? Poop in fur- Diabetes related?

[Jessica & Pumpkin]

Pumpkin was recently diagnosed with diabetes, and after doing some research and reading, I have found out that some issues she was having were related to diabetes. For the past year or so, she has had increased dandruff and oily fur. I never connected this to diabetes, and I thought she just wasn't grooming as well as she used to due to age and being slightly overweight.

For about the past 2 years, she has almost always had poop get stuck in the fur around her bottom. I have had to clean her with wipes to keep her from getting it on the carpet and furniture. I have 2 other cats and I have never seen any stools that look like diarrhea in the litter boxes, so somehow her poop is not extremely soft, but it's soft enough to stick to her fur. Sometimes, she leaves behind little spots on the carpet or bed sheets that look like brown liquid. I also took this as an inability to groom properly, but I wonder if it is diabetes related?

Has anyone ever seen this in their diabetic cats?

 

[Sandi and Toby]

Our diabetic has problems with dingleberries, but I don't know that it is related to his diabetes (we adopted him when he was diabetic, so can't compare to pre-diabetes). For him, he's never been a good groomer, he's heavier than he should be and he has medium-to-longish fur, so he just can't clean back there very well, and he also scoots on the carpet after he poops like a dog does when it has worms or anal gland problems (he doesn't, we've had it checked). We try to keep his heiney shaved to help keep it cleaner.

Is Pumpkin having any trouble walking? Cats who are diabetic for a while, usually before it is known that they have diabetes, can develop something called diabetic neuropathy which causes them to walk down on their hocks and leg weakness. Is it possible that Pumpkin has to rest and sits down in the litter box when she poops so that it gets stuck then? Do you observe her in the litter box when she poops? That might help figure it out.

If you think its just a stool consistency problem, you can always add (strangely enough) pumpkin or baby food squash to Pumpkin's diet for fiber if she'll eat it.

 

[Jessica & Pumpkin]

Pumpkin has not been having any trouble walking, thankfully. I will try the canned pumpkin with her food and see if that helps.

And yes, I also try to keep the fur trimmed. She's short haired, but it still manages to get messy

 

[Myrtlesmum]

It could be her anal glands - sometimes they can become too full and may need to be expressed by the vet - what is expressed looks just like poop . It can also be quite painful and on occasion they can become infected. Worthwhile getting the vet to check. One of my cats used to need to get her glands expressed every couple of months.. If it is anal glands may be contributing to higher BGs.

 

[Idjit's mom]

@Bella's Mom can you comment on the possibility of an anal gland issue, since Bella has been down that road?

 

[katiesmom]

It could be her anal glands - sometimes they can become too full and may need to be expressed by the vet - what is expressed looks just like poop . It can also be quite painful and on occasion they can become infected. Worthwhile getting the vet to check. One of my cats used to need to get her glands expressed every couple of months.. If it is anal glands may be contributing to higher BGs.

I have had a little experience with anal gland issues. It sound like it could be anal glands to me. The vet can check them and express if needed. That's what I would do.