Cats become infected by eating any of the three infective stages of Toxoplasma; most commonly by eating tissue cysts in infected prey or in other raw meat. The Honest Kitchens cat food is: Shop our entire line of cat foods for meal and treats your cat will love. Licking its coat may be too painful. Gradually switch from your current pet food to the new one, increasing the amount a little bit each day for seven to 14 days. Feed your pet a balanced, high-quality cat food. For more serious conditions, your vet may prescribe a highly digestible therapeutic food, such as Hill's Prescription Diet cat food to help soothe and heal the gut. This disorder may be due to infectious causes such as the stomach flu or non-infectious causes such as a hernia. Your cat's diet is very important and if managed properly, can help to reduce the symptoms of a sensitive stomach. Ensuring your cat is up to date with its vaccinations is essential in preventing associated diseases that may contribute to the development of stomatitis. If your cat is especially sensitive, even a slight change in her food could be the culprit. Gastrointestinal distress often shows up through these symptoms: Vomiting Diarrhea Flatulence Acid reflux Loose stools Loss of appetite Lethargy Licking lips (Can be a sign of nausea) 5 Causes of Sensitive Stomachs (From Most Common to Less Common) Tracking down the cause is the first step to helping your cat feel better. Companion Animal Hospital in Ithaca, NY for cats, dogs, exotics, and wildlife, Equine and Nemo Farm Animal Hospitals in Ithaca, NY for horses and farm animals, Cornell Ruffian Equine Specialists, on Long Island for every horse, Ambulatory and Production Medicine for service on farms within 30 miles of Ithaca, NY, Animal Health Diagnostic Center New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Ithaca, New York 14853-6401. Read our guide to determine whats normal, what isnt, and what to do next. Its one of the most common conditions that veterinarians treat. If left untreated, this can lead to stomach ulcers which cause chronic gastric upset that needs to be managed with long-term medications. Symptoms of stomatitis in cats may include: While drooling in dogs is common and perfectly healthy, it is not normal in cats. If youre like many cat owners, when your cat develops a sensitive stomach, you start checking the ingredients list on their food or scrutinizing the human food you gave them. Also, look into Feliway products, which contain a calming cat pheromone. Weight loss. Learn more about Hills commitment to sustainability. However, make the transition slowly to avoid creating stress. Newer medications like maropitant help control vomiting and nausea and manage abdominal pain in cats suffering from gastritis. Diarrhea is frustrating in that even if we treat appropriately and make the right changes and recommendations, it can take several days to clear up.. Look for easy-to-digest protein sources like chicken, turkey, and low-fat fish. Being prepared could save your cat's life! Even for pet-safe medications, such as antibiotics prescribed by your vet, stomach upset is a common side effect. Bloodwork (for blood cell counts, organ function, blood sugar, and electrolytes). Youll gradually re-introduce foods one at a time, keeping notes to see which food (if any) causes your pet to have an allergic response again. Early recognition and treatment are the cornerstones to returning your cat to a normal healthy state as quickly as possible. It infiltrates large portions of the intestinal tract, and symptoms may appear very similar to food allergies or IBD. And, how many hairballs are too many? We know yuck. To some extent, hairballs are normal. But digestive issues can also occur due to a tumor in the digestive tract, or even cancer somewhere else in the body. Your veterinarian will advise you on the best diet to feed your cat for a speedy recovery. A good medical history is the first step toward finding the cause of the vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. You can do this by feeding Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Fiber Response cat food, a prescription cat food that includes brewers rice, B vitamins and psyllium husk seed, among other ingredients, or by adding canned pumpkin or Metamucil. Nummy Tum-Tum Pure Organic Pumpkinis 100% organic pumpkin that can be mixed with dry or canned cat food to help provide some relief to your cats stomach. Lymphoma is very common in cats. Giardia are one-celled organisms that move with the help of whip-like tails and parasitize the small intestine of cats. It might sound like coughing or wheezing initially, but the term coughing up a hairball is technically incorrect. Dont allow your cat to roam free outside the home. "Possibly the cat ate something it shouldn't have, like a bug or a leaf of a plant." This includes: Parasites Intestinal foreign bodies, such as string Cancer In cats that are allergic to fleas, just one bite fr Pre-existing conditions are health concerns, such as diabetes, kidney disease, or an oral infection that your dog or cat Book a video consultation with an experienced veterinarian within minutes. Hydration is important in helping your cat digest their food well. Decreased appetite is a common symptom of stomatitis. In humans, gastric upset can cause abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Weve rounded up these common causes to give you an idea, but you should consult with your veterinarian on your cats digestive health issues. Get the scoop about events, promotions, and clinic openings. Infections with viruses, bacteria, and intestinal parasites (like roundworm) are most common in young kittens. The symptoms are pretty much the same when cats get an upset stomach, but the presentation can be very different. Other typical signs may include excessive licking of the lips, a decrease in appetite or total absence of it, and occasional gagging. Although the discovery of tapeworm segments can alarm cat owners, tapeworm infections rarely cause significant disease in cats. Malcolm Weir, DVM, MSc, MPH; Tammy Hunter, DVM; Ernest Ward, DVM. Food may be withheld for 8-12 hours during the initial stages of treatment and then slowly be reintroduced in small, frequent feedings of a highly digestible, low-fat, and low-fiber diet. Cats, like most pets (and many little kids), will sometimes eat things that aren't food. However, high-fat food options can make digestive problems worse, so avoid high-fat foods like beef, pork, milk, lamb, cheese, and protein. Theres a distinction between a hairballwhich looks like a piece of poop made out of hairand vomit, which may have hair in it along with partially digested food or bile., Dr. Rondeau adds that if a cat occasionally hurls a hairballejecting hair that isnt processed out