4/24 Hugo AMPS 279, +2 209, +3 112, first day with 1U and a really bad diarrhea

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Tiina and Hugo

Member Since 2016
Hugo's stomach hasn't been normal for a while after the last antibiotic helped for a bit. And now he's back to diarrhea again. He has gone like six times during the night. I gave him half a tablet of Tylosin this morning, but I was thinking if the metrodinazole would be better, I have that too. Can't wrap my head around this, why on earth would he have diarrhea again? It looks slimy and yellow with undigested pieces of food in the midst. I don't know if you remember that I ordered him the Panzym supplement a while ago, which is meant for cats with EPI, but I haven't given it to him yet. Do you think I should try it? But he hasn't been diagnosed with EPI exocrine pancreatic insufficiency...
 
Poor Hugo, I don't have any experience in dealing with Diarrhea with cats.

As he went low yesterday, could something you fed him then have upset his tummy?? HC (gourmet gold) used to upset Georges tummy, but not to the extent that you are describing.

I think some people use Pumpkin regularly , I believe it's meant to help both with constipation and diarrhea, I think that's what I remember reading.

How is he in himself??/

If no one is answering try also posting on feline health asking about dealing with diarrhea, there are other UK members on there with experience that would be around now. You could post a link and direct them to post on your lantus thread if you want to try and keep everything together.

Sending tummy settling vines.:bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
I'm sorry about the diarrhea. I use pumpkin for Furball if she has diarrhea. I mix a teaspoon in her food. I was also wondering if the HC food upset his system. I don't know anything about the supplement. Sending prayers.
 
Thanks for the advice, I still haven't found the pumpkin for him but have given Applaws chicken with pumpkin. I wish I knew what causes this diarrhea. It hasn't been this bad in a long time, luckily he can still make it to the box in time. I will start the probiotics today and metronidazole. Taking him to the vet is an option, but probably a waste of money, because they would prescribe the antibiotics I already have at hand. His appetite is a bit worse and he is tired. Poor baby :( He's eaten microwaved pollock and some raw minced meat.
 
Have you seen any relationship between the diarrhea and his dropping into lower numbers? I'm wondering if he is sensitive to gluten. Many cats can't tolerate gluten and it is typically an ingredient in high carb food. My kitty was gluten sensitive and I would use corn syrup or honey to raise her numbers if she was low.

Gabby also had a longer problem with diarrhea. Metronidazole did help but she ended up being prescribed it for close to a month. I never tried Tylosin but I know friends of mine had great success with it for their kitten who has unexplained problems with diarrhea.

 
Have you seen any relationship between the diarrhea and his dropping into lower numbers? I'm wondering if he is sensitive to gluten. Many cats can't tolerate gluten and it is typically an ingredient in high carb food. My kitty was gluten sensitive and I would use corn syrup or honey to raise her numbers if she was low.

Gabby also had a longer problem with diarrhea. Metronidazole did help but she ended up being prescribed it for close to a month. I never tried Tylosin but I know friends of mine had great success with it for their kitten who has unexplained problems with diarrhea.
I think at least he gets an upset tummy over eating this one variety of Sheba, but or course he would most like to eat just that one. I have never tried to give him honey when he is too low, so I don't know whether or not he would like it or willingly eat food that has honey added to it. At the moment Hugo is not eating very well, because he is picky about the LC food. He won't touch pates, so I can only give cans that are shredded chicken or fish. Sometimes if I have just given his shot and offered him food, he refuses it. Maybe his fast drops are because he won't eat enough with his shot? In moments like these I sometimes let him eat a medium carb food, only to get him to eat.

Hugo has had looser stools for a long time, ever since he had part of his bowel removed as a kitten because of an intussusception blockage. But this kind of diarrhea is new, I have wondered if it's the shredded chicken foods that his stomach can't handle. This would leave me without LC options. I guess I just have to start the metronidazole now, just try to stick to offering LC foods that he mostly hates and feed the other cats at different times. If Hugo just smells that the others are eating his old favorites, he definately won't eat his foods. I have now given one probiotic that is for humans, because the small pharmacy didn't have products for animals and all clinics and pet stores are closed. I just want him better, so I can relax too a bit and not be overwhelmed with worry every minute.
 
