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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / August 2005

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Follow up to cat diarrhea - both have it

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Ellen S - 07 Aug 2005 00:45 GMT
Thanks for all the input on my previous post. I did take Pepper to the vet
and they put her on the Hill's z/d - low allergen.

But....I noticed today that my other cat has diarrhea also. This happened six
months ago (both had it) and that is when the vet put them on panacure (for
parasites). They were okay after (except for a few bouts with diarrhea that
pepper had) up until now. When I originally called the vet to tell her about
the problem, I did suspect that both had diarrhea and she said that it could
still be food allergies/insensitivities and said it probably isn't parasites
since they were already treated and not outdoor cats.

I just think it is too coincidental that they both have diarrhea at the same
time (now and back in Feb and the August before). It's got to be something
they are passing back and forth. Or am I wrong? What do you all think?

At any rate, I have some flagyl that the vet gave me yesterday. I can give it
to Pepper, but there's no way with Maxx. He runs, hides, hisses, bites (and
he is big and very strong - and it's just me here - no one to help); I even
tried to hide it in tuna fish (real tuna fish). Have you ever known a cat not
to eat real tuna? Well, he WILL NOT!!!

Please help. Any idea what's going on? Any idea how to get him to take the
meds?
Snittens - 07 Aug 2005 00:55 GMT
> Thanks for all the input on my previous post. I did take Pepper to the vet
> and they put her on the Hill's z/d - low allergen.
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> Please help. Any idea what's going on? Any idea how to get him to take the
> meds?

Hmmm... that does sound suspicious.  Could you ask to have another stool
sample checked for parasites, just to be on the safe side?  I haven't heard
of anything that comes back in cycles, but who knows?

Is there anything going on that might be stressing the cats out?  Sometimes
stress can cause diarrhea.

Ugh, Flagyl is a tough medicine to give.  Apparently, it tastes horrible.
It does come in a flavored, chewable version that some cats will take.

-Kelly
JJ - 07 Aug 2005 03:07 GMT
Did vet check for giardia or coccidia (sp?)?  Are cats getting
dehydrated - keep a real close eye on them.  Are they on any medication
to soothe their irritated tummies?

Were they healthy prior to this sudden diarrhea problem??  Are they
vaccinated (I am very suspect of calici when I hear about gastro
problems)

Are they getting into anything? Houseplants?

I had some cats with a lot of gasto sensitivities and we finally got
them with "firm" stool using Nutro Natural choice.  We had tried
Duck/Rice and alternative protein sources (suspecting allergy).  It was
a group of kittens and mom that I rescued - one kitten had a real hard
time and had to go on an IV at an emergency clinic - it was a problem
that took a while to get straightened out - it was very traumatic.

Keep a close eye on them and good luck...

If they are having a real hard time you might consider getting ID
prescription food from vet...

Maybe you need to inquire about irritable bowel syndrome or
pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer?  

Good luck, Jen
Phil P. - 07 Aug 2005 05:07 GMT
> Thanks for all the input on my previous post. I did take Pepper to the vet
> and they put her on the Hill's z/d - low allergen.
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> time (now and back in Feb and the August before). It's got to be something
> they are passing back and forth. Or am I wrong? What do you all think?

I think your vet might have missed Giardia.  Most vets use floatation
solutions such as sucrose and magnesium sulfate- which are ok for detecting
hookworms and roundworms.  But the ideal flotation solution for detecting
Giardia is zinc sulfate- and the sample must be centrifuged for 5 minutes
and read immediately.  The centrifugation step is necessary to force the
Giardia cyst to float in zinc sulfate.  This technique is a little more time
consuming so most vets don't use it.  But this is the only reliable
technique to accurately diagnose Giardia infection.  Mention this to your
vet.

Also, cats can become dehydrated very quickly from chronic diarrhea- so, if
they're not drinking about 8 oz/day (if they're eating dry food), they
probably need fluid and electrolyte replacement.

Phil
 
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