unexplained diarrhea

sylorna

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Hi all,
I'll be calling my vet in the morning, but I'm looking for some advice.
Chester is an indoor kitten, who has been eating the same food for the last 3 months now (sheesh, it feels longer than that). He was wormed about a month ago when he had round worms. Nothing has changed for him.
A few days ago he started having some diarrhea and man does it stink! I've given it a couple of days because nothing else about him has changed, not even his energy level. He's eating the same, drinking the same, purring the same, everthing is the same. I was wondering if maybe he took a couple of bites of one of my mom's plants, but that should be out of his system by now, shouldn't it? He had one vomitting incident this morning, but it could very well have been a hairball....it was phlem and hair.
I don't want my little boy to be sick, and this confuses the heck out of me. Any thoughts at all?
Thank you all so much, you've saved me from many a heart attack.
Jess
 

hissy

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How dehydrated is this kitty? Just because he is drinking, does not mean he isn't losing vital minerals and fluids from the loose stools. If his skin on his neck stays tented up after you lightly pinch it and does not fold down to normal within seconds get him to the vet now!
 
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sylorna

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Originally Posted by hissy

How dehydrated is this kitty? Just because he is drinking, does not mean he isn't losing vital minerals and fluids from the loose stools. If his skin on his neck stays tented up after you lightly pinch it and does not fold down to normal within seconds get him to the vet now!
I checked his hydration and it's perfectly fine. It sprung back right away.
 

sandie

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Normally they follow up an initial dewormer with another in about 10 days, so if he didnt get that, it could be the roundworms. Other possible reasons are coccidia, giardia, or just an overgrowth of bacteria. Your vet will want a stool sample, so make sure and get one to bring so they can figure out whats going on.
 

carla

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What are you feeding him on ?

I've recently had that problem with my cat. Actually, she still gets diarreah every now and again.

Whenever she does get it I feed her boiled chicken with a bit of rice. I boil the chicken and rice together (to flavour the rice) and then give it to her like a soup with the water it was boiled in. The chicken and rice seems to settle her stomach and the water helps to prevent dehydration. I also feed her fish and dry food. It works every time !
 

millyanddaisy

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Originally Posted by Carla

What are you feeding him on ?

I've recently had that problem with my cat. Actually, she still gets diarreah every now and again.

Whenever she does get it I feed her boiled chicken with a bit of rice. I boil the chicken and rice together (to flavour the rice) and then give it to her like a soup with the water it was boiled in. The chicken and rice seems to settle her stomach and the water helps to prevent dehydration. I also feed her fish and dry food. It works every time !
I too have used boiled chicken for a cat with the runs. Daisy had the runs every day for most of the years we've had her, the vet couldn't ecplain why, there was nothing wrong with her, she was just runny. The boiled chicken used to bung her up a bit, give her innards a chance to rest & recuperate. Oddly enough, around Easter this year, her runniness just stopped! She has produced solid droppings since then (they still stink mind you!). So no more boiled chicken for her (except as a treat at Christmas...)

Sue
 

xocats

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Jess,
Sorry that Chester is having problems. It can be very scary. Please, watch him carefully & if the problem continues, as suggested in the above posts, get him to your vet...right away. Better safe than sorry. Let us know how he is doing.
 
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sylorna

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I took him to the vet today. She couldn't find anything wrong with him, whatsoever. I couldn't get a fecal sample until I got home (figures) but then when I got it, it was formed (albeit smelly). I called the vet back and they suggested wiating till monday to see if it continues to be firm. She said they're open tomorrow too, so if he has another incident I'm bringing it over first thing in the morning. He's officially on watch.
Thanks for the suggestions and support. I knew I could count on you guys!
 

xocats

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Thanks for the update Jess,
I am glad that the vet did not find anything wrong with Chester. You are a good cat Mama.

Lei
 
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