Venus - tummy troubles - Soft Stool

[Lauryn]

Hello!

This is a bit of a doozy, so I thought I would bring this to the group to see if anyone can help or give me some guidance.

My little girl since I adopted her has had varying stool, she has about two bowl movements in the day, and one or two at night. Otherwise she is just playing all day long. She had a really rough journey to her forever home in May to Berlin, from West Ukraine. For obvious reasons her early months and the journey from a very wonderful cattery, were of course complicated and stressful, but her and her brother are now living very happily in Berlin.

So the trip really weakened her immune system of course, and she was still learning to use the toilet when I got her so the first few months things went from diarrhea to very soft stool, that it sometimes not formed. From this time on the recommendation of the cattery I was feeding her Royal Canin Kitten Food, dry (leave a bowl out all day) and wet food (in the morning with Pro Plan FortiFlora and L-lysine in it).

It took a bit for her immune system to stabilize, but it eventually did with a minor eye infection showing up and then going away. Then I noticed, as my shop ran out of the Royal Canin Kitten, that I had to purchase the Royal Canin Kitten Sterilze that her stool improved with this but not entirely, so I continued with the Pro Plan FortiFlora. Though her stool for the most part remained soft, and at least one bowel movement would be unformed, but not entirely liquid.

She has remained this entire time having a very good appetite, drinking plenty of water, gaining weight, etc. and no signs of illness just this ongoing stool issue.

In the past month, I have taken a stool sample to the vet and had it tested for parasites, etc and it all came back negative. The Vet also gave me a program of 3 days of stool hardener (which made things worse) and Canikur Pro for a week 1ml x 2 a day, and things didn't improve. There was only a slight improvement when she ate Vet-Concept Cat Intestinal (Cat Intestinal für die Katze von Vet-Concept ►) which is: sweet potato*, duck meat, oils and fats, chicory root, minerals, seeds (flaxseed), *dried. --

The Vet then recommended we try a mono protein diet, where then she gave me Vet-Concept Cat Intestinal (Cat Intestinal für die Katze von Vet-Concept ►) which is: sweet potato*, duck meat, oils and fats, chicory root, minerals, seeds (flaxseed), *dried. and Vet-Concept- horse meat. Where I think saw some improvement finally, but then when I switched fully to the horse meat. 1. Venus didn't like it much 2. stool issue got went back it its previous issue of being soft and wet.

I am currently switching her to Vet-Concept Cat Intestinal, but I have to get a code from my Vet to purchase it, so I have brought the closest thing to it I can find: Happy Cat Junior Kitten - Land Duck, and waiting to see if this improved things.

*** Extra side notes: also during this last month of my trying new foods, poor Venus had an eye infection from the cat Flu. So her poor body was under quite a bit of stress. Which I think could factor as well to her stool irregularity along with the food changes. Her vet also heard a small murmur so I am getting this checked out asap with an ultra sound.

Would be so grateful to hear anyones ideas, experiences with similar things, potential solutions etc. as I am quite lost about this and while Venus is as happy as can be, she deserves to have proper bowl movements!

many thanks in advance and best wishes to you all

- Lauryn

 

[Yoda mom]

@Sheldon13, @Catzzzmeow

 

[hscott]

I’m having a similar issue with one of my boys. He’s a year old and never has had a normal bowel movement. Always soft and unformed. I’ve tried many foods, pumpkin powder, and probiotics. Vet has not been a help. I’m not sure what to do now.

 

[Lauryn]

I’m having a similar issue with one of my boys. He’s a year old and never has had a normal bowel movement. Always soft and unformed. I’ve tried many foods, pumpkin powder, and probiotics. Vet has not been a help. I’m not sure what to do now.

Im sorry to hear you are having this issue too. its quite perplexing after trying so many things. Both with sphynx and other cats Ive i haven’t heard of such continued stomach issues before. wondering if we both would benefit from doing allergy tests for them? Does your boy have any other issues?

 

[Yoda mom]

@Lauryn , sharing one of my kitties has sensitive stomach. food trials can take upwards of 12 weeks in my experience for food switch to settle.. My vet shared I could get many false negative or positives on allergy testing, and I did the food trials instead. I had them on Acana , and wow it was a no go for all of them. loose stools. I finally found a food that works for her I get in the US. my whole crew has been on it for years. Nutrisource cat and kitten food. (no recalls, though it is not a mono protein)

stress can definitely play a role. how is her eye? did vet suggest eye drops? on any antibiotics (which also can cause some poo issues).
as for the heart murmur, kudso to you to follow up. I will share my 11 mos old at the time vet said he had a heartmurmur based on what he heard. it can be from in office stress and on recheck no longer detected outgrow . let us know her ultrasound results. (may need to post on FB page if after the sept 17th closing date of this forum)

several members have mentioned royal canin ultamino working well for them.
@hscott do not hesitate to post a thread of your own with updates so all can chime in


hugs n head smooches.

 

[Lauryn]

@Lauryn , sharing one of my kitties has sensitive stomach. food trials can take upwards of 12 weeks in my experience for food switch to settle.. My vet shared I could get many false negative or positives on allergy testing, and I did the food trials instead. I had them on Acana , and wow it was a no go for all of them. loose stools. I finally found a food that works for her I get in the US. my whole crew has been on it for years. Nutrisource cat and kitten food. (no recalls, though it is not a mono protein)

stress can definitely play a role. how is her eye? did vet suggest eye drops? on any antibiotics (which also can cause some poo issues).
as for the heart murmur, kudso to you to follow up. I will share my 11 mos old at the time vet said he had a heartmurmur based on what he heard. it can be from in office stress and on recheck no longer detected outgrow . let us know her ultrasound results. (may need to post on FB page if after the sept 17th closing date of this forum)

several members have mentioned royal canin ultamino working well for them.
@hscott do not hesitate to post a thread of your own with updates so all can chime in


hugs n head smooches.

Thanks so much for this info! that helps so much to hear.

So obvious, but didn't even think...of course the antibiotics could be causing some stomach issues too. She just finished ten days on Cepemycin CTC 10mg, and her eyes are completely better, but it did take one week trial on a different kind of drops, which relieved the symptoms but didn't cure and yeah then the ten days of the Cepemycin. Makes me wonder if I should also start her on the Pro Plan FortiFlora again. What do you think?

I just got back a urine test as well and she is checking out all good there. And got the code for the vet-concept food which they recommended I feed her for 6 weeks to see if it settles well, but good to know that you have experienced after 12 weeks. It can just be so hard to tell, with such long time periods.

If this Vet-concept food doesnt work out I will definitely try out the Royal Canin Ultamino.

I am also hoping the murmur is just her being nervous at the vet. crossing fingers and will post updates here if not on the FB page.

best wishes!

 

[Toa and Ross]

Sorry to hear you're dealing with this issue. My boy Toa had diarrhea for months when he was a kitten. The vet couldn't find the cause and we tried all kind of antibiotics and food. Nothing seemed to work. Finally I tried raw food and within a week his issues were over. After a few months on raw he could go back to kibbles and wet food. No idea if the raw food really solved it or it was just a lucky shot.