through the other endits not something to worry about, but that the reasons for feline vomiting can include a long list of things.. Parasite control begins with good sanitation procedures. If your cat has a parasite or a bacterial infection, it can also cause a sensitive stomach, not to mention other health issues, if left untreated. Youll probably also recognize the characteristic sounds of a cat bringing up a hairball. What are the clinical signs of gastroenteritis? Fortunately, many cats do well with prompt veterinary treatment. Common Causes of Stomach Upset (Gastritis) in Cats Warm her food in the microwave for 10 to 15 seconds the heat will make it smell more appetizing. Food allergies or a sensitive stomach might mean that you need to change your pet's diet. Grain-free doesnt always mean low-carb, so be sure to check each brand. For example, you could make a tasty treat with our Instant Goats Milk With Probiotics or add it to your cats meals. Diagnosis of giardiasis depends upon microscopic identification of cysts in the stool or identification of DNA or Giardia proteins in the stool using advanced molecular biological or antibody-based techniques. Both Dr. Arguelles and Dr. Rondeau say that food intolerance, food allergies and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) also commonly lead to an upset cat stomach. Feeding your cat a single type of food for a long time or changing their diet and introducing a new food can sometimes cause a food intolerance to develop. Dr. Sarah Wooten graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2002. The most common cause of gastritis in cats is food intolerance. So, whats the source of your cats stomach problems? Eating indigestible materials such as grass, clothing, cotton, etc. Common examples include kidney disease and an overactive thyroid gland, especially in older cats. Gastritis brought about by excessive gastric acid production can be controlled with different antacid medications. Although outdoor cats tend to have a higher risk of contracting parasites, cats pick up parasites and bacteria from a variety of sources, like infected animals, soil, feces (outdoors or in the litter box), fleas, and food. The exact cause of this inflammatory condition has veterinary experts stumped, but there are some options to get your cat feeling better again. In other words, treatment is variable depending on whats causing the digestive upset. Diarrhea. An intestinal blockage is a very serious condition that must be addressed right away. That doesnt necessarily mean you need to rush your cat to the vet in the middle of the night, especially if your kitty is eating and otherwise acting normally. If you think your cat may have stomatitis, visit your vet. Weight loss in cats is a possible symptom of stomatitis, as severe mouth pain will deter your cat from eating its food. Be especially vigilant about preventing access to strings, thread, yarn, tinsel, etc. Cats may also develop pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), which can lead to inefficient digestion in the long-term. Here are ingredients to look for in food for cats with stomach issues. It has a number of causes, including stress, nutritional deficiencies, and other medical conditions, but the end result can be digestive issues or a serious intestinal obstruction. It is mostly about consistency for cats. Dehydration. Lastly, taking care of vital organs such as the kidneys and liver through proper diet and nutrition will help prevent gastric symptoms associated with different organ insufficiencies. Pain may be triggered by consuming certain foods, stress, constipation, or diarrhea. Read on to learn about the common symptoms, causes, treatment options, and even preventative measures you can take if your cat has an upset stomach. Acute abdomen is generally an indicator of a serious disease requiring intensive care under the supervision of a veterinarian. In many cases, the cause is assumed to be immune-mediated, meaning that the cats immune system attacks its oral tissues as an abnormal response to bacteria in the mouth. Cats become infected by ingesting the parasite-laden vomit of another cat. Even indoor cats can acquire certain infections or parasites, so ask your vet about prevention. Supporting Cat Health with Information and Health Studies. Ollanulus infections occur sporadically in the U. S. and are more common in free-roaming cats and those housed in multiple-cat facilities. They may also have a stronger reaction to food if: A food allergy occurs when a cat's immune system mistakes an ingredient in the cat's food as a dangerous foreign substance and launches a response. These ulcers can develop on the lips, tongue, gums, and back of the throat. Digestive issues (also known as gastrointestinal or GI issues) may be obvious and sudden. Toxocara can infect people. Stomatitis in Cats: Symptoms, Treatment, and Caring for Your Kitty's Mouth For gastritis due to a more systemic underlying cause like kidney or liver disease, signs of upset stomach like nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting can be treated symptomatically with the medications mentioned above. She enjoys camping with her family, skiing, SCUBA, and participating in triathlons. Good sanitation and daily cleaning of the litter box are keys to controlling hookworm infections. The principal treatment of gastroenteritis consists of rehydration and restoring blood electrolyte balance (sodium, potassium, and chloride). Routine care helps a cat stay as healthy as possible. Complications such as dehydration can occur regardless of what caused a cats digestive symptoms in the first place. Unlike dogs, which are predators, cats are both predator and prey. Mouth inflammation also contributes to difficulty swallowing. Treatment almost always requires surgery, and it may be fatal. Talk to your veterinarian about what probiotic would best fit your cat's health needs. How is stomach upset in cats treated and managed? Learn how cold is too cold for cats plus the signs of hypothermia in cats that every cat owner should watch for.Read more. A dietary indiscretion means that a kitty ate something they shouldnt have, such as garbage, table scraps, or old food they found on the floor. Spreading out meals to small, frequent portions helps control the acid production of the stomach and prevent hyperacidity. A dental examination and dental X-rays can help your veterinarian determine the extent of periodontal disease. A member of the American Society of Veterinary Journalists, Dr. Wooten divides her professional time between small animal practice in Greeley, Colorado, public speaking on associate issues, leadership, and client communication, and writing. Some conditions cant be prevented.
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