Jessie & Jason have an adult cat and have recently adopted a kitten that was fostered through the Humane Society. The kitten had diarrhea before they adopted her and was treated with a medication. This weekend, Jessie says the kitten has AWFUL smelling poos that are soft but do not appear bloody. Last night, the kitten has “the runs,” and J&J want to know how to stop the diarrhea. The only change in the kitten’s diet was on Saturday she ate a few dead flies at Jason's mom's house.
Puppies and kittens often develop diarrhea, and everything the family does to correct this problem will pay off in increased long-term health. The more diligent Jessie & Jason are in the next couple weeks, the sooner the diarrhea will resolve.
To Start—the fecal sample
Taking a fecal sample to the vet is the first step they should take, but Jessie & Jason have already had the kitten’s poop analyzed at the Humane Society and it was treated with the medication the HS thought most appropriate.
So what’s next?
1. Understand the Causes Of Diarrhea
2. Diet Change
3. Use Probiotics
4. Use Prebiotics
5. Monitor Your Pet
1. Causes of Diarrhea
There are dozens of causes for diarrhea in puppies & kittens, but the most common are:
· food allergies,
· bacteria,
· viruses, and
· parasites (Coccidia, giardia, and worms).
Because some of these organisms can infect people and other pets, wash hands after handling pets. With dogs, pick up and discard feces; With cats, and clean litter box thoroughly at least once a day. Don't clean the box with bleach because cats may quit using the box if they don't like the way it smells. Instead, clean with soap and rinse 3 times longer than normal.
2. Diet Change
To change your pet’s diet:
· Stop milk.
· Stop any foods with chemical preservatives or food colors, including treats.
· Provide limited variety of protein and carbohydrate, for example feed something like ground turkey and artichokes, ground beef and sweet potatoes, or fish and barley for 2-3 weeks. Then, if there is no diarrhea, add one more ingredient and continue for another 2-3 weeks. Gradually increase the different types of food the pet receives.
· Use organic when possible.
· Use meats low in fat, such as hamburger with 12% fat rather than 20% fat.
· The greatest proportion of diet should be protein and the smallest proportion should be grains—for most pets.
· Provide food at room or body temperature.
3. Provide Probiotics
Probiotics are the live, friendly bacteria and yeast that make your cat’s gut happy and prevent bad bacteria from causing leaky gut syndrome, diarrhea, and other problems. Examples of beneficial probiotic bacteria and yeasts are:
· Lactobacillus acidophilus
· Lactobacillus bulgaricus
· Lactobacillus thermophilus
· Enterococcus faecium
· Bifidobacterium bifidus
· Streptococcus bulgaricus
· Saccromyces.
Probiotics at a low concentration are found in yogurt or kefir. Probiotics in high concentrations are found in special supplements, such as Fast Balance GI and Culturelle. Probiotics are helpful because they decrease Leaky Gut Syndrome, make vitamins, block toxin absorption, and prevent bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasites from invading the gut.
4. Provide Prebiotics
Prebiotics are nutrients that make the good intestinal bacteria thrive.
These are prebiotics:
· inulin
· fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
· mannosoligosaccharides (MOS)
· arabinogalactans (AG).
Foods rich in prebiotics are:
· artichoke
· asparagus
· bananas
· black beans
· carrots
· barley.
If puppies and kittens have symptoms of gut problems, such as diarrhea and increased gas, they need higher concentrations of prebiotics and probiotics than are easily obtained in food. Supplements available at most retail and internet outlets often do not contain either the number or type of organisms claimed on the label. Thus, they’d be a waste of money, but what’s worse is that your pets won’t be getting what they need. This is why it’s best to get a supplement from your veterinarian or using a product such as Fast Balance GI from http://www.vetri-science.com/.
Monitor Your Pet
Check your pet’s bottom and clean to remove any trace of diarrhea. Use damp, warm paper towels and discard after cleaning. Pat dry. If the bottom appears red, apply diaper rash ointment or Vaseline to the area around the anus after cleaning and drying.
