Will Probiotics make my cat vomit???

Not sure if you've read my previous posts, but approximately a month ago my cat started vomiting. After a few days we took him to the vet. He was given a anti nausea shot and antibiotics. He didn't vomit again. Buts when the antibiotics finished he got the diarrhea. It wouldn't let up so we took him back to the vet he was given a different antibiotic but it didn't clear up (you could see my other post for more details). Now he's not on those antibiotics (as per the vet). He's on a pet probiotic. He's had it twice. And I thought it was actually helping. He had a firmer poo this morning. Still soft but a lot better then before. I was feeling so relieved. But this afternoon he did a really runny poo. Which I didn't think much of considering he's had the diarrhea for a week now. But then he vomited. Now that's the first time in ages that he has. I feel like we're going round in circles. I wondered if it could be the probiotics??? I feel so worried again. We have had so many tests and trips to the vet. I don't think we can afford much more. My husband said to try not to worry as its only been once. But I'm just so scared. I've literally made myself physically sick.

Has your vet tested him for worms at all? I've never heard of probiotics doing that, but worms maybe.

Your cat been diagnosed with IBD? It sounds like it might have IBD, maybe even pancreatitis.

 no, I've not heard of any pet probiotics causing vomiting. 

What are you feeding him...canned?  dry food?  it's possible it was something in his food, because for him to suddenly have a really runny stool AND vomit is unusual unless it's food related.  Since it's been a couple days since that happened, what's happening NOW?  Is he doing better? 

I don't think a probiotic could cause vomiting.  What are you giving him?

mrsgreenjeens said:

 no, I've not heard of any pet probiotics causing vomiting. So can pancreatitis.

What are you feeding him...canned?  dry food?  it's possible it was something in his food, because for him to suddenly have a really runny stool AND vomit is unusual unless it's food related.  Since it's been a couple days since that happened, what's happening NOW?  Is he doing better? 

Click to expand...

Not necessarily re: food and sudden onset of diarrhea and vomiting. IBD can do the same thing.

I am pretty sure probiotics do not cause vomiting.. 

If IBD is suspected; the vomiting could be from a food allergy or pancreatitis.. 

You really need to work with your Vet.

My guy was diagnosed with IBD, 1.5 yrs ago...

BelleL said:

 

mrsgreenjeens said:

 no, I've not heard of any pet probiotics causing vomiting. So can pancreatitis.

What are you feeding him...canned?  dry food?  it's possible it was something in his food, because for him to suddenly have a really runny stool AND vomit is unusual unless it's food related.  Since it's been a couple days since that happened, what's happening NOW?  Is he doing better? 

Click to expand...

Not necessarily re: food and sudden onset of diarrhea and vomiting. IBD can do the same thing.

Click to expand...

Well, yes...but I was thinking that IBD is controlled, somewhat, by food, so wondered what food he was eating in terms of it all (newly opened bag, new can never fed before, full of carbs?  , that sort of thing, which might help us try to determine possible cause and effect .  But you are absolutely correct.

Hi, I'm waiting the results of a fecal test. He hasn't been diagnosed with ibd but I've been doing a lot of reading on stuff and have wondered that. He has been physically examined by 3 different vets (same vet practice) on 4 different occasions over the last month (last one was Tuesday just gone and he vomited on Thursday). They have said, including the last one that he is physically examining as fine. He has had blood test. They were all fine.

The runny stool wasn't what worried me as at that point he had had diarrhea for just over a week. It disappointed me as the one he did a few hrs earlier actually seemed kinda firm compared to what was becoming usual. When I saw how runny it was, i thought maybe it was his body ajusting to the probiotics. But then he vomited. Part of me wondered if the runny poo had made him feel quite sick.

He's normal diet from before he ever stated vomiting was Royal Canin Urinary S/O- dry food. He hates there wet food. He's been eating this for almost 4 yrs. that's in the morning and sometimes a little at night before bed. Other food is VIP fussy cat raw mince. I feed it to him raw. Though the packet says you can cook it. And the other food was applaws brand food. With a mix of chicken, or tuna, or mackerel. (I think VIP and Applaws are Australian brands only- just incase you haven't heard of them). He's been eating the mince longer then the Royal Canin. And the Applaws brand a year or two. Now I know dry food isn't great. But he's had had the urinary crystal blockage like 5 times. And the last one (Nov 2012) our vet recommend it so we go it and he loves it AND he hasn't had ANY problems with the crystals since. So I'm particular about what he eats. That's the only dry food he's allowed. As for the Applaws brand they say they are a natural food. When you read the ingredients on the chicken for example. They are chicken, broth and rice.

