GI issues 4 month old kitten

Linsey

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We brought Auggie home a month ago when she was 3 months old and since day one she has ranged from formed soft stools to complete mush diarrhea, all with a small amount of bright red blood and mucus. Her belly is distended and bloated and she has thrown up intermittently ranging from bile only to food/water.

Vet has ruled out worms, parasites, panleukopenia, infection and any obstructions. They started her on FortiFlora SA and Purina EN wet food. She ate some of the food and then decided she hated it. So we have now started her on a limited ingredient, single protein diet of Ziwi Venison, which I read was good for sensitive tummies. She initially loved it, but now seems to only tolerate it. She’s not eating much and her activity/energy has been much reduced. I’m scared to change her food up for fear we’ll be back where we started. Vet prescribed an appetite stimulant, Mirtaz transdermal (only using 1/4 of a reg dose since she is only 2.7lbs). But after 3 days, I’m not seeing much of a difference in her appetite.

Vet says the probiotics and diet should help the inflammation in her guts go down which should in turn stop the blood/mucus and firm up the poops. How do I get her to eat though, so she can get the full dose of probiotics??? I thought FortiFlora was supposed to be kitty crack - she could care less. Supposed to follow up with call to vet in a week and really want to give them good news. But so far not much improvement on the poop front.

I did buy some Honest Kitchen digestive enzymes on Chewy (should be here tomorrow), but not sure what else to do or try so looking for advice and suggestions. I really want to get over this hump so she can start to thrive and be a normal energetic kitten. I really hope she doesn’t have GI disease like IBD or a food allergy/intolerance.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Here is my first thought. Try rabbit instead of venison. Most cats really like rabbit. I'm not sure how many like venison. AND, I spoke to a Ziwi representative, and she told me Ziwi takes some getting used to, so maybe you might try a different brand. I know you want something that doesn't have a lot of gunk in it, and Ziwi certainly fits the bill there, but if their own reps say it takes some getting used to, that tell you something. My cats wouldn't eat it, ever! Rawz is a good brand, if you can find it. If you have any natural pet food stores in your area, they might have it. OR, you could try going the actual raw route. I use freeze dried raw and hydrate it in warm water for one cat, the other will only eat it in it's dry state, but then I give him cat broths right afterwards to make sure he's hydrated. I do know Stella and Chewy makes a freeze dried rabbit for cats.

Did they do a PCR on her with all the tests they did? That one requires an outside lab for the testing but it checks for things out of the ordinary. Oh, and I should mention, FortiFlora IS usually like Kitty Crack, and it works great for normal diarrhea, but one of my cats absolutely hates it. The other one loves it though, so you just never know.
 
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Linsey

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Oh wow, very interesting about the Ziwi. I did get a bag of Vital Essentials freeze-dried rabbit patties a week ago, but then read transitioning to raw, even freeze-dried, also takes a long time. Just don’t want to upset her tummy again. Ugh this is so frustrating. What about a canned rabbit that’s not raw, like Dr. Elsey’s Rabbit & Turkey? Also started looking at other probiotics: Proviable DC or Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics thinking more strains might be better???

Vet did a blood test and sent her poop out for testing but I’m not sure she did a PCR test. Will ask about it though.
thanks so much for replying, really appreciate it!
 
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Linsey

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Thanks guys. Ended up back at vet due to no change in vomiting and still having diarrhea with blood. She began 100% just laying or meatloafing all day, not eating, not playing. They did an x-ray that didn‘t show anything significant which is good. but she lost 2 ounces which is bad, so started her on antibiotics and a dewormer tonight. Dewormer just to be safe and vet said it wouldn‘t hurt. Will continue Mirtaz, probiotics and adding Zofran for nausea. I praying this does the trick without any permanent damage. And really really praying this isn’t a bigger issue like IBD.
 

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As probiotics go, I’ve had much better luck with Propectalin than Fortaflora at getting diarrhea under control. You can get it from but your vet may sell it too. But there does seem to be something more serious going on that I hope you’re able to figure out.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Did you discuss using those digestive enzymes that you ordered from Chewy with your Vet. IF they gave the OK, those should help her gain back the weight loss, as they help with nutrients making sure the body uses everything it can from their food.

Hoping you and your Vet can get to the bottom of this.

:vibes: :vibes: :vibes:
 
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Linsey

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So it’s day 2 on Amoxicillin and some things have improved but dealing with some unpleasant side effects. She had better energy today and ate a little more, nothing drastic, but small improvement. However she is having some really interesting diarrhea: liquid squirts, more like water than poop, and very messy. She also Has extreme gas. Farting every 5-10minutes and it is STRONG! Wondering if some of the farts are accompanied by diarrhea squirts. Trying to keep her clean, but it’s just getting all over her bum and back legs. I feel so bad for her. I hope this is a good sign - the death throws of the bad bacteria dying and her expelling it. Anyway 8 more days to go, puppy pads everywhere and in a cloud of noxious fart fumes.
 
