This Page is about Pet Diarrhea and Constipation for Cats and Dogs.
 It is a tough problem with a cat
or a dog.      
This page is a compendium of articles written about cat and dog feces  and defecating problems.

A

/4

2/4 "Diarrhea is one of the most common medical symptoms of cats and dogs," says Dr. Sheila
McCullough, veterinarian at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
Teaching Hospital. "An owner's first reaction to diarrhea should be to note when it started,
how often it is happening, how much your pet is straining to defecate, and what the
character of the diarrhea is--bloody, black, mucous-like, or otherwise. In addition, you
should try to recall unusual items that your pet may have eaten." 		3/4
Welcome,

Diarrhea occurs when an accumulation of dissolved substances in the intestine causes excess water to move into the intestine. "This accumulation may be a result of decreased
absorption of food, increased secretion of electrolytes by the intestine, or both. An example
of overload of an absorbable solute is fructose overload. For instance, if you eat three
pounds of grapes, an hour later you may be in trouble," says Dr. Aslam Hassan, professor
of gastrointestinal physiology at the college. Fructose needs help to be absorbed into the
body.

 Effective 9-1-06 Unique Google search word to this page is "1aehrraiDteP  "  ( PetDiarrhea1 spelled backwards.)

 

 These helpers come in the form of carriers. If there is too much fructose, carriers may
not be numerous enough to be effective. A lot of fructose will be retained in the bowel
causing diarrhea. If your pet eats something it cannot absorb--i.e., adult cats and dogs can't
absorb milk sugar lactose--the overload of solutes in the intestine may cause diarrhea. These helpers come in the form of carriers. If there is too much fructose, carriers may
not be numerous enough to be effective. A lot of fructose will be retained in the bowel
causing diarrhea. If your pet eats something it cannot absorb--i.e., adult cats and dogs can't
absorb milk sugar lactose--the overload of solutes in the intestine may cause diarrhea.

4/4

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Diarrhea

What causes dog diarrhea?

Diarrhea in dogs is not a disease; rather, it is a symptom of many different diseases. Many mild cases of dog diarrhea can be resolved quickly with simple treatments. Others are the result of fatal illnesses, such as cancer. Even diarrhea in dogs is caused by mild illnesses may become fatal if treatment is not begun
early enough to prevent severe fluid and nutrient losses.

How serious is diarrhea in dogs?

We attempt to determine how sick the dog has become as a consequence of the diarrhea. When the dog is systemically ill (i.e., more than one body system is involved), some of the following may be noted:

  1. Vomiting
  2. Dehydration
  3. Loss of appetite
  4. Abdominal pain
  5. High fever
  6. Lethargy
  7. Bloody and/or watery diarrhea

What types of tests are performed to find the cause?

If dog diarrhea is associated with several of the above signs, we perform a series of tests in the hope that a diagnosis can be made.This permits more specific treatment. Diagnostic tests may include radiography (x-rays) with or without barium, blood tests, stool cultures, biopsies of the intestinal tract, and exploratory abdominal
surgery. Once the diagnosis is known, treatment may include special medications and/or diets, or surgery.

If your dog does not appear systemically ill from diarrhea, the cause may be less serious. Some of the minor causes of diarrhea include stomach or intestinal viruses, intestinal parasites, and dietary indiscretions (such as eating garbage or other offensive or irritating materials).A minimum number of tests are performed to rule out certain parasites and infections. These cases may be treated with drugs to control the motility of the intestinal tract, drugs that relieve inflammation in the intestinal tract, and, often, a special diet for a few days. This approach allows the body's healing mechanisms to correct the problem.

We expect improvement within 2-4 days; if this does not occur,a change in medication or further tests are done to better understand the problem.

How to Treat Dog Diarrhea

Most dogs get diarrhea at least once in their lifetime. This will tell you how to treat minor diarrhea.

Steps

  1. Add Probios brand dispersible probiotic powder to the dog's water. Refresh (dump, wash bowl, refill) several times daily. Fast the dog for 12 hour or until the dog is "empty." If the stool is voluminous and continues even when the dog should be "empty", see your vet, it may be a bacterial infection.
  2. Give 100% pure canned pumpkin (NOT the pumpkin pie filling with sugars and spices). Most dogs love the flavor of pumpkin, but it is a unique fiber that regulates the bowel. It will color the stool.
  3. Feed the next meal of easy to digest foods - cooked chicken (no sauces, gravy or skin) and boiled white rice (no butter or flavorings) is a good start.
  4. Gradually add in the dog's regular diet. If the diarrhea returns after you dog is back to it's regular diet, see your vet immediately!
  5. Feed plain boiled chicken (shredded after cooked) and plain boiled white rice. Both are gentle and will help bind your dog. The added moisture in the food will also help to keep your dog hydrated.

Tips

  • When you go to the vet, bring a fresh stool sample and have them do a fecal float and a fecal smear.

Warnings

  • Dogs with diarrhea can dehydrate quickly. Provide ample fresh water and ensure that your dog is drinking. If your dog is dehydrated and will not drink or is vomiting, see your vet immediately!
  • If your dog is not drinking enough water put some chicken broth in the water. If this does not encourage your dog to drink - go to your vet immediately, they can give a fluid injection.
    • Mucous in diarrhea indicates an irritated bowel. Parasites, raw pork hearts and medical conditions can cause mucous in the stool.
  • Diarrhea accompanied with vomiting is a serious concern, go to the vet!
  • If it is bloody or explosive see your vet.
  • Don't give your dog new foods that they have never eaten while you are still treating the diarrhea.
  • Green-tinged diarrhea in puppies may indicate coccidosis, see your vet.
  • Watery diarrhea in puppies is life threatening if not treated immediately. Go to the vet!

