Litter Woes…… Why Cats get Loose Stool ☆

Logo 2There’s nothing worse than walking into a room and getting the distinct stench of your cat’s litter box. Immediately you know that something is seriously amiss.  When a cat has diarrhea, everyone in the house knows it.  Finding out the reason is the hardest part.   Cat in litter boxCats get loose stool for a variety of reasons.  One of the reasons is a change in their diet.  If you are using a commercial dry or canned cat food and have not changed the brand, perhaps the manufacturer changed the ingredients in the food.  Cats are very sensitive to these changes and sometimes require a period of adjustment to the new formula.  Diets and treats that contain too many carbohydrates or fillers can also have this effect.   Many inexpensive foods use flavor enhancers to make the food more palatable to the cat.  These types of ingredients are sometimes poorly utilized by the cat’s body and can cause loose stool.

Is your cat a hunter?  Even though a mouse is the best meal for a cat, it can harbor parasites that can transfer to your cat when he is enjoying his prize.   These parasites can also be the cause of loose stool.  Providing your vet with a stool sample can rule out this potential threat.  Cats have the ability to manifest physical symptoms while under stress.  Many people don’t think that their cats can be stressed out, after all, how much does he really need to do?  Eat, sleep, & poop?  The type of stress that effect cats are:  Changes in the environment.  Did you add a new animal or human to the household?  Did you buy a new couch?  Did you change where the litter box is located? Or even change the type or brand of litter?  Is there hostility in the house from domestic situations?  All these and more are considered stressors to the average cat.

Frequent travelling is another factor.  Is your cat left under the care of a pet sitter frequently?  Do you travel with your cat?  Cats are very reluctant to change. They like things to stay status quo.  These are just some of the cat with stinky boxexamples of the kind of stressors that might have an effect on your cat’s bowel habits.  Stress also causes inflammation.  Irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that develops when constant inflammation is present.  In order to reduce the inflammation the stressors have to be eliminated.  The diet has to be addressed to eliminate any aspects that will contribute to the inflammation as well.

In my experience, cats that are fed a raw food diet rarely have digestive issues.  Supplements like slippery elm or marshmallow root help soothe the lining of the intestinal tract to help it heal.  Probiotics are also very beneficial.  They help to repopulate the micro flora in the intestines so the cat can process its food more efficiently.   By addressing all aspects of your cats lifestyle and making changes where needed can help to eliminate the horrible experience of your cat’s intestinal distress.

Until next time my Furry Followers!

 

Should I set up a consultation with Amy? ☆

Logo 2If you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s diet.  If your pet had been diagnosed with a medical condition and you don’t know what the best diet is for him.  The hardest part of researching anything is sifting through all that information and deciphering what is fact and what is opinion.

Many people offer their advice with good intentions, but unfortunately, most of the information they are passing on is not based on facts.  I have spent most of my career attending lectures and conferences given by the experts in each field.  By doing this, I have amassed a wealth of knowledge in nutrition and wellness for dogs and cats.  I have also had the opportunity to gather a lot of anecdotal evidence on many different medical conditions and treatments. If you would like to finally know what you should really be doing for the health of your furry friend it is time to set up a consultation.Amy

No matter what your schedule, we have a few different consultation options for you. All consultations provide:   A 1 hour one on one personal review of your pets current diet, treats, lifestyle and medical records. Diet and/or supplement recommendations customized to your pet based on evaluation of all information you provide. You will also receive any updated research information corresponding to your pets wellness needs. Even if your pet does not have a current medical condition, this consultation will help you make the best decisions for your pet to keep him as healthy as possible.   In Store Consultations: $75.00/hr.  Email consult: $55.00.

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