It's ok to give human probiotics. I gave them to punkin and others here have used human probiotics for their cats too. Start with a small amount and you can gradually increase it. Too much probiotic can also cause diarrhea. I'm wondering about you having leftover metronidazole - usually when it's prescribed you give the entire prescription, unless the vet directs you otherwise. Is there a reason you had some at home, ie, did you finish it whenever it was prescribed? We had very good luck with metronidazole.

I'm wondering about the stool you're describing though, that doesn't sound like "ordinary" diarrhea. Just fyi, fish and beef are 2 common food allergens for many cats.

It looks slimy and yellow with undigested pieces of food in the midst

The cat's gut produces mucous (slime) when it's being irritated. That helps protect the colon from whatever is in there that's irritating it.

So whether you've got a food intolerance, infection of some sort, or EPI it's hard to say. Usually cats with EPI have stools that people describe as gray, large and bulky. I really don't know much about that, however, I'm just repeating what I've seen people say, so take it for what it's worth.

If he's had part of his bowel removed, that alone can cause diarrhea. Does he ever have normal stools? The pumpkin that Gill mentioned is used for the fiber to help regulate things. You can buy canned pumpkin (nothing added) and give a small amount, like 1/2 -1 teaspoon daily added to his food. You can also buy baby food squash (no sugar added, no onions, no garlic, no spices) and see if that helps.

There is are 2 good websites on feeding cats appropriately - from the "Where Can I Find?" thread:
Food is important:
Appropriate diet for cats: CatInfo
and Cat Nutrition

They may have suggestions on dealing with diarrhea as well.
 
Some people have had better luck with a raw diet. Is that a possibility?
At the moment I don't think I could change him to raw completely, but I could try adding it to his diet. Sometimes he eats it, sometimes refuses it. Feeding him is really challenging. :( at the moment he won't eat the low carb chicken wet food.
 
Thank you @julie & punkin (ga) for your thoughts. Hugo had diarrhea before this (about a month ago) and was prescribed metronidazole, but I had already started him on Tylosin that was left from a diarrhea he had a year before that. So I have two unopened packages of metronidazole called Clont. The Tylosin helped him but after I stopped it the loose stools slowly came back. But he has had many bouts of diarrhea and gastritis too after the operation on his bowel. But he has also had normal stools. I think the low blood glucose incidents are connected to the upset tummy because I have to do all I can to make him eat in order to get the bg rise. When he refuses and bg is 50, I have to give higher carb food or even treats or dry. I'm feeling so stressed :(
 
In my IBD cat, I found that metrodinazole was much stronger than Tylosin and worked much better. He was on it for months before we had to switch to prednilosone.

If you can't find cooked pumpkin, you can try the babyfood section. Sometimes they will have pureed squash. Or you can cook a small butternut squash or pumpkin yourself and freeze portions for later.
 
You might also want to try probiotic with digestive enzymes to help Hugo's gastritis and diarrhea. My guys, cats and dogs get Naturvet brand Digestive enzymes with probiotics. It is in powder form and I put 1/4 tsp in each of their AM and PM meals. It it fairly inexpensive about $25 dollars and a 1 pound container of it lasts a really long time for 4 animals using it. I order it online from Chewy.com. I have seen a marked improvement in my dog who had digestive issues and Bubba who used to get diarrhea often.
 
There is a post saved on the Where Can I Find? thread about Slippery Elm Bark. Take a peek in the section on My cat may be ill/not feeling great/have a special condition. Several people have given their tips on using it.

Have you given corn syrup or high carb cat food gravy for low numbers? If those have upset Hugo's tummy, you could try honey or maple syrup instead. Perhaps one of those wouldn't bother him.

 
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