I have a girl who just turned 18. She has always been amazingly healthy. At 16 she had blood work and dr said only thing abnormal is now good it is for her age. Everything has been fine and she is eating and acting the same. Then one morning she ate breakfast then had diarrhea and went around the house bearing down and droplets came out. I took her to vet and no temp, weight actually had gone up a smidge from 2 1/2 years prior and no masses or things felt. We were given metronidazole and sent home. She took it and all was great. Then, on the 4th day after stopping meds, it happened again. I took her to urgent care and did a stool sample. Diagnosis of possible IBD bc she couldn’t figure it out. Cat is on metronidazole again and eating and acting normal. Took her to vet again today for further testing. They couldn’t draw much blood so they will try again tomorrow, but no weight loss and a more intensive feeling for masses showed nothing. He has no idea what is wrong. I’m so worried about her. She acts completely normal. Even when she had the diarrhea. She’s only had the diarrhea those two days. Normally her poop has been fine. Any help or what to ask for when I take her tomorrow morning? So nervous for sedation. Should I ask for ultrasound or X-ray?
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Not sure what’s going on
- Thread starter Amybk27
- Start Date
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2005
- Messages
- 19,840
- Purraise
- 48,299
Welcome to TCS! 
It's important for any senior cat to have bloodwork done periodically so if it were me I'd wait until all the test results come back before doing anything else. Don't jump to conclusions just yet. It's a good sign that she only had the diarrhea for two days, her poop has been fine and she's acting completely normal. Fingers crossed everything will be okay. 
This TCS Article about what to expect as your cat ages may have some helpful information for you: What To Expect As Your Cat Ages - TheCatSite
Please keep us updated once the test results come back. Best of luck!
It's important for any senior cat to have bloodwork done periodically so if it were me I'd wait until all the test results come back before doing anything else. Don't jump to conclusions just yet. It's a good sign that she only had the diarrhea for two days, her poop has been fine and she's acting completely normal. Fingers crossed everything will be okay. This TCS Article about what to expect as your cat ages may have some helpful information for you: What To Expect As Your Cat Ages - TheCatSite Please keep us updated once the test results come back. Best of luck!
If she is cooperative, they shouldn't need any sedatives or anesthesia to do an ultrasound, which is what I would recommend IF they suspect IBD. But as stated above, I would wait for the blood work results before doing more tests.
Have you changed her food or treats lately? Food sensitivity can cause diarrhea, and sometimes even food they have eaten their entire lives can suddenly not work for them anymore. Plus manufacturers keep having to change up their formulas due to supply issues. Many people here on TCS swear by using S. Boulardi for diarrhea in their cats. 1/2 capsule twice a day, mixed into their food.
Have you changed her food or treats lately? Food sensitivity can cause diarrhea, and sometimes even food they have eaten their entire lives can suddenly not work for them anymore. Plus manufacturers keep having to change up their formulas due to supply issues. Many people here on TCS swear by using S. Boulardi for diarrhea in their cats. 1/2 capsule twice a day, mixed into their food.
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2014
- Messages
- 3,568
- Purraise
- 6,699
Hi, I am sorry your kitty is ill.
Honestly, if she was my cat, I would get a referral to specialist.
I would be highly suspicious of IBD or a newly developed allergy to an ingredient in her food. I know you mentioned Metronidazole, but have they put her on a restricted protein diet yet? She should also be eating only canned food, if she will eat it.
There is special testing that can be done on a stool sample that will check for everything imaginable in the stool. Of course, if this is an indoor only cat, I would find it odd that she could have an internal parasite, or protozoa. But anything is possible. It can also check for bacteria that may be causing issues in her GI tract. The test is done through ANTECH diagnostic laboratory,
There is also a GI panel that can be sent to Texas A &M that will test the function of the intestines ability to absorb certain nutrients. You should also have a test done for pancreatitis. This test can be added on to the GI blood panel.
This is the best way, in my opinion, for you to get some information as to what is going on, or at least what is not going on. This can all be done without anesthesia or sedation, so it is all considered noninvasive testing. I agree with you about being concerned with sedation or anesthesia in a cat of this age. It is always a risk but when they get up there in years, of course the risk becomes greater.
Treatment wise, cats will often respond well to a change of diet to a novel protein canned cat food. My cat eats rabbit. When they are on the prescription diet it is important to make sure they don't get any other food. It can also be beneficial to give them SQ fluids if your vet will prescribe them. Cats get dehydrated fairly quickly when they have diarrhea. Some cats also benefit from the use of Corti steroids to help with the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Vitamin B12 injections are also helpful because these cats sometimes are unable to absorb Vit B12 (Cobalamin) from their GI tract.
You mentioned they asked you to bring her back to get more blood. Are they having trouble with her? The current guidelines for feline friendly handling of cats is to get the blood sample from the rear leg and to let the owner be present to help keep the cat calm. I would ask to be present for the next blood draw, if they will allow it. If they won't, I would consider finding a feline friendly vet that will work within you and your cat's comfort zone. 18 years is definitely a senior cat, and you want to keep stress a minimal as you can.
Hopefully some of this helps.
Honestly, if she was my cat, I would get a referral to specialist.
I would be highly suspicious of IBD or a newly developed allergy to an ingredient in her food. I know you mentioned Metronidazole, but have they put her on a restricted protein diet yet? She should also be eating only canned food, if she will eat it.
There is special testing that can be done on a stool sample that will check for everything imaginable in the stool. Of course, if this is an indoor only cat, I would find it odd that she could have an internal parasite, or protozoa. But anything is possible. It can also check for bacteria that may be causing issues in her GI tract. The test is done through ANTECH diagnostic laboratory,
There is also a GI panel that can be sent to Texas A &M that will test the function of the intestines ability to absorb certain nutrients. You should also have a test done for pancreatitis. This test can be added on to the GI blood panel.
This is the best way, in my opinion, for you to get some information as to what is going on, or at least what is not going on. This can all be done without anesthesia or sedation, so it is all considered noninvasive testing. I agree with you about being concerned with sedation or anesthesia in a cat of this age. It is always a risk but when they get up there in years, of course the risk becomes greater.
Treatment wise, cats will often respond well to a change of diet to a novel protein canned cat food. My cat eats rabbit. When they are on the prescription diet it is important to make sure they don't get any other food. It can also be beneficial to give them SQ fluids if your vet will prescribe them. Cats get dehydrated fairly quickly when they have diarrhea. Some cats also benefit from the use of Corti steroids to help with the inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Vitamin B12 injections are also helpful because these cats sometimes are unable to absorb Vit B12 (Cobalamin) from their GI tract.
You mentioned they asked you to bring her back to get more blood. Are they having trouble with her? The current guidelines for feline friendly handling of cats is to get the blood sample from the rear leg and to let the owner be present to help keep the cat calm. I would ask to be present for the next blood draw, if they will allow it. If they won't, I would consider finding a feline friendly vet that will work within you and your cat's comfort zone. 18 years is definitely a senior cat, and you want to keep stress a minimal as you can.
Hopefully some of this helps.
