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Help for 10 yr. old cat with soft stools & staining

My cat is 10 years old, having soft stools, and is staining. I can’t get this under control.

Suggestions?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 at 2:03 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

3 Responses to “Help for 10 yr. old cat with soft stools & staining”

  1. Lori Coughlin, DVM, Arlington Heights, IL says:
    September 11, 2007 at 2:06 pm

    If you haven’t taken your cat to the vet, definitely start with this. If your cat goes outside or has any history of hunting, have a fecal flotation done- preferably a centrifuged sample (your vet will know this). Other helpful tests include a fecal cytology or dry smear (to look for Clostridium) and a test for Giardia. If all those tests are negative (and they may get repeated a few times for thoroughness), then your vet will probably start to check for a condition called inflammatory bowel disease. It is similar to irritable bowel in people. Depending on the type of soft stool your cat has (large or small bowel), he may need either an endoscopy or a colonoscopy for the most accurate diagnosis. Some cats will respond well to medication (metronidazole is a common drug for stool and straining), but there are several other medical options. If your vet is not able to do the scopes, there are internal medicine specialists that can help. A blood test to rule out other problems like hyperthyroidism is recommended, as is a urinalysis to rule out a bladder infection that can cause straining, too. An herbal treatment called slippery elm can help cats with soft stools, too especially during the time you are looking for a diagnosis.
    good luck, and I hope your cat feels better soon.

    Lori L Coughlin, DVM
    Lori L Coughlin, DVM
    Arlington Heights, IL

  2. Dyanna McCain - LA, CA says:
    September 19, 2007 at 11:19 am

    Hi There,

    Yes, You could try an homeopathic remedy called Nux Vomica 30c.

    Thank You ,

    Dyanna McCain
    Dyanna McCain, DIHom DVetHom
    Holistic Animal Healing, Los Angeles, CA

  3. T. L. Medinger, DVM - Aurora, IL says:
    September 19, 2007 at 11:25 am

    A fecal analysis by centrifugation to evaluate for intestinal endoparasitism initially, a food trial combined with empirical deworming. If this fails colonoscopic examination is indicated.

    T. L. Medinger, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM)
    VCA Aurora Animal Hospital
    Aurora, IL

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