Diarrhea is loose stools, single or multiple. Why does it occur in a kitten? Now consider the common causes.
What causes a kitten's loose stool
The reasons are as follows:
- Binge eating.
- Unsuitable food for a kitten.
- Individual intolerance to any products.
- The mental state of the animal.
- Poisoning.
- Helminthic infestations.
- Infectious diseases.
- Intestinal pathology.
Normally, food should be processed in the body in 6-7 hours. During the specified time, up to 79% of nutrients are absorbed in the intestines of the animal. In the large intestine, metabolic products accumulate. Further, a correctly formed feces without inclusions is excreted through the rectum. If, for example, a kitten has diarrhea with blood, then this indicates a bacterial infection. However, we will talk about further.
Binge eating
In this case, intestinal motility is increased, the liquid content accumulates in large quantities and, of course, therefore does not have time to assimilate in the blood, as a result it passes into the rectum in the same condition. As a rule, diarrhea caused by overeating is one-time, and is treated quite simply. It is enough to reduce the portion size.
Unsuitable food for a kitten
Diarrhea can cause:
- eating corpses of animals and live mice;
- expired products;
- sauces;
- spice;
- fatty and fried foods;
- poisonous plants.
Sometimes diarrhea is caused by a change of water. Therefore, always give your pet only the liquid that is familiar to him.
Often, diarrhea in a kitten occurs when switching from mother's milk to regular food. It is necessary to transfer it to food unfamiliar to it gradually, slowly adding it to milk. How to introduce new products so that the kitten does not vilify? 2 months - this is the period when you must first give him a slightly diluted milk and milk porridge. And then gradually offer other products.
Sometimes even minor changes in nutrition lead to diarrhea. This is especially the case with cats of unnatural breeds.
Individual intolerance to any products
For each animal there is a certain list of products, the use of which can provoke an allergic reaction and loose stools. In a kitten and an adult animal, milk products very often cause this phenomenon. Since the body lacks the enzyme lactose. Also, the following products can provoke diarrhea:
- cow meat;
- horse meat;
- a fish;
- eggs (raw);
- corn;
- wheat seed;
- soybeans;
- some finished feed.
To eliminate allergies, you just need to remove the unsuitable product from the diet of the cat (kitten) . If the kitten actually has a deficiency of the lactose enzyme, it is necessary to remove dairy products from the diet. Its absence does not affect the health of the pet. The inclusion of fermented milk products in the kitten’s menu is not prohibited, especially since they are usually well digested.
The mental state of the animal
A kitten may have loose stools as a result of stress, and the most common situations can provoke him: a trip in public transport, a dog barking, moving, etc.
To treat such diarrhea, it is enough to remove the irritating factor, and if this is impossible, then you just need to caress the animal and tell him what is happening and how. Cats are smart creatures, and they will understand you perfectly.
Poisoning
It is usually associated both with poor-quality food, and with various kinds of substances (gasoline, tar, chemicals, lime, etc.). Cats are neat in eating, and it is very unlikely that they eat something like that on their own. But the kitten, 2 months old to whom, has little experience, so he can try all sorts of “byaku”.
Harmful substances can get to the cat if the bowl is improperly taken care of (poor washing off of the detergent). Also poisoning with substandard medicines prescribed by the veterinarian is not ruled out. The blame, of course, is not the doctor, but the manufacturer of the drug: the product can be fake, well, or expired (in this case, the claims are to the seller and yourself, because you need to carefully study the packaging).
If you find a diarrhea with blood in a kitten , contact your veterinarian right away. Because it is precisely with poisoning that such violations can be associated. Your cat may need an antidote. So do not hesitate.
Helminthic infestations
Invasive diseases are usually caused by worms and protozoa. Among these may be lamblia, isospores and others. If you see a liquid stool in a kitten, and even with mucus and blood, these are definitely worms. Therefore, you need to contact the veterinarian, he will choose the appropriate treatment.
Infectious diseases
Diarrhea in unvaccinated pets is far from harmless. And causes a lot of questions from their owners. After all, it is possible that the cat may have one of the following infections: plague, coronavirus infections, coronavirus enteritis, etc. These diseases are accompanied not only by diarrhea, but also by high fever, general depression, and vomiting. See a similar picture? Go to a specialist right away! Otherwise, even death is possible.
Intestinal pathology
Pathologies are different. These include: problems in the functioning of digestive enzymes, injuries of the intestinal mucosa, inflammation and cancerous tumors. Some kittens even have pancreatitis, if the baby does not eat properly.
In order to accurately establish what kind of animal the disease is, it is necessary to analyze the color, texture, smell, number of bowel movements. Also important is the general health of the kitten. Examining these indicators, you can determine which section of the intestine is broken.
If the diarrhea in the animal lasts longer than 2 days - this is an occasion to consult a doctor. Together with feces, fluid leaves the body, which is fraught with dehydration and even death if help is not provided on time. You can try to give the cat a solution of "Regidron": 1/6 sachet diluted in water and give the kitten (or cat). It is more convenient to do this through a syringe without a needle. After all, not every cat will agree to drink it simply from a bowl, because it is salty.
If the kitten has diarrhea with inclusions of blood, and all this is accompanied by vomiting, you cannot do without visiting or calling the veterinarian. Do not try to treat yourself!
The color of the stool is also important for diagnosis. Brown indicates intolerance to food or allergies to its components, poisoning with poor food or poor-quality drugs is possible. If the stool is light and the smell is unpleasant, this is probably a symptom of the plague. Specialist help is urgently needed.
In any case, going for a consultation with a veterinarian, bring along some feces of the animal for examination.
The kitten has loose stools. What to do?
When a cat has diarrhea for the first time, once, the body temperature is normal, there is no weakness or loss of appetite, you can treat your pet yourself.
With loose stool, milk, carbohydrates and starch should be excluded from the animal’s menu.
It is necessary not to give the kitten to eat for 12 hours (for adult cats, the "diet" is extended to 24 hours) - do not worry, they are not harmed by a short absence of food. Add more fluid.
After the specified time, the pet can be fed, but you need to give half the usual portion. When the kitten has diarrhea, it is allowed to feed it only with light food (3 times a day, small portions). Allowed: boiled chicken and broth from it; boiled yolk; boiled rice, can be on chicken broth; baby meat puree. If the cat eats only ready-made food, then you need to purchase food of the usual brand, but marked "sensitive digestion".
As soon as the animal recovers, you can return to its usual menu.
Among other things, while the cat is sick, it is necessary to give her half a tablet of activated charcoal, which dissolves in ordinary boiled water, 2 times a day. It is also necessary to water the cat a decoction of herbs: chamomile, St. John's wort or oak bark (they have an astringent and healing effect) 5 ml 3 times a day.
You can take the drug "Bactisubtil." 1/4 capsule is dissolved in water, given 2 times / day. The drug is well tolerated by both adults and small animals. If it is not, then Smecta (for children) is suitable, the dosage is 1/4 sachet 2 times a day. Additionally, give any prebiotic, preferably Bifidum, 1 dose per day before meals. Since the drug is designed for 5 doses, it must be stored in the refrigerator.
If after a couple of days the kitten (cat) does not feel better, take him (her) to the veterinary clinic to the doctor.
Conclusion
Now you know why a kitten has loose stools: we examined the causes and treatment of this disorder in the article. We hope that the information presented to your attention was useful to you.