Why Does My Dog, Cat Or Ferret Have Diarrhea?

Over-the-counter kaopectate was reformulated to contain bismuth subsalicylate in addition to the old ingredients which were attapulgite and alumina clay. Dogs can handle this compound well, but if too large a dose is given to cats it can be toxic. http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/nov03/031115b.asp

Diarrhea accidents in your pet often warrant a rush to the veterinarian. This article tells you how I go about discovering the cause of diarrhea in your pet.  Not every cause of diarrhea or medication is covered but the most important ones are. I limit this article to problems in dogs cats and ferrets – but it could apply as well to any of the exotic and wild animals.

 In more than half the cases, the diagnosis can be made from a fecal specimen and history alone. Try to bring in a fresh specimen – no need for more than a few tablespoons full.

Because my patients can’t talk, the history that you give me is extremely important. The first question I will ask you is whether this is a sudden acute problem or if it is chronic and has been going on quite a while. The next thing I will ask is if you fed something unusual to the pet or if torn remnants of some household object are strewn about the house.

Sudden diarrhea is most serious in very young, very old and very small pets. They can quickly become severely dehydrated. Dehydration in small pets and frail elderly animals can be fatal because their surface area is large in proportion to their body weight. As dehydration progresses these pets have trouble maintaining their body temperature and may lapse into coma. I hospitalize all pets in this group immediately and concentrate on maintaining hydration and body temperature. Intestinal inflammation in young pets with diarrhea causes the intestines to thrash about vigorously. Intestines sometimes tie themselves in knots (volvulus) or fold in upon themselves (intussusception). Both these conditions can be life threatening.

High Intestinal Problem vs. Low Intestinal Problem:
Cases of diarrhea fall into two groups in approximately equal numbers. In the first group, the problem is in the small intestine and in the second group in the large intestine, cecum or rectum. High diarrheas are the most dangerous. When the problem is high in the small intestine the pet voids large amounts of stool, but the frequency of bowel movements is not increased. If there is blood in this stool it is chocolate-colored, not bright red and there is no straining when these pets eliminate. The stool is never mucoid. These pets may also have a tummy ach. The second group have a problem in their large intestine. These pets have frequent, uncomfortable eliminations. When they go, the amount of stool is small and often covered with mucus. Frequently the stool is coated with flecks of bright red or rust-colored blood. These pets often sit straining to defecate without success. Vomiting may accompany high small intestinal problems but never low colonic ones.

A Primary or Secondary Problem:
I then have to decide whether the problem is intestinal or the result of problems in some other organ. I do a physical examination and perhaps laboratory blood analysis to see if the dog has signs of other illnesses. Generally, there are very few abnormal blood work results when the problems is in the intestine itself. In primary intestinal disease, abnormal physical exam findings are limited to an inflamed, thicken, painful intestine. With primary intestinal problems I can often detect enlarged lymph nodes that collect lymph from the intestines.

Diarrhea also occurs secondary to non-enteric or non-intestinal diseases of the organs of the body. When I am fortunate, blood work panels and a careful physical examination identify these diseases. Kidney failure causing uremia is a common cause of diarrhea in dogs, cats and ferrets. So is liver disease or hepatitis. Addison’s disease or an under active adrenal gland as well as an over-active thyroid or hyperthyroidism also cause diarrhea in dogs and cats. An acute inflammation of the pancreas or pancreatitis also will cause diarrhea in dogs and cats. You should find individual articles on each of these subjects at this website. If you don’t, remind me to write them.

Non-Specific Treatment

Diarrheas in dogs and cats caused by eating the wrong things or transient stress often improve if you withhold food for 24 hours and give the pet either kaopectate 0.5-1.0 ml/pound every four hours or loperamide (0.2mg/ml Imodium, Equate WalMart) at 1ml per four pounds two or three times a day. If the diarrhea persists longer than 48 hours email me at second.chance2@verizon.net or see your local veterinarian. If you visit your veterinarian, bring along a cup full of stool. I often find the cause of the problem by passing the stool through a sieve. Be sure they drink plenty of water so they do not become dehydrated.
Classification of the Process:
This is the fun part about being a veterinarian – poking through poop. Next I try to decide a bit more about the problem by examining the stool. I often pass the material through a strainer to hunt for objects such as leaves, sticks, glass, or aluminum foil that are the source of the problem. Then I prepare slides of the material to examine under my microscope. Some of these cases show a normal digestive process where food is being digested and absorbed. In others, fat globules are present and protein particles are sharp – evidence of poor digestion. These cases are either maldigestion or malabsorption. They can be due to a hyper-motile intestine or the lack of normal liver and pancreatic enzymes. Some stool is abnormally light due to a lack of these enzymes. Many times, I find things like bug parts that allow me to diagnose the problem without further tests. Other times parasites are visible under the microscope.

Diarrhea Caused By Husbandry:

Pet Food Quality
Buying that marked down generic brand of dog or cat chow instead of your regular name brand is very common cause of diarrhea. Quality has a particular cost; and when you go below this cost the ingredients of pet foods suffer. “High Protein” means very little. Feathers, hooves and beaks are all protein. But they are not digestible protein. Try to select a medium-priced pet food -. neither the cheapest nor the most expensive. And stay with that brand.

