Loose Stools

Will&Griff2018

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hi, I’m new to this site looking for some recommendations. I adopted two brothers in November from the local shelter. Since before I got them they’ve had very loose stools occasional diarrhea. They were tested and treated just in case for all parasites all came back negative. The shelter says it’s most likely from stress of being there for 2 months. What can I do to bulk them up and try to get it resolved? It’s not watery diarrhea it’s just very soft and loose.
 

war&wisdom

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A teaspoon of plain pureed pumpkin (cans available in the grocery store -- careful, no spices or additives!) per kitty can bulk up stools. It's fiber!
 
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Will&Griff2018

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I’ve tried the pumpkin already, it didn’t work.
 

war&wisdom

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Yes 3 days
I did it for about a week. And I have continued to do it once a week since then.

You could also try probiotics. I've had great success with TummyWorks so far (it's odorless and flavorless), and others swear by FortiFlora.

Have they been tested specifically for coccidia and/or giardia? That's usually a different test than the one for worms.
 

LTS3

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Give it a week or so. 3 days isn't much time so have patience :)

What are you feeding the cats? The same food they were eating at the shelter? When they were at the shelter, were the stools normal? Do you give tap water or filtered or bottled water?
 
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Will&Griff2018

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Give it a week or so. 3 days isn't much time so have patience :)

What are you feeding the cats? The same food they were eating at the shelter? When they were at the shelter, were the stools normal? Do you give tap water or filtered or bottled water?
The shelter said they delveloped diarrhea a couple days before we adopted them. They were on prescription food for that for about 2 weeks. I have them on Rachael rays food ever since. And I give tap water.
 
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Will&Griff2018

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I did it for about a week. And I have continued to do it once a week since then.

You could also try probiotics. I've had great success with TummyWorks so far (it's odorless and flavorless), and others swear by FortiFlora.

Have they been tested specifically for coccidia and/or giardia? That's usually a different test than the one for worms.
Yes they were tested for it and it was negative
 

missy&spikesmom

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Just a thought or two..... Stool tests can indeed come back with false negatives. So it LOOKS like the test shows the stool is fine, when indeed, there are parasites involved. Also, your kitties could just have a gastritis from past issues, as the GI Flora is very delicate and can be unbalanced very easily! Tummy Works and Forti- Flora are common ones used, although there are others available online. Make sure if you use them, to see if they need to be refrigerated and if they are still within the timeframe of the bottle's "usage date". I have mixed organic vanilla yogurt (1 teaspoon) with 1 tablespoon of pumpkin and did that for several weeks and it did help my kitties! If you are hesitant to use a dairy-milk product yogurt, you could use the coconut milk non-dairy yogurt ( "SO" brand). But, it seems 1/2 the people think the dairy-milk yogurt is fine (since it is using cultures etc...) and the other 1/2 feel non-dairy is better.... My kitties did fine with what I used and it DID help, but like I said, it was for several week's time. Hope they feel better really soon! Sounds like you are REALLY trying on this! :)
 
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Will&Griff2018

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Just a thought or two..... Stool tests can indeed come back with false negatives. So it LOOKS like the test shows the stool is fine, when indeed, there are parasites involved. Also, your kitties could just have a gastritis from past issues, as the GI Flora is very delicate and can be unbalanced very easily! Tummy Works and Forti- Flora are common ones used, although there are others available online. Make sure if you use them, to see if they need to be refrigerated and if they are still within the timeframe of the bottle's "usage date". I have mixed organic vanilla yogurt (1 teaspoon) with 1 tablespoon of pumpkin and did that for several weeks and it did help my kitties! If you are hesitant to use a dairy-milk product yogurt, you could use the coconut milk non-dairy yogurt ( "SO" brand). But, it seems 1/2 the people think the dairy-milk yogurt is fine (since it is using cultures etc...) and the other 1/2 feel non-dairy is better.... My kitties did fine with what I used and it DID help, but like I said, it was for several week's time. Hope they feel better really soon! Sounds like you are REALLY trying on this! :)
I also treated them for guardia and other parasites a couple weeks after they were home. I just ordered some tummy works, fingers crossed
 

war&wisdom

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Side note, does anyone know if I can keep using my current supply TummyWorks if I forgot to refrigerate for a day or two? My apartment stays quite cool.
 

verna davies

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You could try psyllium. A pinch on the food twice a day. It is not absorbed into the intestines but forms a gel that binds the stools.
 

LTS3

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Side note, does anyone know if I can keep using my current supply TummyWorks if I forgot to refrigerate for a day or two? My apartment stays quite cool.
As long as the probiotics aren't exposed to freezing or really hot temperatures, it's fine to use. Average house temperature of 50 F to 80 F or so won't harm probitoics. The product FAQs says refrigeration is ideal but not required: TummyWorks
 
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