In saying all this, back when he first stated vomiting I stopped the Applaws brand food, as I remembered a couple of one off vomits he's had over the years when that's what he'd eaten for dinner. Also he seemed to have a lot of drandruff so I though he was allergic to one of them. After stopping that food he's skin has improved heaps. I'm thinking it was the tuna. Because in my reading I've read that a lot of cats are allergic to it. Which I never knew. He was only having a small amount. Once. Very rarely twice a week. But never again.

Also the vet recommend just feeding him cooked chicken...and the S/O. Which was fine for a few days. But now he won't eat chicken at all (and he's always loved chicken). So I'm guessing he's sick of it.

I've been wondering if the vomiting first started with being allergic to the tuna...then the antibiotics messed up his gut health. Etc etc.

Also I have found some information on probiotics and how they can make you worse before you get better as in diarrhea (and in some cases vomiting) as the body adjusts to the good bacteria doing its thing. So that made me feel a bit better.

Now I don't want to jinx myself, but he does seem a little better. He hasn't vomited again. And he's going to the tray a bit less then he had been. And every now and then he seems like my old cat.

As for working with the vet I'm doing everything they have told me too.

Thanks for the response

mrsgreenjeens said:

Well, yes...but I was thinking that IBD is controlled, somewhat, by food, so wondered what food he was eating in terms of it all (newly opened bag, new can never fed before, full of carbs?  , that sort of thing, which might help us try to determine possible cause and effect .  But you are absolutely correct.

Click to expand...

Oh! Gotcha!

@Sarah123, ok, with urinary issues, i can see why he's on the S/O.  Sometimes you're between a rock and a hard place, that's for sure.  Is the VIP and Applaws 100% nutritionally complete?  I read somewhere that Applaws was NOT. 

Anyway, you are correct in that probiotics can sometimes cause diarrhea while their guts are getting used to them, but I had not ever heard about them causing vomiting.  Hopefully that's your answer and soon everything will be on the upswing. 

Hi mrsgreenjeens yes you're right about it not being nutritionally complete. That's why I only gave it to him a few times a week. He just started to get sick of just the mince and the S/O. So I wanted to give him some variety. He is very picky as to what wet food he eats in general so it took a while but he loved those so I added them to the rotation. He was much happier. Well until this all happened.

Thanks for replying

Sorry Applaws isn't VIP is.

What probiotics are you using? They're not all the same and a lot of "pet" probiotics don't work well. If you haven't already, read around on this site and join the IBD group on facebook. TONS of success stories on people following their suggestions for probiotics and food. 

http://www.rawfeedingforibdcats.org/

M missmimz hi thanks I'll take a look. The vet gave us Proxtexin.

I talked with my vet internist about my Tater Tot eating raw. She said with IBD, no, but home cooked would be fine. I realize that cats' diets used to consist of raw food, but antibiotic-resistant viruses and bacteria running rampant, I'd rather not chance it.

I got the faecal test results today. Socks is positive for salmonella. He needs to go on another antibiotic (2 actually) a combination. He's had 8 doses of probiotic so far. And I think he has improved. His stool is firmer (a lot compared to before; but not quite as firm as it use to be yet). And I think he's only gone once today (so far anyway but fingers crossed) And I think it was twice yesterday 3 at the most. So I am a little worried about giving him yet more antibiotics. I am scared they'll upset his system again. And when he is doing better just on the probiotic I wonder if I should leave it at that, but our vet thinks the antibiotics (and continuing on the probiotic) are the best way. I'm so worried I'll make the wrong decision for him. I don't want to not give them to him and he really does still need them.

Last night I was in a panic again because when we gave him his (liquid) probiotic he coughed a couple of times straight after. So I was so worried that it had gone into his lungs. I was up most of the night again watching him and have watched him close today and his breathing seems normal. And he hasn't made that cough sound since. I asked the vet when we were talking about his test results. She said it should be fine since when he coughed it was only straight after and not again plus he hasn't had any breathing problems. I still feel a bit worried though...can't help it.

I was reading stuff about it going in their lungs and it freaked me out so much!

If Socks has salmonella, he must be put on antibiotics. There is no other way to treat it. And even though you're seeing an improvement now, this may be the calm before the storm. Salmonella is also transmitable to both humans and other animals. Get him on antibiotics pronto.