Overeating
Some dogs and many cats over-eat when they are fed once a day. This can result in diarrhea, colic and vomission. I suggest feeding dogs and cat with this problem three times a day or leaving the food where they can munch when they please.

Foods That Don’t Agree With Pet
Some pets are intolerant to certain ingredients in pet foods. This can be beef, liver or chicken, preservatives, dyes and the like. Very few pets are actually allergic to pet food ingredients.

Stress
Some pets – toy dogs and ferrets in particular – vent stress through their intestines. This can take the form of vomission, refusal to eat, diarrhea or blood in the stool. After this occurs several times, owners usually draw the connection between events that upset the pet and bouts of diarrhea.

Dietary Indiscretions
The most common cause of diarrhea in dogs and ferrets (not so in cats) is dietary indiscretions – the eating of garbage, grass, plant leaves, etc. It is amazing the things pets will eat. Many of these pets are actually separation anxiety cases where a panicky pet eats everything in sight (see article on separation anxiety). Placing these pets on a large dose of petrolatum-based cat laxative helps slide this material out with the stool. These pets need to be monitored carefully for seventy-two hours to be sure the intestine does not block. I sometimes feed them craft glitter and wait for it to come out the other end. At the first sign of abdominal distress, depression, general weakness, fever or blood in vomitus or stool, they should be rushed to a veterinarian for further testing.

Diarrhea Caused By Medications And Chemicals:

Antibiotics And Sulfonamides
Many antibiotics and sulfas disrupt the normal helpful bacterial flora in the intestine as well as killing pathogenic (dangerous) bacteria. When the normal bacterial flora of the intestine is destroyed diarrhea may result. This problem can occur with injected antibiotics as well as oral medicines. Giving the pet yogurt or bacterial gel pastes, decreasing the antibiotic dose, or changing to a different antibiotic all help.

Other Drugs From The Pharmacy
Many medications that we dispense to your pet can cause diarrhea. Thyroid medication, NSAI drugs such as Rimadyl and aspirin, worming medications, and topical insecticides are only a few of the medications that can cause diarrhea.

Parasites Of The Intestine:

Nematode Parasites

I have never found nematode parasites in ferrets. Hookworms, roundworms, whipworms and strongyloides are some of the nematode parasites that cause diarrhea in dogs and cats.. These organisms are the most common causes of diarrhea in puppies and kittens. They are a threat to children who are accidentally exposed to animal stool. You can read about these parasites and how I deal with them in another article in this series. The eggs of these parasites are usually seen in microscopic examination of the stool.

Protozoan Parasites

Protozoal parasites are single-celled microscopic parasites of the intestine. Diarrhea is their primary sign. This group includes coccidia and giardia. We treat them with bland diets, sulfonamides and metronidazole. Giardia can cause similar problems in pet owners – particularly children.

Viral Infection:

Parvovirus Of Dogs
Parvovirus infection of dogs causes severe foul-smelling diarrhea. Mature dogs recover after a period of diarrhea but the disease is often fatal in young unvaccinated pups. Parvovirus attacks the lining of the small intestine causing bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Dogs are severely depressed, dehydrated and in much pain. These pets die from fluid loss so most of my efforts aim at replacing these fluids. Parvo-infected dogs cannot keep oral fluids and medicines down so I give our fluids and medications by injection. diarrhea parasite dog cat stool

Coronavirus Of Cats
Feline enteric Coronavirus is highly contagious among cats but rarely fatal. The virus is shed in the feces of carrier cats causing erosion of the lining of the intestine. Recently weaned kitten have fever, vomiting and diarrhea that lasts 2-5 days. They loose their appetite. I treat them with fluids, antibiotics and medications to slow the diarrhea.ol

Bacterial Infections:

Spoiled Food – Food Poisoning
Spoiled food is often contaminated with toxins and bacteria that cause pets to have diarrhea and vomit. Food poisoning usually resolves itself after the contaminated material is purged from the body. It is unwise to give these pets medications that prevent diarrhea and vomiting because this traps harmful bacteria and toxins within the body. Two common bacteria involved in these cases are Staphylococcus and Escherishia coli (E. coli). Dehydration is the most serious side effect of diarrhea and vomiting. Infant animals can quickly go into shock from dehydration. Products such as Gatorade or Pedialyte are excellent for preventing this. If the pet cannot hold any liquids down the fluids must be given intravenously or subcutaneously.

Salmonella And Campylobacter In Dogs And Cats
Feeding poorly cooked meat products and chicken pass these bacteria to pets and humans. As with food poisonings, keeping the pet well hydrated is extremely important. In catteries, adult cats carrying salmonella often pass it to their kittens with sometimes fatal results. I have found it very difficult to get Salmonella out of a group of cats once it has become established. Batryl (enrofloxacin) is an excellent drug to use in adult pets with diarrhea but it cannot be used in growing animals.

Acute Gastroenteritis of Ferrets
Several bacteria cause infections of the gastrointestinal tract of ferrets that appear as bloody diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. Stress is often the precipitating factor in these conditions. Ferrets that vomit and pass fluid stools rapidly dehydrate. Dehydration can be fatal in these pets. The first thing I do is give the ferrets large doses of intravenous and subcutaneous fluid. (5% dextrose). I place them on injectable antibiotics, keep them warm and withhold all food and oral liquids. Bacteria most often associated with this problem are salmonella, helicobacter and campylobacter. Because diarrhea and vomission remove these bacteria and their toxins from the body I rarely attempt to lessen them. Instead, I replace the fluids and nutrients, as they are lost.

