15-year-old cat diarrhea

[vcheng79]

Hi, it's me again. I posted a while ago about my 15-year-old cat, Mama. She went to the vet for her diarrhea problem and was precribed a few medications. Her condition got a bit better and now the diarrhea is back. Her pooh comes out like a water jet so I have to place water absorping paper everywhere near the litter box. I don't know what else to do. Can anyone please help???

[sugarcatmom]

What were the meds that the vet gave her? I think one was a de-wormer, correct? Were you able to get Mama to take it?

What does Mama eat? Does she go outside at all?

[vcheng79]

No, Mama doesn't go outside except going to the vet and she never touches the floor. However, I have a dog who goes outside. They don't have much interaction because Mama absolutely hates dogs. Mama & my other cat stay in my room most of the time except when I come home and I will let them out. The vet gave her Sucari, Metronidazole and uni-sulf (dewormer). I tried my best giving the dewormer to Mama but everytime her tongue touches the pill (I used a pill gun already), she throws up every thing. The liquid dewormer the vet prescribe has the same effect. I wonder if there's another dewormer available.

[badger]

I'd have her stool analyzed before proceeding with another medication. You could ask the vet if it would be worth having it examined not only for the usual parasites but also for bacterial infections. She may simply be on the wrong medication. Metro is known for causing tummy problems but watery diarrhea is pretty extreme. Make sure she gets enough fluid, you don't want her to get dehydrated.
I would also feed her exclusively boiled rice and chicken for a few days, see if that helps.

[chico2]

vcheng,why would a 15yr old cat who never goes outside need deworming??
Maybe I missed something??

[Dr Lee]

I agree with badger. At 15 we need some more information. With cats especially OTC meds can have some complications

Also chico - good question!

[vcheng79]

I did have her stool analyzed by the vet. Nothing showed up in the first swear and a detail examination, but the second smear done about a week ago had a few worm eggs. I guess the vet prescribe dewormer because of BB, my new 11-month-old cat. I bought her around Christmas, 2007.

I will try to feed her exclusively broil rice and chicken but it might be quite difficult because she will eat from BB's bowl. I saw somewhere saying that I should starve Mama for a day to see if the diarrhea stops but this way I will have to starve BB as well...

[vcheng79]

What's OTC meds?

[sugarcatmom]

Originally Posted by vcheng79

I will try to feed her exclusively broil rice and chicken but it might be quite difficult because she will eat from BB's bowl.

Both cats can eat the same thing for a day or 2. What is their regular food?

Originally Posted by vcheng79

I saw somewhere saying that I should starve Mama for a day to see if the diarrhea stops but this way I will have to starve BB as well...

Never fast a cat, even one with diarrhea. Make sure she's getting enough fluids, so if you boil some chicken, mix lots of chicken broth into the rice/chicken combo.

Originally Posted by vcheng79

What's OTC meds?

Over the counter, as in not a prescription.

[badger]

I think in a 15-year-old cat, I might deworm first and medicate later, if necessary. Too many meds can be upsetting all by themselves.
Do try the chicken and rice. It's good for both of them. Cook the rice with the chicken, so it gets the benefit of the broth, until it is very soft. You can put the pot in the fridge overnight, then skim off the fat if you're worried about there being too much. Minimize the fat in any case (bad for the liver).

[vcheng79]

I never cooked rice in a pot. How should I do that? Do I add a small amount of chicken essance to it? Or do I just add rice and chicken? My cat is very fuzzy about what she eats, what if she refuses to eat that?

Both my cats eat Science Diet. Kitten formula for BB + Gimpet Baby-Paste + 1 canned of wet food each day. 1 - 2 packs of Royal Canine Sensitivity wet food per day for Mama.

[Love4himies]

I would change her diet to a quality canned food that is grain free and uses human grade meat. Wellness, grain free (but has potato) is a great food along with Instinct canned and Organics by Nature. I would however, stay away from Instinct, venison flavour, as it is high in phosphorus and calcium. Organics has fewer ingredients so if your kitty does have a food sensitivity, then it may be your best bet.

http://www.naturesvariety.com/instinct_cat_can

http://www.bynaturepetfoods.com/prod...nedcat.php#ttl