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Diarrhea causes dehydration. If it persists for
48 hours or is bloody or your cat is also vomiting
then see the vet. If your cat is seriously
dehydrated, the vet will inject fluids
subcutaneously (under the skin) or into the
abdomen (peritoneally). If the cat continues to
lose fluid, he may be put on an intravenous drip
at the clinic. American owners are
recommended to take a stool sample (and a urine
sample, if possible) from a sick cat to the vet,
but this is not the norm in the UK where the cat
may be kept in for overnight observation instead.
In the US, the vet may take a blood sample for
analysis; in the UK the cat will probably stay in
overnight for this. It is harder to get a stool
sample from a cat which toilets outdoors.
White or cream colored stools may indicate
liver and pancreas disorders or be the result of a
recent barium meal/enema used by the vet to
investigate a gut problem. A few smears of blood
may reveal a rectal disorder (like haemorrhoids
caused by straining) but dark blood or lots of
blood in the stool indicates bleeding inside the
gut and is far more serious. Inflammatory Bowel
Disease (IBD) is more common in older cats and can
cause liquid "cowpat-like" stools as the
bowel no longer absorbs liquid.
Constipation happens when stools move too
slowly through the gut or come to a complete halt,
clogging up the gut. Constipated cats strain and
have tender bellies. The commonest causes are
hairballs, too little fiber in the diet (dried
food is convenient for the owner, but produces
small, hard stools which do not give the gut a
good workout) or it may be due to an intestinal
disorder. A cat laxative (e.g. Katalax) or liquid
paraffin resolves most cases, but sometimes an
enema or even surgery is required - especially if
the blockage is due to a foreign body in the gut.
Do not try to give your cat an enema at home - you
could cause damage to his gut and he will almost
certainly resist violently. Sedation is usually
required.
Constipation is a common ailments of older
cats. Bulk-forming agents, such as wheat bran, or
other sources of fiber mixed with commercial cat
food can help prevent hairballs and other
blockages. Sometimes, surgical removal of the
obstruction is necessary. Laxatives and hairball
medications should not be used more than once a
week unless recommended by a veterinarian, because
they interfere with absorption of vitamins.
Frequent constipation requires veterinary
investigation. Some cats need their bowels
expressed manually due to nerve damage.
Faecal incontinence (loss of bowel control) may
be due to problems with the anal sphincter/rectal
muscles or due to degenerative spinal or nerve
problems. Amputation of the whole tail can reduce
control of the rectum (tail muscles help squeeze
out the contents of the rectum). Stools may be
passed as the cat changes position or walks. If
the involuntary motions are watery or soft, a
bulking agent may produce firmer stools which the
cat can control better. Some problems can be
surgically treated, but if the problem is
degenerative it will get worse, the cat may suffer
paralysis of hindquarters and euthanasia may be
required.
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