Problems Of Unknown Cause (Idiopathic):

Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis Of Dogs
Toy breeds of dogs are susceptible to bloody diarrhea the cause of which remains unknown. No doubt many of these cases fall into other groups I have mentioned but were not diagnosed. Many of these cases are due to stress. Some emotional dogs exhibit stress through their intestines. In other dogs, the problem is probably undiagnosed Adison’s disease in which the body is deficient in cortisone. All these cases respond well to food deprivation for 24-48 hours and then gradually increasing amounts of bland diet fed. I give most of these cases the oral corticosteroids, prednisolone or prednisone and place many of them on the sulfonamide, Tylocin. These problems tend to reoccur in the pet from time to time.

Eosinophilic Enteritis Of Cats

This is a portion of eosinophilic complex of cats. The signs are diarrhea, weight loss and vomission. We suspect the problem is a food allergy. Cats with this problem often have elevated numbers of white blood cells called eosinophiles. These cells are associated with allergic conditions in pets and people. Sometimes the skin is ulcerated as well or ulcers are present on the lips tongue and mouth. The disease responds to injections and oral forms of corticosteroids such as methylprednisolone acetate. It also often responds to the human birth control medication, Depopovera (medroxyprogesterone acetate). Moving the cat to a different home or environment and feeding bland diets also help bring the disease into remission. I have also seen the skin and oral form of this disease disappear when fleas were eliminated from cats.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease of Ferrets

In this condition the lining of the stomach and small intestine becomes inflamed and may also ulcerate. Some feel that this condition is a form of autoimmune disease - others that it is due to allergies to various ingredients in ferret diets (possibly chicken). Perhaps both can play a part. Ferrets with this condition pass frequent loose watery stools and may also vomit. They become very thin. Diagnosis of this condition is often made by elimination of other causes. Exact diagnosis can only be made from biopsies of the pet’s intestine, which may require surgery. Because the symptoms are quite similar to acute and chronic bacterial gastroenteritis of ferrets, stool samples need to be cultured for these bacteria. When these causes of similar disease have been eliminated, the ferrets usually improve on a regimen of amoxicillin, metronidazole (Flagyl) and prednisolone. This disease is rarely cured but it can be managed. I usually also put these pets on Pepto-Bismol and Tagamet. It is hard to put weight on them because food moves too rapidly through their intestines and much of the absorptive power of the intestinal lining has been lost. This is why additional vitamins help these pets.


During flare-ups, liquid diets such as AD can be feed. Then, feeding one of the bland diets marketed for similar conditions in dogs and cats (i/d, EN, ZD, etc.) often minimizes this problem. Bland diets marked for cats have sufficient protein but those manufactured for dogs contain less than the optimal amount for ferrets. If dog products are used, I suggest that they be supplemented with vitamins, cooked egg whites and cottage cheese. Low intermittent oral doses of corticosteroids such as prednisone are also helpful.

Lymphangiectasia Of Dogs

Sometimes called plasmacytic enteritis, this condition is diagnosed by a pathologist’s examination of snippets of the wall of the small intestine which are removed at surgery. Lymphangiectasia is an improperly formed intestinal lymphatic system, which results in protein being lost from the body (protein-loosing enteropathy). We think that in some cases the pets were born with this disease and in others they acquired it later in life. Most affected pets respond to a combination of bland diet and anti-inflammatory doses of corticosteroid drugs such as dexamethasone or prednisolone but the disease is never cured. Diets you prepared should contain minimal fat with ample amounts of high-quality protein.

In 2004, an organism call Bartonella was implicated in chronic gastrointestinal infections in cats and dogs. Until recently, Bartonella was primarily associated with Cat Scratch Fever. The diagnosis of Bartonella infection is made using a laboratory test called the Wesern Blot. When cats or dogs are positive for this organism it can be sucessfully treated using azithromycin, doxycycline or rifampin.
 
 
 

"Diarrhea is one of the most common medical symptoms of cats and dogs," says Dr. Sheila
McCullough, veterinarian at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
Teaching Hospital. "An owner's first reaction to diarrhea should be to note when it started,
how often it is happening, how much your pet is straining to defecate, and what the
character of the diarrhea is--bloody, black, mucous-like, or otherwise. In addition, you
should try to recall unusual items that your pet may have eaten."

Diarrhea occurs when an accumulation of dissolved substances in the intestine causes excess water to move into the intestine. "This accumulation may be a result of decreased
absorption of food, increased secretion of electrolytes by the intestine, or both. An example
of overload of an absorbable solute is fructose overload. For instance, if you eat three
pounds of grapes, an hour later you may be in trouble," says Dr. Aslam Hassan, professor
of gastrointestinal physiology at the college. Fructose needs help to be absorbed into the
body. These helpers come in the form of carriers. If there is too much fructose, carriers may
not be numerous enough to be effective. A lot of fructose will be retained in the bowel
causing diarrhea. If your pet eats something it cannot absorb--i.e., adult cats and dogs can't
absorb milk sugar lactose--the overload of solutes in the intestine may cause diarrhea.

