Persistent Diarrhea - Kitten Still Thriving

[Misprints]

Hi, all!

I was just hoping to get some opinions on a problem that my little guy's been having.

Rollo has had soft stool (sometimes diarrhea) since I brought him home 23 December 2018. I didn't bring him to the vet for the first week since I thought that maybe it might be due to stress, but when it didn't resolve after he appeared to settle in, I tried changing his diet. He was eating Hill's Science Kitten food (both wet and dry) at his breeder. I switched him to Wellness Core Turkey Kitten food (wet) and Instinct Original Kitten (dry). At first that seemed to fix the issue (he was having more solid stools), but after a few days he was back to cow patty stools.

I've sent in two stool samples to the vet. Both came back negative for parasites (including giardia). She prescribed metronidazole for a week anyway, just in case, but it didn't help.

Rollo is now eating a homemade diet of boneless chicken thighs + EZComplete, which I transitioned him to over the course of a week. This morning he had healthy stool (the first in a while!), but just an hour ago he was back to the soft stool/near diarrhea.

He hasn't vomited a single time through all of this, has a healthy appetite, and is steadily putting on weight. He's also plenty active and alert. The vet told me that he's in perfect health.

So what could be causing this? I've read up on tritrichomonas foetus, and it sounds like a match for his symptoms. Has anyone had any luck treating this parasite? Roughly how much did it cost for diagnosis and treatment? (I'm more than willing to pay, if it'll help little Rollo feel better, but a ballpark estimate will help me budget). Could his new food be too rich since he switched from a relatively low-quality food?

My apologies for the wall of text! And thanks in advance for your input.

 

[lutece]

You can send a stool sample to a lab for PCR testing. In my opinion, that is the preferred way to test for tritrichomonas foetus; you can collect and mail the sample yourself and it is generally cheaper than doing the same test through your vet's office. Whatever lab you use, read the lab's information carefully, and pay attention to packaging, labeling and shipping requirements when collecting and sending poop samples.

I have used UC Davis in the past. You can do a standalone test for tritrichomonas foetus, or a Feline GI/Diarrhea Panel that includes tests for 9 different organisms; the full panel is what I would recommend if your vet is stumped.
Real-time PCR Research and Diagnostics Core Facility

Zoologix also has a Feline Diarrhea panel. I have not used Zoologix myself, but I frequently see them advertising their services at cat shows.
Feline diarrhea PCR panel

 

[lutece]

Also, if you do find evidence of parasites, be sure to share the results with Rollo's breeder so that they can test for it in their cattery, too.

 

[StefanZ]

Yea trichomonas is treatcherous.
And the treatment not easy, reminds of "horse medicine".

Anyway the immediate advice is you be sure he gets some extra salts as diarrheas makes he lose salts.
Have a good minerale water, let the gas out and pour some into his drinking bowl water every day.

 

[Misprints]

Also, if you do find evidence of parasites, be sure to share the results with Rollo's breeder so that they can test for it in their cattery, too.

Oh, definitely! If it does turn out to be TF, I’m guessing that his littermates probably have it, too — and I’d love to save their pet parents the aggravation.

I’m waiting about a week or so to see if the home cooked diet makes any difference, since he’s only recently started eating full meals of it.

Yea trichomonas is treatcherous.
And the treatment not easy, reminds of "horse medicine".

Anyway the immediate advice is you be sure he gets some extra salts as diarrheas makes he lose salts.
Have a good minerale water, let the gas out and pour some into his drinking bowl water every day.

Yeah, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it’s not TF! Thank you for the tip about mineral water. I’ll pick some up for him today.

 

[Misprints]

So, I sent a fecal sample to UC Davis for PCR analysis. The good news is that Rollo is free of parasites — tritrichomonas foetus included!

The sample did come back positive for FCOV, though — and after reading up on it, I’m almost wishing he had t. foetus. How often does it mutate into FIP? Is there anything I should watch for? I’m going to take him to the vet sometime this week or next for more tests to confirm the diagnosis, and will ask questions there, but I’d love to hear from other cat owners who’ve had to deal with this.

Should I still get in contact with his breeder and let her know that Rollo has FCOV so she can check her other cats, or is there no point since it’s a fairly common infection?

 

[lutece]

It's always a good idea to tell your cat's breeder about the results of any test you did, although you're correct that coronavirus is extremely common... most cats from breeders have been exposed to it. (It's also very common in other multiple-cat environments, such as shelters.) Most of the time it does not mutate into FIP, so try not to worry too much about that.

