Black, Crumbly Stools

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Vhens2211

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Hi All,

Happy Turkey Day!!!

My kitty Ozzie has been OTJ for a month and a half or so.

I've been having some issues trying to get both my cats over here to eat. They do eat, but they really seem uninterested in the food. I keep trying new items in the hopes they'll be more interested!

Today, I noticed that Ozzie went #2, and it was very dark in color. Upon closer examination, the stool was also very dry and crumbly when I broke it in two and also had hair in it.

Ozzie had a few bouts of diahrrea a couple weeks ago, likely from a new food I was trying.

Right now I am supplementing with Forti Flora while I try some new stuff out. They are getting FF Classic Chicken or Turkey. I've been trying BeforeGrain Chicken and Beef, and Merrick's Cowboy Cookout (which they are actually eating).

Could this be a food thing or from the Forti Flora? Or should we go for a vet visit?

Ozzie seems to be acting normal otherwise. I checked his BG today after he ate a little and it was at 83.

Any advice would be appreciated!
 
Stools containing a lot of hair mean he needs some hairball remedy.

VetBasis and NaturVet are safe for diabetics. Avoid hairball remedies
containing Petrolatum (interferes with the absorption of B-vitamins in the gut).

Go easy on the hairball remedy...too much and the diarrhea may return.

A lot of hair in the colon can cause a 'full' feeling and that could be the
reason for the inappetence.
 
Thanks Sue:)

So the color isn't an issue?

I'll see if I can find some of the hairball remedies you suggested.

I know Petsmart has a GNC brand that is petrouleum free, would that be ok?
 
Either coffe ground brown/black or bright red may suggestin GI bleeding, from high up or lower down, respectively.

Irritation from constipation may cause bleeding, as may a variety of other problems.

More moisture may be helpful, so add a tablespoon of warm water to the canned food if you aren't already (warm makes it smellier and entices eating).

You want to be careful about adding anything to bulk up the stool, because if he is partly obstructed, that can make him very ill.
 
Hi Vivian,
I'd be willing to bet that 6 months ago, you'd never see yourself posting on the internet one day discussing the color and texture of cat poop....am I right?

The dark color, I don't think is a concern, unless you see evidence of blood in it. Since switching to all low-carb canned, Bob tends to have darker and dryer poops. He rarely, if ever, touches the water bowl, so the only water he's getting is from the food itself. I think this is "normal", except if too dry and hard for too long, I add a bit of water to his canned.

On the hairball stuff.... just read the ingredients very carefully, even ask if there's a vet tech around, to see if anything in there has "sugar" in it. Many times, they add something sweet in order to make it palatable. It seems they should be able to make stuff for sugarcats like the "diabetic" sections they have for humans in the candy aisles. But I guess the sugarcat market isn't large enough to justify a special recipe.

Carl
 
Hi all. Thanks for all the replies. When I got home after dinner, Ozzie was in the box and passed a small amount of poop. He got out of the box and then threw up a few moments later. The vomit was a dark color, but it didn't look like coffee grounds or anything like that. I wonder if he is constipated?? Can diabetics have miralax? I have some here for when he was having constipation pre diabetes diagnosis

Last time Ozzie was at the vet he was weighed and the vet about a month ago he said he lost more weight, but we wouldn't worry about that now.

Just trying to decide whether or not to take him. I have spent a tremendous amount of money on him this year between his asthma and diabetes. Not that I wouldn't take him if he really needs to go I just want to avoid going there and them not being able to do much more than a physical exam. If I call they always tell me to just bring him in.

Thanks all again for the advice!!
 
To answer your direct question, yes, diabetics can have Miralax.

The coffee grounds color was in reference to the stool color, nothing to do with vomit.

Throwing up after pooping is an indication of straining to poop. He's really trying.

If he doesn't pass a normal stool soon, I would take him in....they might give him an enema.
Do not start Miralax until he is 'clear' of any stool impaction. It could make matters worse.
 
Thanks Karen.

Spoke with the vet's office this morning, and they want me to bring him in.

Found more vomit when I woke up. He did eat some this morning when I gave their morning meal.

Not too thrilled about going to the vet, but I guess better safe then sorry.
 
Oz man saw the vet this morning and was given an enema. A few minutes after we got home he went #2 and about 5 or 6 hard stools came out. Guess he was a little backed up after all. Going to give him some hairball stuff over the weekend so we can keep everything moving along.

Thanks all for all the advice!

Vivian & Ozzie
 
....you know you are in a great place when people have a happy reaction to a story about a cat pooping!

YAY Ozzie!

Carl
 
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