If not much intestine is functioning, there is a decreased amount of area to absorb food. This
decreased surface area can be caused by surgical removal of a part of the bowel, diseased
state of the bowel, or decreased interaction time between the intestine and food.
Mucosa--the lining of the intestine--needs time to absorb what is ingested. Diseases can
cause more rapid movement of food through the intestine.

Veterinarians may suggest motility modifiers (drugs that can increase or decrease movement
of food through the intestines) to help control the diarrhea for 24 to 48 hours until diagnoses
can be made. Motility modifiers should not be used long term. "For example, if your pet has
E. coli-induced diarrhea, motility modifiers will retain the toxin that E. coli secretes and
may cause life-threatening distention of the bowel," explains Dr. Hassan.

It is important to realize that a high frequency of bowel movements is not synonymous with
diarrhea. Your pet can have more than one bowel movement a day; as long as the amount
of fecal water is normal, that's OK.

When diarrhea begins in your pet, notify your veterinarian for help in deciding whether you
should wait the diarrhea out or make an appointment to have the problem assessed. This is
especially significant in young pets. "If your puppy or kitten who has not had its vaccination
series gets diarrhea, you should call your veterinarian right away," says Dr. McCullough.
"Viral diarrheas, such as parvo virus, could kill your young pet. Puppies and kittens
dehydrate very quickly." Veterinarians can initiate rehydration and fluid support.

For diarrhea in adult pets, Dr. McCullough suggests withholding food for 12 to 24 hours.
"Then start your pet on small frequent meals of boiled hamburger and rice and see if the
diarrhea stops." However, if blood, foreign objects, or greasy feces are being passed, you
should make an appointment with your veterinarian. Chronic diarrhea with sustained weight
loss needs to be assessed by your veterinarian as well. "We need to find out whether weight
loss is associated with diarrhea or something else," explains Dr. McCullough.

Coming home to a pet unable to control bowel movements because of diarrhea is not a pleasant experience, as most pet owner's know.

When Dr. McCullough's own animals have diarrhea, she puts them in a room with a linoleum floor that can easily be cleaned. Cratingyour dog with diarrhea may lead to a bigger mess. Not only will pets potentially coverthemselves with their own feces, but pets may also direct the diarrheal spray outside of thecage and damage household items.

Dr. McCullough suggests these tips to prevent diarrhea in pets:

Don't feed pets people food. People food may cause diarrhea as well as pancreatitis.
Keep pets away from foreign objects they can swallow.
Get puppies and kittens vaccinated and keep your pets away from unvaccinated
animals.
Keep pets on a steady balanced diet; ask your veterinarian what the best diet is for
your pet.
Have your pet's stool checked every year to control parasites.

Feces consistency and content are clues veterinarians rely on to tell them what might be
occurring with your pet. You can use these clues as well if you watch your pet's feces for
changes. Also, when you do bring your pet to the veterinarian, bring a fresh stool sample.
For further information about diarrhea in pets, call your local veterinarian.
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Signs of Constipation

A constipated dog or cat exhibits infrequent or difficult evacuation of the feces or stool. The feces is usually hard and dry which increases straining and reduces stool volume.

Causes of Constipation

Many things may cause constipation, but the most common are dietary and environmental factors.

Dietary:
Fiber in the diet is important for normal defecation in dogs and cats, just as it is for humans. Insufficient dietary fiber can cause constipation.

Substances such as hair, bones or foreign materials ingested by a cat or dog can form hard masses or concretions when mixed with feces and cannot be eliminated, resulting in constipation.

Water is essential to proper gastrointestinal function; therefore, if an animal is deprived of water, it will become constipated.

Environmental factors:
Changes which affect an animal's daily routine such as a hospital stay or lack of exercise can also result in constipation.

There may be many other causes of constipation such as those listed below:

  • Aging
  • Fractures of the pelvis or pelvic limbs
  • Lesions around the rectum
  • Prostate Disease
  • Spinal Cord or Disc Disease
  • Large Bowel Nervous Disorders
  • Tumors
  • Metabolic or Endocrine Disorders
  • Debiliation
  • Dehydration

Treatment of Constipation

To treat your pet for constipation, the underlying cause must first be determined.

Your veterinarian will perform a physical examination of your pet and will ask you about your pet's medical history, its diet and its daily routine. Blood tests, x-rays or other tests may also be necessary and will be explained to you prior to testing.

If it is determined that the underlying cause is due to disease or trauma, medical treatment may be necessary to correct the problem.

Home Care Management for Constipation

Diets rich in fiber can be used to aid in the management of constipation in pets as in humans. The fiber increases water retention in the intestines which softens the stool. The increased bulk also increases the propulsive movements of the intestine, helping to alleviate the constipation.

  1. Twice daily, feed your pet a diet containing at least 10 percent fiber to stimulate bowel movement (your veterinarian will advise you on a specific diet).
  2. Do not give your pet bones or snacks and restrict access to foreign materials. Long-haired animals should be brushed daily. This will help remove excess hair that the animal might otherwise ingest.
  3. Thirty to 60 minutes after eating, exercise the dog to encourage defecation.
  4. Provide free access to fresh water.

Managing your pet's care at home is an important part of its treatment. It is essential you follow your veterinarian's instructions. If you have any questions about your pet's medical care, please do not hesitate to ask. Your questions are welcomed by the hospital staff.

Sign of Diarrhea

Diarrhea in a dog or cat is characterized by abnormally frequent, watery stools. Clinical signs associated with diarrhea include frequency of evacuation of loose feces which results in an increase in the volume of feces passed. The diarrheal feces contains not only increased amounts of water and electrolytes, but may also contain mucus, blood, fat or undigested food.

