My 16-year old cat, Little Miss Annie, suddently has a problem with the "runs". This has been going on for the past week or so, and it doesn't seem to be clearing up. Her diet has not changed. She eats two jars of Gerbers baby food, plus Feline I/D per the vets instructions. Earlier this month she had a blood panel done to make sure all was well, and she passed. So she continues to take 1 Tapazole pill per day for a kidney problem. She also has a little heart murmur. Earlier this year, she had an ultrasound to make sure she didn't have any heart disease to go alone with the kidney and heart murmur problems. She didn't. One thing, several weeks ago, while she was outside, and I wasn't home, she apparently got into a fight. At the last vet visit, she had the infection lanced, and spent a week on antibodics. All seems well, there and her spirits have risen. Oh, two things more than the "runs" problem....she seems to be wanting to eat more. She gets fed 2x a day, but ihe food gets left out so she can finish what she didn't eat at mealtime. Finally, she is pooping on the garage floor rather than using the ourside facilitiies or her litter box which is also in the garage. She can go outside on her own, as she has a "cat door". Any ideas on what is wrong?
She is an only animal.
Diaheria
Re: Diaheria
You mentioned tapazole, are you sure this wasn't prescribed for hyperthyroidism, and was her thyroid function ever tested? If not, I would get that done immediately.
What exactly is the kidney problem your vet diagnosed? Is she dehydrated? Is she urinating normally or in excessive amounts or not producing normal amounts?
As for the diarrhea, I would ask your vet to cease the baby food, this is not sufficient nutritional support for a cat. It can be used as a food tempter in times of illness or anorexia but is not sufficient for dietary maintenance. Was the I/D prescribed some time ago for a specific condition, or was it recently prescribed for the diarrhea? If the latter, continue the I/D but ask your vet for a supplement if necessary, and ask about possibly supplementing with a fiber source (such as canned pumpkin or metamucil added to the food). Was a fecal exam ever done to rule out parasites? If not, get that done ASAP. Also ask your vet if kitty's oral health was checked over for any signs of excess bacteria, etc.
Pending above rule-outs, your vet may prescribe a short course of flagyl (for idiopathic diarrhea or parasitic problems) or acidophylus for GI tract problems. Given her age, I would also suggest at least ruling out IBD.
As for the litterbox mishaps, perhaps the location is out of reach for her and inaccessible to her. Try moving the box to a more accessible area that she doesn't have to go outside to use. If she has to go outside and then to the garage to access her litterbox, and she has diarrhea, she probably can't make it in time to use her box.
Don't leave canned or moist food out any longer than it takes for her to finish each meal. Canned or moist foods can spoil rapidly if left out. Only feed her what she can eat at one feeding session and feed her again at her normal scheduled time. If she is used to free-feeding, then ask your vet for the dry version of the I/D so she can nibble on it during the day.
Play it safe, get her re-evaluated by your vet. She is probably dehydrated with the continued diarrhea, and when it persists past a few days, it's time to see the vet.
What exactly is the kidney problem your vet diagnosed? Is she dehydrated? Is she urinating normally or in excessive amounts or not producing normal amounts?
As for the diarrhea, I would ask your vet to cease the baby food, this is not sufficient nutritional support for a cat. It can be used as a food tempter in times of illness or anorexia but is not sufficient for dietary maintenance. Was the I/D prescribed some time ago for a specific condition, or was it recently prescribed for the diarrhea? If the latter, continue the I/D but ask your vet for a supplement if necessary, and ask about possibly supplementing with a fiber source (such as canned pumpkin or metamucil added to the food). Was a fecal exam ever done to rule out parasites? If not, get that done ASAP. Also ask your vet if kitty's oral health was checked over for any signs of excess bacteria, etc.
Pending above rule-outs, your vet may prescribe a short course of flagyl (for idiopathic diarrhea or parasitic problems) or acidophylus for GI tract problems. Given her age, I would also suggest at least ruling out IBD.
As for the litterbox mishaps, perhaps the location is out of reach for her and inaccessible to her. Try moving the box to a more accessible area that she doesn't have to go outside to use. If she has to go outside and then to the garage to access her litterbox, and she has diarrhea, she probably can't make it in time to use her box.
Don't leave canned or moist food out any longer than it takes for her to finish each meal. Canned or moist foods can spoil rapidly if left out. Only feed her what she can eat at one feeding session and feed her again at her normal scheduled time. If she is used to free-feeding, then ask your vet for the dry version of the I/D so she can nibble on it during the day.
Play it safe, get her re-evaluated by your vet. She is probably dehydrated with the continued diarrhea, and when it persists past a few days, it's time to see the vet.
..........Traci