Feline Nutritional Diarrhea

Diet is often used when a cat is suffering from what is known as small bowel diarrhea. There is an ongoing debate if it helps cats with larger bowel diarrhea. Every cat responds differently to dietary change resulting in some experimentation as to what works. The goal of changing diets is to reduce the difficulty your cat will have in digesting the food you feed her.

Cats that are suffering from diarrhea need a diet that is easily digestible. This includes a diet that is gluten and lactose free while delivering protein and carbohydrates. Some of the hypoallergenic diets are made this way. These diets usually contain one of the following: lamb, fish, chicken, rabbit and venison. You should avoid commercial foods that contain a combination of lamb, beef, rice and wheat.

Most veterinarians prefer a diet that also contains soluble fiber. Others like to add a supplement that contains psyllium or oat bran. Fiber absorbs moisture and helps to bind the feces.

Some commercial hypoallergenic diets might help such as Hill's Prescription Diet d/d.

If you cat doesn't improve after two weeks with a new commercial diet then a homemade diet might be necessary. A typical homemade diet you could try is white rice mixed with boiled hamburger (drain the fat first). You could also try or cooked chicken.

Alternative Medicine and Feline Nutritional Diarrhea

Several natural remedies are associated with helping to restore balance in the digestive system:

• Plantago major (Plantain): known to help the digestive system and mucous membranes.
  
  
• Alchemilla vulgaris (Lady’s Mantle) supports healthy firm stools and maintain bowel functioning. Alchemilla also contains tannins, which support the natural production of secretions that form a soothing layer on the lining of the digestive tract. (Jonadet M, Meunier MT, Villie F, Bastide JP, Lamaison JL. “Flavonoids extracted Alchemilla vulgaris”. J Pharmacol. 1986;17:21–7).
  
  
• Podophyllum (6C) is a natural remedy often used for a gurgling stomach.
  
  
• Sulphur (6C) is naturally found in the body and supports digestive function.
  

One product worth researching which combines all of these ingredients is RunnyPoo Relief.

Another supplement to help with feline nutritional diarrhea is Omega-3 Pet for Cats. This supplement is known for reducing inflammation and has some clinical support for Irritable Bowel Disease, one of the conditions that cause diarrhea. There is a small risk of side effects such as a problem with the pancreas. This is definitely an option worth discussing with your veterinarian.

Deficiencies in certain vitamins are associated with diarrhea as a symptom. The following table list the vitamins and recommended doses in cats.

Recommended Dosage Of Vitamins For Cats
Vitamin	Dose for every pound your cat weighs (be sure to follow directions on label)
Niacin	.12 mg/lb.
Vitamin B5(Pantothenic Acid)	.1 mg/lb.
Biotin	.001 mg/lb.

References:

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach to the Cat with Chronic Diarrhea
Stanley L. Marks, BVSc, PhD, Dip. ACVIM (Internal Medicine, Oncology), Dip. ACVN
University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine

Davis, California, USAThe Use of Long Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
C.A. Kirk
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA

 

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