Diarrhea can originate from the small intestine or the large intestine (colitis) and is further subclassified as acute (sudden onset of brief duration) or chronic (long-term). (See Colitis for a discussion of that condition.)

Acute Diarrhea - Small Intestine
Acute diarrhea originating in the small intestine usually lasts less that 48 hours. The feces seldom contains mucus, but it is not uncommon to find blood in the feces. The animal usually loses its appetite or is anorexic. The feces is brown or reddish-brown in color. The animal exhibits a sense of urgency to defecate as well as an increased frequency and may continue straining after defecation.

Chronic Diarrhea - Small Intestine
Chronic diarrhea originating in the small intestine lasts 7-10 days or longer. The animal passes a large volume of watery feces and has bowel movements two or three times as often as its normal frequency. The feces is brown in color unless there is blood in the stool in which case it will have a black, tarry appearance. Little or no mucus is present in the feces (as opposed to Colitis which may have much mucus in the diarrhea).

Causes of Diarrhea

The causes of diarrhea vary widely, but include bacteria, viruses, internal parasites and stress-induced factors. Diarrhea may also be caused by toxic substances which the animal ingests or by food allergies. A change in pet food, eating table scraps or rich snacks, or scavenging spoiled food from garbage may result in diarrhea as well. Organ dysfunction, especially the liver and pancreas, can cause diarrhea.

Diarrhea caused by internal parasites may be a continuous, chronic problem or be intermittent with a normal stool being passed between abnormal stools. Some parasites causing diarrhea in dogs and cats are transferable to humans. Therefore, it is important to identify the parasitic causes.

It is important to note that young animals may be more severely affected by diarrhea than mature animals. Puppies should be carefully observed because their condition could quickly become life-threatening.

However, it is important to differentiate between non-specific diarrhea and diarrhea caused by a more serious health problem.

To treat your pet for diarrhea, your veterinarian must first diagnose the underlying cause.

Treatment of Diarrhea

Initially, your veterinarian will perform a physical examination of your pet and will ask you question about its health history and its diet and daily routine. Often the diagnosis can be made from the health history and physical exam and a treatment can be prescribed.

It may be necessary to withhold all food from your pet for one or two days. The more severe the intestinal disturbance, the longer the period the food must be withheld. Continue to give your pet water during the fasting period.

If your pet is severely dehydrated, intravenous (IV) fluids may be necessary before any diagnostic studies are begun.

Your veterinarian may ask you to collect a fecal sample for microscopic examination to help diagnose the cause of the diarrhea. You will be given a plastic bag or container and instructed on how to obtain a fresh stool sample. Numerous fecal exams or rechecks may be necessary to detect internal parasites which can show up intermittently in the feces.

In some cases of chronic diarrhea, a biopsy is necessary. This procedure involves obtaining a very small section of tissue from the intestine for microscopic study. This can be done through a small incision in the abdomen and involves only a few stitches to close.

Home Care Management for Diarrhea

  1. After your pet has fasted the prescribed number of days as determined by your veterinarian, gradually return it to full feed
  2. Feed small amounts frequently (3 to 6 times daily)
  3. Feed a highly digestible diet containing one percent or less fiber in the dry matter. (This is very different than the recommendation for Colitis in which a diet high in fiber is often indicated.)

The diet for small intestinal diarrhea should provide a moderate amount of highly-digestible protein from cottage cheese, chicken and egg, and not more than 15 percent fat. Carbohydrates should be easily digestible such as those from rice or dextrose.

Avoid diets with the following ingredients: wheat middlings, bran, and other cereal by-products; lactose (milk sugar) and foods containing more than 10 percent sucrose (table sugar). Do not give your pet bones, snacks or table scraps which may irritate the intestinal tract.

Watch your pet at home - checking for recurrent bouts of diarrhea, blood or mucus in the feces, foreign material in the feces, and frequency of defecation. If any of these signs recur or if your pet becomes weak or loses its appetite, please call your veterinarian.

Managing your pet's care at home is an important part of its treatment. It is essential that you follow your veterinarian's instructions. If you have any questions about your pet's medical care, please do not hesitate to ask your veterinary staff.

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Diarrhea

Question: Dear Dr. Richards:

As usual, one of the feral cats I have been taking care of has become my
own a month ago. It is a female kitten and now is about 2.5 months old.
Since I got her, she has been having liquidy stool. I am not sure whether
or not she is having diarrhea. I may sound crazy, but the smell of her
stool is pretty bad too. I have never that young kittens before, so I do
not know it is usual for a kitten. I mainly feed her "Wisker" and "Fancy
Feast" can foods, but no milk at all. Except for that stool problem, she is
healthy and very active.

Is her stool normal for her age? Or is she having diarrhea?
Should I take her to the clinic?
What should I feed her?
How old should she be to get spayed?