 

[Misprints]

The struggle continues. The longest that Rollo has gone without soft stool/diarrhea so far is three days. I’m bringing him in for blood tests tomorrow to see if he has an active infection somewhere (and, if not, to get a baseline) and I’m thinking of sending in another sample for PCR testing once I have the funds. I just wish I could get to the bottom of this, for my sake and his!

It's always a good idea to tell your cat's breeder about the results of any test you did, although you're correct that coronavirus is extremely common... most cats from breeders have been exposed to it. (It's also very common in other multiple-cat environments, such as shelters.) Most of the time it does not mutate into FIP, so try not to worry too much about that.

Thanks — I’ll try not to! But that’s easier said than done as a pet parent.

 

[lutece]

If you haven't talked to his breeder yet, I would encourage you to do that. His breeder may have seen something like this before in related cats, and may have advice or ideas. It may or may not be related to the coronavirus; sometimes certain bloodlines can be prone to digestive issues / sensitivities.

 

[Misprints]

If you haven't talked to his breeder yet, I would encourage you to do that. His breeder may have seen something like this before in related cats, and may have advice or ideas. It may or may not be related to the coronavirus; sometimes certain bloodlines can be prone to digestive issues / sensitivities.

I did get in touch with her about two months ago, and she suggested increasing his dry food intake, which I wasn’t too keen on doing then and less keen now after reading up on the dangers.

I’ll reach out to her again and ask if she’s aware of other kittens/cats with similar problems, though.

 

[Misprints]

Here is a more recent picture of my little furball.

 

[Misprints]

A few small updates:

The vet found nothing abnormal in Rollo's blood tests. I'm relieved, of course, but also frustrated -- another dead end!

After keeping a symptom/food journal for two months, I've noticed that Rollo's soft stools seems to come in cycles. Usually every four/five days, and accompanied by mild upper respiratory symptoms.

I've forgotten to call Rollo's breeder to ask if his littermates have been experiencing similar problems but will follow up on that this week.

 

[Misprints]

I'm happy to report that Rollo has gone a whole eight days without soft stools and diarrhea! (I'm knocking on wood as I type this, of course. )

The only change I've made to his diet is to switch the brand of probiotic that I was adding to his food to one that includes s. boulardii. Hopefully that's all it'll take to help my little furball.

 

[Misprints]

Well, I spoke too soon. Rollo is now on his third day of loose stools. In fact, he just woke me up (at 3 AM) to let me know that a litter and tushy cleanup will be needed soon. At least he’s considerate!

I’m honestly at a loss about how to proceed. I was thinking of bringing him to a cat specialist, but finances are very tight at the moment so that will unfortunately have to wait. Switch of protein to rabbit will also have to wait.

To recap, what I’ve tried so far:

• Pumpkin
• S. Boulardii
• Probiotic mix
• Bland diet
• Pectillin
• Fecal test for common parasites and infections (all negative)
• UC Davis real-time PCR diarrhea panel (all negative except for FCOV)
• Blood test (all good)

His only symptom is loose stool (ranging from soft-serve/cow patty to pure diarrhea). He hasn’t vomited once. Appetite and energy levels are fine, as is weight gain.

 

[Misprints]

Oh, forgot to add — this occurs in cycles. He’ll usually go about four/five days with normal stool before reverting to loose stool. Diet stays the same.

 

[Count]

I have diarrhea issues with Count too, and it comes in cycles with him too. I'm curious where this thread will go. Do you have a xray? My vet noticed Count's digestive issues from a xray. Maybe that can be explored further and lead you to a diagnosis.

 

[Misprints]

I have diarrhea issues with Count too, and it comes in cycles with him too. I'm curious where this thread will go. Do you have a xray? My vet noticed Count's digestive issues from a xray. Maybe that can be explored further and lead you to a diagnosis.

That's one of the few tests I haven't run yet, but I'll look into having one done when finances are better. And if I find an answer, I'll definitely let you know.

 

[stephanietx]

I have a kitty who cannot tolerate an all grain-free diet. When loose stools flare for him, we put him on only prescription food for a few weeks. Once his stools firm up, we gradually start introducing his regular grain-free food into the mix. He normally gets a smaller amount of his rx food and gf food, but for the flares, we go strictly with rx food. If it persists, we give him Metronidazole for a week.

What are you feeding your kitty? If it's wet food, do you rotate flavors?

 

[Misprints]

What are you feeding your kitty? If it's wet food, do you rotate flavors?

I’m currently feeding him slow-cooked chicken thigh/chicken beware mix prepared with EZComplete. I was thinking of adding rabbit into his rotation, but I’m unfortunately no longer in the financial situation to afford that.

His breeder had him on a mix of Hills Science Diet wet & dry which contains grains, and he didn’t do much better on that.

 

[Misprints]

Chicken breast, not “chicken beware.”