bad cold and her stools loosened up. It cleared up after a few weeks. Glad your kitty likes pumpkin!
 
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rbianchi

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Thank you so much for the advice. What brand of probiotics were you giving your kitty? And were you just mixing them in some wet food daily?
 

molly22

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I can't remember the brand but I used human pills. For kitty I might sprinkle half of a capsule twice a day with her wet food. Good luck!
 
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rbianchi

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Thanks sorry to bother you but did you ever experience mucusy blood at the end of your kitty's stool when there was diarrhea? This happens to my little girl and I think it's mostly because she is straining. But its still scary.
 

molly22

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I haven't. Has kitty been tested for worms? Maybe a call to the vet is in order. Most likely it is because she is straining but just to be safe I'd call them at least.
 
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rbianchi

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Yes she has had two fecal tests and has been on 2 rounds of dewormer and she has also been dewormed for the tapeworms she had when I got her. They say there are two possible parasites she could have after that. But she just got a fecal test less than a month ago and it came back negative. I'll try calling the vet. Thank you for all your help! Sounds like you have a good healthy kitty on your hands!
 

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No problem! I think your kitty's just been through a lot with deworming and antibiotics and will be fine shortly!
 
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rbianchi

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Hello,

So this is my second post about my kitten Tigger. We have been to the vet 6 times in the last 3 months since I have gotten her. Lately her issue has been soft stools with blood at the end. The vet gave her antibiotics last week to treat her for giardia which is what we think she might have (not proven) but 5 days into her antibiotics she still has the soft stools. I am feeding her blue wilderness kitten food. Does anyone have any experience with the blue food? I'm thinking about changing her diet if the antibiotics don't help. The vet said that blue food is often pretty rich.
 

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Which antibiotic is she on? Giardia is treated with metronidazole, also known as Flagyl. Was a test done for giardia? The blood is probably from intestinal irritation.

I do not have experience with Blue Wilderness, but plain, canned pumpkin can help with diarrhea. Also plain, boiled chicken and rice helps. Is your kitten getting dry food as well? If so, which kind? You can mix the pumpkin into the wet food - a spoonful or two. Changing her kitten food may help. Fancy Feast kitten or classic pate is good. Meat is the first ingredient.
 
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handsome kitty

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Did you read the info sheet that came with the antibiotics?  Sometimes they cause diarrhea. 

I wouldn't change the food until the antibiotics are done.  Were you feeding the Blue before Tigger went to the vet?  If you are going to switch you can try Fancy Feast Kitten.
 

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Have you asked your vet about using probiotics. I have used Forti Flora. You have to get it from the vet. It sprinkles over the food. Your kitten may need to be on a cat food for kittens. I would try to get the problem cleared up before changing food. Also, whenever you make a change in a cat's food, it does not need to be done abruptly. Generally speaking, you would need to mix the food with more of the old, less of the new, maybe 3/4 old, 1/4 new. Then you can increase the new gradually and decrease the old. If you change the food abruptly it can give the cat more gastro issues, which you want to definitely avoid at this moment.

Why don't you call the vet and ask him about the probiotics and try that first, with your vet's approval.
 
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rbianchi

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Thank you all for your responses. She has been on metronidazole twice with no signs of improvement. They put her on something that starts with an A (albumen?) this go around. Her fortiflora probiotics are coming in the mail today (fortiflora). However, she has been on them before, but obviously she still has problems. Also, I have had her on pumpkin supplementally when she has diarrhea. But the vet suggested taking her off any unneeded food. I'm just at my wits end of how I can help her because I feel like I have tried so much but nothing seems to be helping her. I hate to have to change her food and put her in more distress but if these antibiotics don't help I'm not sure what to do.
 
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rbianchi

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Four days
 

blueyedgirl5946

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Yes I have had her on probiotics for short periods. Do you think this is something that I should look into giving her on a daily basis? Rather than just supplementally?
rbianchi rbianchi Since your vet has treated this kitten and is familiar with the problem, will he or someone in his office talk to you on the phone and answer some questions. If so, I would ask,

How long can I give my kitten the Forti Flora .

When you gave the Forti Flora to this kitten before, was it for any length of time or just for a day or two. My vet says the recommended treatment is 30 days for a cat. I am not sure about a kitten. That is why you need to ask what your vet recommends.
 
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rbianchi

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I did buy a 60 day supply so I intend on giving it to her for at least that amount of time. It's just hard to watch her have this problem and not be worried and want to take her back to the vet.
 
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rbianchi

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Tigger went on her probiotics for the first time last night and this morning she had awful diarrhea.. Idk what to do anymore
 
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