Pet Health Care Feline Diarrhea Overview

Diarrhea is one common problem that many cat owners talk about when it comes to their pet's health. Diarrhea occurs when pets exhibit loose or watery stool. Although the gastrointestinal problem can be solved in less than a week, chronic diarrhea may also be a sign of other underlying health problems.

Diarrhea Types

Diarrhea can be categorized into two types - acute and chronic. Acute diarrhea usually occurs suddenly and would last for two to three weeks. This type occurs when osmosis imbalances exist in the body of the pet or the water content in the pet food is high. Other reasons are - presence of bacteria or toxins in the body, presence of ulcer that causes intestinal exudation and motility disorder. Chronic diarrhea, on the other hand, occurs when the problem lasts longer and blood or mucus is present in the stool.

Causes

There are plenty of causes that can be attributed to the problem and one of them is the food that pet owners give to their pets. Felines are lactose intolerant, which can cause problems if they happen to eat dairy products. Another is when cats scavenge for food that might already be spoiled. Eating of food that contains toxins or medications may also result in poisoning of the pet and diarrhea may be one effect. Some cats may also contract bacterial infection, viral or parasitic by nature.

Natural Treatment

If the diarrhea is acute, homeowners can try some natural treatments to relieve their pet's health problem. Some experts recommend giving probiotics such as plain yogurt to introduce good bacteria to the body. Changing the food may also help especially if the previous canned food contain plenty of fillers which can be harmful to the pet's digestive tracts. As dehydration is possible during this phase, it is recommended that pet owners should always provide their cats with fresh water to drink or choose premium canned food.

When to Contact the Vet

Pet owners should contact their vet if blood is seen in their pet's stool; loose stool is coupled with vomiting, signs of fever and lethargy as well as sudden weight loss of their pet. Their pet doctor would conduct a series of tests including blood test to check for signs of parasitic infection, ultrasound as well as biopsy. It is important that pet owners should not self-medicate their pets especially using human medicines or drugs as some of these may actually cause more harm than good to their pets.