Why kittens have diarrhea

If your kitten has diarrhea, it's important to determine and treat the cause of diarrhea. A few common causes of kitten and cat diarrhea include parasites, dietary issues, medical issues, and stress. Diarrhea can also be a side effect of antibiotics or medication use. There are a variety of parasites that can cause diarrhea in kittens. Common parasitic infections include coccidia, giardia, and tritrichomonas. Campylobacter and Clostridium are bacteria that can also cause kitten diarrhea.

Other internal parasites often found in kittens are worms, including roundworms and hookworms. If your kitten has a parasite, he may show other symptoms including vomiting, bloody feces, and loss of appetite. Parasites and bacterial infections are often the most common causes of kitten and cat diarrhea. In some cases, kitten diarrhea is caused by dietary issues, such as a diet change or food intolerance. Eating table food or something toxic can also cause diarrhea in adult cats and kittens.

Spoiled or expired formula may cause gastrointestinal upset. In addition, cats are very fastidious about grooming so the tell-tale or tell-tail signs of diarrhea may be missed—especially in the early stages. For this reason, routine veterinary visits are important. If you do notice your cat has diarrhea between visits, what could be the cause? When should you worry and consult your veterinarian?

What can you do at home? What are the causes of cat diarrhea? This would be an exhaustively long list if we went into everything that can cause your cat to have loose stools, but here are some of the general categories:. How may you be able to help stop cat diarrhea? Because there are so many potential causes of diarrhea in cats, you should check with your veterinarian if your cat is having it regularly.

Obviously some of these causes need specific therapy, but some of the others may resolve on their own with simple, supportive care. In those cases what might your veterinarian advise you can you do at home? Stool tests look for intestinal parasites and worms , a common cause of kitten diarrhea. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment may include medications to kill parasites or fight bacterial infections. Sometimes vets recommend trying cat-specific probiotics good bacteria that help with digestion for a day or two to see if it'll fix the problem, says Demos.

Parasites are often the cause of kitten diarrhea. That's why, Demos says, kittens should have a minimum of two to three deworming treatments.

These medications are routinely used to safely rid kittens of intestinal worms like tapeworm , roundworm , and hookworm. Ongoing parasite-control medications that prevent fleas and heartworm can also help protect against intestinal parasites. Another way to keep your kitten healthy is by following the recommended vaccination schedule.

Some of the vaccines protect against diarrhea-causing and life-threatening viruses like feline distemper. Getting regular veterinary care and keeping a close eye on your fur baby are the best ways to ensure your kitty stays safe. By Kristi Valentini January 06, Pin FB More. Illustration of stressed kitty inside of a litter box. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Warning Dehydration, if left untreated, can cause death.

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