Thank you very much.
Sincerely, Thandar

Answer: Thandar-

From your description, I think that this is probably an abnormal stool for
a kitten and that it probably does qualify as diarrhea. Cats do not have a
very efficient digestive system and when it isn't working right, the stools
tend to increase in odor, probably because fat and other nutrients are not
well digested. The most common causes of diarrhea in kittens are probably
parasites and viruses. When kittens get reovirus infections they often have
diarrhea for several weeks, which is not highly responsive to any
treatment. A restricted fat diet, such as Hill's w/d, sometimes seems to
help control the diarrhea, though. Parasites that can cause diarrhea
include roundworms, hookworms, coccidia, giardia and other protozoans. Most
of these can be found on microscopic examination of the stool, but it can
be hard to find giardia at times. It is a good idea to at least rule out
the parasites. If they are not the problem, then it may be necessary to
treat the diarrhea symptomatically. We use loperamide (Immodium AD tm) when
dietary changes alone won't help with diarrhea. If the stools are just
soft, it is probably OK just to do nothing. Even if you do nothing for
diarrhea, most kittens will eventually get over the problem without
residual problems.

Mike Richards, DVM
10/2/2000
Feline coronavirus infectionand other possibilities for diarrhea

Q: Hi Dr. Richards,

Thank you for your response last week.

I have a follow up question:

Alex, a 3-yr old Ragdoll, had bad diarrhea, no temperature, wouldn't eat and
lost 2 lbs (from 9 lbs to 7 lbs).

Alex had blood work done with results:
Kidney norm, elevated white cell, elevated globulin, low albumin, titer
1:400

Using a scope down his throat, he was biopsied and all results, sent to U of
Pa for analysis, were negative.

He was put on prednisone, euroflaxin,and tylan for a week. He is now eating
and acting normal and has gained back some of his weight but still has the
diarrhea (formed like a pancake).

My vet thinks it may be the corona virus which would be chronic. Do you have
any advice?

Thanks,
Valerie
A: Valerie-

Pretty much all of the information that I can find on feline coronavirus
infection indicates that enteric coronavirus in cats causes a short term
illness, usually with diarrhea as the major clinical symptom, lasting about
three to five days. Feline enteric coronavirus is common and appears to be
able to mutate in some cats to become feline infectious peritonitis virus.
This is a much more serious illness that is usually fatal. It would be a
good idea to ask your vet if he is talking about FIP or enteric
coronavirus, just to be sure you are fully aware of the prognosis.

Rotavirus infection in cats has been reported to cause chronic diarrhea
that is unresponsive to therapy. This is usually a problem in kittens but I
don't know that it couldn't occur in an older cat. Definitive diagnosis of
rotavirus infection requires examination of fecal samples by electron
microscopsy and is therefore pretty difficult to prove or disprove. In
studies in which electron microscopy has been used to identify viral agents
causing diarrhea in cats, rotavirus accounted for about 1% of the viruses
identified (Krauss, 1988). This may not be an accurate indicator of the
percentage of time it is still causing disease, though -- as it has been
noted to cause symptoms even after the virus can no longer be found by
electron microscopy.

Other infectious agents that cause chronic diarrhea in cats and can be hard
to find include clostridium, campylobacter and cryptosporodiosis. Fecal
cytology can be helpful in identifying clostridium and cryptosporidium and
special fecal cultures help with identification of campylobacter. These
disorders are treatable, if identified. Sometimes it is just easier to give
antibiotics that will control these problems and hope they work. Tylosin
(Tylan Rx) is helpful in campylobacter and cryptosporidium infections.

Hypersensitivity to a food ingredient is also possible. Sometimes feeding a
single antigen diet (one meat source, preferably one that the cat has not
eaten before) can be helpful in chronic diarrheas. This diet helps to
eliminate the possiblity of a food hypersensitivity reaction.

Intestinal lymphoma is another possible problem. Usually this is
identifiable by endoscopic biopsy but sometimes it is hard to find.

The workup so far has been good and it is frustrating to do the proper
tests and still have no diagnosis.

There are times when surgical exploration of the abdomen and full thickness
biopsy of the intestinal tract, pancreas and liver will produce a diagnosis
when endoscopic biopsy of the intestinal lining has failed to produce a
diagnosis. I am not sure I'd go this far prior to trying some other things,
though.

Since you are seeing progress, the best thing is probably to go ahead with
what your vet has advised and wait to see if it works. If it does, then
there isn't as much concern for knowing what really happened. If it stops
working well or the problem recurs after a remission period then it might
be better to try some other diagnostic testing.

Good luck with this.

Mike Richards, DVM
8/13/99
Coccidia

Q: It seems we have encountered a new or at least a VERY resistant strain of coccidia in the area where I
live (Albany, NY). I rescued some kittens that tested positive for it and treated them with albon
for the usual 10 days. I thought it was all cleared up as they returned to normal (no loose
bowels). I was left with the last two kittens who suddenly started to have diarrhea again and I
had them tested again. They have been treated and retreated with albon to no avail. The
diarrhea just doesn't clear up. One of the vets we work with has told us he has seen this
resistant strain popping up lately and is in the process of contacting Cornell Univ. for help
because current treatments aren't working. These 2 kittens are older and more resilient so far
and we are watching to be sure they are getting enough water. Most of the younger kittens the
vet has tried to treat have passed on from this "new" strain. Have you any information about
this? We really need to find an effective cure as soon as possible. Thank you, bj
 

A: bj-

I am not aware of new strains of coccidia or of coccidia which is highly resistant to treatment but that doesn't mean that there isn't a problem with them.

We have used amprolium (CoRid Rx) when Albon didn't seem to be effective in dogs but have not used this in cats. In Dr.Morgan's text "Handbook of Small Animal Practice" 2nd ed., there is a dosage of amprolium listed for cats. We have used trimethoprim/sulfa combinations with good success except that some cats salivate excessively if they bite through the sugar coating on the tablets or if a pediatric suspension is used.