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Linsey

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Oh and vet said no digestives enzymes right now. We also sent another poop sample for GI panel test. so hopefully we‘ll hear back on Monday about that.
 
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Linsey

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Her initial fecal test was negative for worms. But vet put her on a dewormer just in case. we haven’t had much luck getting her to eat it with even the smallest amount of wet food. Yesterday we wasted 2 packs trying to get her to eat, but no go. Today she ate half. I’m talking like a teaspoon, ugh. Will try the s. boullardi, but right now the only thing she will eat consistently is royal canin baby cat. Good new is she hasn’t thrown up since we started the antibiotic. Ready for her to get better and feel better.
 

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Antibiotics often cause diarrhea because they interfere with the good flora in their intestines. My Vet always recommends using Fortiflora whenever we have to give antibiotics. Usually it works like a charm, but not always. It really depends on which antibiotic they are on. And the good news is, I'd say 90% of cats out there love the last of Fortiflora. Lots of people use it as a topper just to get their cats to eat.
 
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Linsey

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Day 4 on Amoxicillin
Good news: still no vomiting, she ate all of yesterday’s dewormer (yay) and she ate a little more last night than she has in the past 2 weeks, just a little more. Energy is up a little too, playing just a bit more, but still sleeping a lot.

Bad news: diarrhea and gas persist. I started mixing 1 packet of FortiFlora with 1/2 scoop of Dr. Mercola’s Complete Probiotic, which has Saccharomyces Boullardi and Lactobacillus Acidophilus, into her food. Hope that helps soon.
Her guts/belly is still very big, bulging and distended. When is the inflammation going to start going down??
 

mrsgreenjeens

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Hopefully that results of the GI panel will be back tomorrow and you'll know more about what is causing the bloating (other than gas). THEN maybe she can get the correct treatment for it if she isn't already. :crossfingers:

BTW, sounds good that her appetite is up.
 
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Linsey

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End of day 6 and there has been much improvement. Appetite is nearly back to normal, without the mirtaz and zofran! Energy has skyrocketed and she’s running and jumping and playing a lot more - acting like a normal kitten. Still no vomiting and her body feels less frail like she’s put on some weight. Still having diarrhea and gas, but have not seen anymore blood in her poo. Still waiting on GI panel results and we have a follow up appt on Thursday. belly still bloated but hoping once she’s off the antibiotic, the diarrhea, gas and bloating will go away. Obviously there was some sort of bacterial infection otherwise she wouldn’t be improving, that‘s my theory anyway.
 
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Linsey

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GI Panel results = all negative. What?! So confused now. The amoxicillin is obviously working so there must be some bacterial infection, right?? Maybe she has a bacteria that wasn’t in the GI panel? If not bacterial infection, then what?
 

mrsgreenjeens

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I'm not sure if what the GI panel shows? Many only parasites :dunno: ? Guess you'll find out tomorrow? But the fact that she is improving does sound like some sort of bacterial issue. Hoping your Vet has some answers for you and that you'll share them with us afterwards.

SO glad she is acting like she feels better :cheerleader:
 
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Linsey

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Back from vet. She thinks Auggie definitely had a bacterial infection but is secondary to what is going on with her guts. She‘s very concerned that she still has diarrhea and that her intestines are so inflamed and rope-like. Said they were as big as her pinky finger which is not right. So we have an appt with an internal medicine specialist vet on Jan. 5th to get ultrasound. I’m hoping that once the antibiotics are done on Saturday that the diarrhea/gas resolve and the inflammation starts going down. Please please please, this is my only Christmas wish. She got a shot of B12 today and I’m going to give her another in a week: 1/week for 4 weeks. Sadly, I have lots of experience giving kitty injections bc my beloved cat before Auggie, Oscar, had HCM, CKD and Anemia. We lost him in October and still not over it. But was really looking forward to a new healthy kitten, guess that‘s just not in the cards for us - why does this keep happening to us??? Anyway, I’m determined to get to the bottom of this and get this inflammation remedied. Auggie doesn’t know it, but she got the perfect momma that will not give up and will do everything to make sure she gets better and/or has the upmost care she needs for the highest quality of life possible If she does has some crazy disease. Vet thinks she’s too young for IBD or lymphoma, but with our luck, I’m not ruling anything out. Sigh.
 

mrsgreenjeens

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I'm so sorry about the loss of your other cat..You're right, Auggie doesn't know just how lucky she is. Keep us posted on how the next visit goes.

I know just how you feel about having sick cats. I've had three kidney cats, and now all appearances seem that we may have a fourth. With our current two, we're been feeding them raw food, and using only filtered water for the past eleven years. Surely, I thought to myself, this wil be the key to keeping them healthy. Not so, it appears :frown:

We'll be thinking about you and Auggie.
 
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