If the gut is healthy, your pet will gain weight and grow normally. Weigh your pet every week. If a puppy or kitten is not gaining weight, or if diarrhea contains blood, see your holistic veterinarian for homeopathic remedy. To find a holistic veterinarian in your area, check http://www.ahvma.org/, which is the website for the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.
To Start—the fecal sample
Taking a fecal sample to the vet is the first step they should take, but Jessie & Jason have already had the kitten’s poop analyzed at the Humane Society and it was treated with the medication the HS thought most appropriate.
So what’s next?
1. Understand the Causes Of Diarrhea
2. Diet Change
3. Use Probiotics
4. Use Prebiotics
5. Monitor Your Pet
1. Causes of Diarrhea
There are dozens of causes for diarrhea in puppies & kittens, but the most common are:
· food allergies,
· bacteria,
· viruses, and
· parasites (Coccidia, giardia, and worms).
Because some of these organisms can infect people and other pets, wash hands after handling pets. With dogs, pick up and discard feces; With cats, and clean litter box thoroughly at least once a day. Don't clean the box with bleach because cats may quit using the box if they don't like the way it smells. Instead, clean with soap and rinse 3 times longer than normal.
2. Diet Change
To change your pet’s diet:
· Stop milk.
· Stop any foods with chemical preservatives or food colors, including treats.
· Provide limited variety of protein and carbohydrate, for example feed something like ground turkey and artichokes, ground beef and sweet potatoes, or fish and barley for 2-3 weeks. Then, if there is no diarrhea, add one more ingredient and continue for another 2-3 weeks. Gradually increase the different types of food the pet receives.
· Use organic when possible.
· Use meats low in fat, such as hamburger with 12% fat rather than 20% fat.
· The greatest proportion of diet should be protein and the smallest proportion should be grains—for most pets.
· Provide food at room or body temperature.
3. Provide Probiotics
Probiotics are the live, friendly bacteria and yeast that make your cat’s gut happy and prevent bad bacteria from causing leaky gut syndrome, diarrhea, and other problems. Examples of beneficial probiotic bacteria and yeasts are:
· Lactobacillus acidophilus
· Lactobacillus bulgaricus
· Lactobacillus thermophilus
· Enterococcus faecium
· Bifidobacterium bifidus
· Streptococcus bulgaricus
· Saccromyces.
Probiotics at a low concentration are found in yogurt or kefir. Probiotics in high concentrations are found in special supplements, such as Fast Balance GI and Culturelle. Probiotics are helpful because they decrease Leaky Gut Syndrome, make vitamins, block toxin absorption, and prevent bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and parasites from invading the gut.
4. Provide Prebiotics
Prebiotics are nutrients that make the good intestinal bacteria thrive.
These are prebiotics:
· inulin
· fructooligosaccharides (FOS)
· mannosoligosaccharides (MOS)
· arabinogalactans (AG).
Foods rich in prebiotics are:
· artichoke
· asparagus
· bananas
· black beans
· carrots
· barley.
If puppies and kittens have symptoms of gut problems, such as diarrhea and increased gas, they need higher concentrations of prebiotics and probiotics than are easily obtained in food. Supplements available at most retail and internet outlets often do not contain either the number or type of organisms claimed on the label. Thus, they’d be a waste of money, but what’s worse is that your pets won’t be getting what they need. This is why it’s best to get a supplement from your veterinarian or using a product such as Fast Balance GI from http://www.vetri-science.com/.
Monitor Your Pet
Check your pet’s bottom and clean to remove any trace of diarrhea. Use damp, warm paper towels and discard after cleaning. Pat dry. If the bottom appears red, apply diaper rash ointment or Vaseline to the area around the anus after cleaning and drying.
If the gut is healthy, your pet will gain weight and grow normally. Weigh your pet every week. If a puppy or kitten is not gaining weight, or if diarrhea contains blood, see your holistic veterinarian for homeopathic remedy. To find a holistic veterinarian in your area, check http://www.ahvma.org/, which is the website for the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.
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