Mike Richards, DVM
Persistent diarrhea in Kitten

Q: Thank you so much for your site. Although I found it extremely
informative, I was hoping I might get a more specific answer to my
problem. I have a kitten not in good health, that I hope to save
because my three year old granddaughter has become quite attached to it,
and it's sister died and Gabby was okay with being told that cat went to
heaven, but I am afraid if this one dies it will be too upsetting for
her. Anyhow...and outside cat of mine (no shots or anything - I live in
the country and have several outside cats) had two kittens. I brought
the mother and kittens in when I discovered this. Everything seemed
fine for about the first 6-6 weeks when one kitty appeared to be losing
weight. By this time they were still nursing but also eating cat food
(either moistened dry or canned). The little cat seemed to have a
ravenous yet picky appetite = She wanted scraps of anything people
were eating, but turned her nose up at dry cat food, moist and even some
canned food. About the only way she would eat was if I moistened the
food with milk. I also noticed she began to have diarrhea. Well, she
continued to loose weight and I thought I'd better get an appointment at
the vets, but she died over the weekend. Oh yes, and her tummy was very
bloated so I thought of worms. Well, during all this (about a week) the
sister cat seemed fine and used the litter box (most times) and when she
went it was in little stools. By the way these are manx cats. Well,
about a week to two weeks after the first kitten died. the second one
started with the loose bowel movements and her stomach seems more
bloated than when she was younger. I called the vet and rather than see
her, they suggested we give her "Strongid". We bought that fro the vet
and gave it to her. The loose bowel movements got worse. The vets
office said this was to be expected. It has been two weeks. She is no
better. Actually, she is worse. I have to keep her in a cage or out on
the porch because this putty colored diarrhea just seems to "dribble"
out of her back side all the time. I set her outside and then bring her
in and wash her butt and put her in her cage until I can't stand the
meowing anymore. Yesterday, I thought I saw something hanging from her
butt - about 3/4 inch long, flat, but the width of thin spaghetti, with
legs; a cream color - sort of like a small centipede. It grossed me
out. I washed her butt and it must have just gone down the drain. An I
seeing things? Could this have gotten on her outside, or do you think
it could have come out if her. She is no better. HELP please. I had
called a different vet a day or two ago and they made an appointment for
her to be seen 2 days from now. I do not have a lot of money to run a
zillion tests and my preference would be to put the poor little thing to
sleep, but because my granddaughter is so sad that she is sick and loves
the kitten, I am hoping we can save her. Any ideas or suggestions.
Thank you so VERy VERy much.

Dee

A: Dee-

I can't think of any "normal" parasite that would live in the kitten's
intestinal tract and have legs. But everything except the legs part sounds
like you might have seen a tapeworm segment. These are muscular egg sacs
that move for several minutes after being expelled from an infested pet's
rectum. The segments of a tapeworm are developing egg sacs.

It is somewhat unlikely that tapeworms would cause the sort of persistent
diarrhea that you are seeing but it is possible so it may be worth using a
deworming medication for this parasite, too.

Drinking milk will cause diarrhea in many kittens and it will persist as
long as the milk is given and sometimes for a while after milk drinking is
discontinued.

A fecal examination is a relatively inexpensive test that would rule out
other possible parasites, such as coccidia or giardia. It takes about a
teaspoonful of stool (feces) to do a fecal exam. The fresher the sample is
the better when looking for parasites other than worms.

It is not unusual for kittens to develop persistent diarrhea. This can be a
very frustrating situation. It often takes several trips to the vet to be
able to work out a treatment plan that controls the diarrhea. Most of the
kittens with persistent diarrhea eventually get over the condition with or
without treatment but they are a lot easier to care for if the diarrhea can
be controlled. Sometimes we just resort to controlling the diarrhea with
medications such as diphenoxylate (Lomotil Rx) or loperamide (Immodium AD
TM). It is best to discuss this with your vet since the dosages are weight
dependent and there are times when anti-diarrheal medications are not a
good idea.

I know this isn't much help. It seems reasonable to me to go for at least
one exam and to do fecal testing before giving up on this little one, though.

Mike Richards, DVM
Diarrhea in kittens

Q: My kitten is not doing well :(

Please take the time to answer this - we don't want to put her to sleep
unless there is no other option.

We have a 11 week old kitten who has had awful diarrhea for the past 4
or 5 days now, and has a jondas look to her ears and gums. The vet
seems like he just doesn't know what to do. She is getting really
skinny, although she eats quite a bit. Just every 3 to 6 hours she'll
have awful diarrhea. She isn't happy, and doesn't do anything but lie
down and sleep. What can be done? Is there anything we should test her
for? Thank you for your time.

A: Jason-

Diarrhea in kittens is a major diagnostic challenge in some instances. It
is a good idea to test several fecal samples to rule out internal parasites
such as worms, coccidia and Giardia. Feline leukemia can cause many
symptoms of illness, including diarrhea. It would be a good idea to test
for this as well. A general blood chemistry panel and complete blood count
(CBC) is a good idea when kittens do not respond well to therapy. When
jaundice (icteris) is present it is important to determine if it is
happening due to internal bleeding or due to liver disease. These tests
will help in determining that. If liver disease seems to be the cause then
more specific liver function testing, such as bile acid response testing,
should be considered.

All of this testing is expensive but it is hard to treat chronic diarrhea
effectively without knowing why it is occurring. E