Runny stool?
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emilyb
Runny stool?
My kitty Mo, an 8-month-old male, has been having diarrhea/soft stool for a few days. This morning I noticed it was rather gooey - as if there were mucous in it. Should I wait and see if this gets better on its own? He seems healthy otherwise. I'm wondering about his diet... I've been feeding him a mix of wet and dry food (he was treated for FLUTD a few months ago and I read that wet food might help that problem as it is closer to a natural diet -- i.e. cats who eat dry food might not get enough liquid in their diet). Is it better to stick with one or the other, in terms of his digestion?
Re: Runny stool?
You said he was treated for FLUTD, but did your vet prescribe a specific diet for long-term use, or did he simply treat the condition and tell you to feed whatever?
Some kittens cannot tolerate canned food, in which dry would probably be ideal for his needs at this point. However, if your vet felt he would be prone to FLUTD, you need to discuss with him a proper diet to help prevent this in the future. There are various veterinary diets available in both canned and dry for this purpose.
The argument between dry and canned as it pertains FLUTD is still up in the air. There has been plenty of research suggesting that either/or is sufficient, it depends on the individual case, the cat's preferences, the specific condition, and the response to treatment or, failure of treatment. Diets need to be geared toward the individual, not necessarily based on a 'consensus' when studies indicate there are various causes of the disease (not always indicative of diet alone)
As for the water issue, as long as there is plenty of fresh water made available, and as long as he drinks sufficiently on a daily basis and is producing normal amounts of urine, and as long as you followup with your vet (FLUTD potential), feeding dry food is not the worst you can do. If FLUTD is a current problem in your cat, you have to have an ongoing relationship with your vet including followup urinalyses to ensure the best treatment approach, regardless of what type of food you're feeding.
As for the diarrhea, yes, get him seen by your vet. While it could be a result of stress, you want to rule out potential bacterial infection, GI tract problems, or parasites. Any time diarrhea or soft stools persist longer than three days, is time to see the vet. I also recommend not feeding canned food to a kitty with diarrhea, it often exacerbates the condition. (unless your vet has instructed you on a prescription canned diet, or instructs you to add a fiber-source to the food)
Some kittens cannot tolerate canned food, in which dry would probably be ideal for his needs at this point. However, if your vet felt he would be prone to FLUTD, you need to discuss with him a proper diet to help prevent this in the future. There are various veterinary diets available in both canned and dry for this purpose.
The argument between dry and canned as it pertains FLUTD is still up in the air. There has been plenty of research suggesting that either/or is sufficient, it depends on the individual case, the cat's preferences, the specific condition, and the response to treatment or, failure of treatment. Diets need to be geared toward the individual, not necessarily based on a 'consensus' when studies indicate there are various causes of the disease (not always indicative of diet alone)
As for the water issue, as long as there is plenty of fresh water made available, and as long as he drinks sufficiently on a daily basis and is producing normal amounts of urine, and as long as you followup with your vet (FLUTD potential), feeding dry food is not the worst you can do. If FLUTD is a current problem in your cat, you have to have an ongoing relationship with your vet including followup urinalyses to ensure the best treatment approach, regardless of what type of food you're feeding.
As for the diarrhea, yes, get him seen by your vet. While it could be a result of stress, you want to rule out potential bacterial infection, GI tract problems, or parasites. Any time diarrhea or soft stools persist longer than three days, is time to see the vet. I also recommend not feeding canned food to a kitty with diarrhea, it often exacerbates the condition. (unless your vet has instructed you on a prescription canned diet, or instructs you to add a fiber-source to the food)
..........Traci
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cierra
Re: Runny stool?
i've got the same problem, i've heard that if you give your cat plain yogurt it helps.
sincerely,
cierra
sincerely,
cierra