Diarrhea in Cats & Nutritional Management
Understanding Diarrhea in Cats
Diarrhea in cats is a common but concerning condition that can be caused by a variety of factors, including infections, dietary changes, or underlying gastrointestinal diseases such as feline enteropathy. This condition can lead to nutrient malabsorption, dehydration, and a general decline in health if left untreated. Understanding the underlying causes is key to effective management. Identifying whether the issue is temporary or chronic is essential, especially in the case of feline enteropathy, which requires more specialized care, including nutritional strategies.
Learn more about Feline Chronic Enteropathy.
Identifying Diarrhea, Causes, and Risk Factors in Cats
Recognizing diarrhea in cats involves understanding both the physical signs and the consistency of stool. The Fecal Scoring Chart is a helpful tool to assess the severity of the condition and track changes over time.
To manage diarrhea, it is essential to identify potential causes, which can range from infections, parasites, stress, to more chronic conditions like feline enteropathy. The Diarrhea Localization Tool can help identify possible causes and determine a plan of action.
Another factor to consider is the health of the gut microbiome. An imbalance, caused by dietary changes, medications, stress, and infectious agents can also lead to symptoms like diarrhea. Additionally, the gut-brain axis might also trigger digestive issues in cats.
To understand more about gut health in cats, check out this page on Managing the Gut Microbiome.
Managing Diarrhea in Cats
After localizing diarrhea and clarifying underlying causes, management of diarrhea in cats will likely begin with dietary changes. Key considerations for the nutritional management of diarrhea in cats include:
- Highly digestible, moderate-fat intestinal diet that is lower in carbohydrates in small bowel diarrhea
- Hydrolyzed or novel protein elimination diet in large bowel diarrhea and suspected food allergies or intolerances
- Fiber-enhanced food with soluble and insoluble fiber
- Probiotic products to manage small, large, and mixed bowel diarrhea
For more information on managing diarrhea, see our page Why Distinguish Between Small and Large Bowel Diarrhea.