Knowing what cat diarrhea medicine is right and effective is very important for those of you who keep it. Like humans, animals like cats can also develop digestive problems. Diarrhea or diarrhea is a common digestive problem in cats.
Usually, many things can cause diarrhea in cats. Therefore, you must know what the exact cause is before giving your cat diarrhea medicine. The safer step is to take your cat to the vet for a professional diagnosis and treatment.
Quoting from various sources, here is complete information about the causes and what medicines for cat diarrhea are effective to give.
Causes of Cat Diarrhea
If a pet cat that is used to defecating in a healthy and regular manner experiences digestive disorders such as diarrhea, you as the owner will definitely be worried. This is because cats with diarrhea sometimes cannot control themselves when they want to defecate. This can make their droppings scatter everywhere.
There are several causes of cat diarrhea that should be known. Infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, coccidia and intestinal worms (hookworms, roundworms, whipworms), or non-infectious irritants, such as chemical poisons or poisonous plants, are some common causes of cat diarrhea.
Meanwhile, changes in diet, food intolerance, or allergies to certain ingredients in food can also cause cats to experience diarrhea, as reported by vcahospitals.com. The severity of cat diarrhea also depends on how long the condition lasts and how many other clinical signs the cat has.
If your cat has bad bloody diarrhea and/or shows signs of more general illness such as weakness, fever, vomiting, stomach pain, dehydration or loss of appetite, the condition may be more serious and requires special medical attention. Diarrhea or diarrhea in cats can lead to dehydration, so it’s important that you make sure they get enough and regular water intake.
Medication for Cat Diarrhea
It is important to know, never give any over-the-counter (OTC) medication to your cat without first consulting a veterinarian. OTC medications are not only dangerous for pets, they can also hide underlying health problems that your cat suffers from.
If the veterinarian states that your cat’s diarrhea is not too serious, you will usually be advised to do self-medication at home. Launching the following firstvet.com page, there are several home-style remedies for your cat who is having diarrhea, without involving OTC drugs;
1. Withhold Food for 24 Hours
The first home-style cat diarrhea medication by withholding food for 24 hours. Home remedies for diarrhea or diarrhea in cats often start with fast food, it is recommended to skip one meal, with a maximum of 12 hours between meals.
This will give their digestive system a break and time to heal. But you should always provide access to plain water. But please note, this recommendation is not suitable for small kittens or kittens. Never withhold food from a kitten when they have diarrhea or diarrhea.
2. Offer bland food
The second home-style diarrhea medicine for cats is by giving them plain food. After holding back from eating, reintroduce the food to your cat in small amounts. But this time, feed them bland food.
An example of homemade bland food is boiled white rice mixed with equal amounts of white meat such as chicken or fish. Meat should be grilled, steamed, or microwaved, with no added fat. Give each food a small amount (i.e. one tablespoon) every 3-4 hours.
You can also use proprietary brands of hypoallergenic cat food for indigestion. These packaged foods are usually superior to homemade foods due to their precise and customized mix of nutrients. Some of these foods also contain pre/probiotics.
Feed soft foods for at least 48 hours after normal stools are formed. This may take a few days so ideally, it would be best for you to purchase one of these formulated packaged foods to ensure that your cat receives the appropriate vitamins and minerals. A properly formulated diet becomes very important if your cat has diarrhea for a long time.
3. Probiotics
The third cat diarrhea medication that can be given is probiotics. Probiotics have been shown to speed up the recovery time for diarrhea and loose stools in cats. The study that studied this used a probiotic mixture for cats. However, if you can’t get probiotics right away, you can try natural yogurt. One teaspoon is enough to feed the cat.
4. Electrolyte Solution
Electrolyte solution is the next cat diarrhea medicine. But it should be noted, you don’t need to give electrolyte solutions if your cat’s condition is not too severe. If the diarrhea is bad enough to cause an electrolyte imbalance, then it’s time to see the vet. You can also add a small amount of salt-free meat broth to your cat’s water to encourage drinking.
If diarrhea continues for more than 24 hours, or more serious signs develop at any stage (such as vomiting, lethargy, or weakness) then professional veterinary care should be sought immediately.
