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Feline Gastroenteritis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, & Treatment
Gastroenteritis
SUMMARY OF CONTENT
SEVERITY:
- Requires a diagnosis by a veterinarian
- Resolves within days to months with treatment or may be fatal
- Treatable by a veterinarian, by the pet parent
- Possible in some cases
- Transmission is possible between animals and from animals to people
- Diagnosis requires physical exam, lab tests, x-rays, fecal tests, abdominal ultrasound
VERY COMMON IN
Symptoms & Signs
Gastroenteritis refers to inflammation (-itis) of the stomach (gastro-) and intestines (enter-). A huge array of conditions can affect the gastrointestinal tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestines and large intestines (colon). Most cats experiencing gastroenteritis have vomiting and/or diarrhea, and they may also display a loss of appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain or fever.
Cats of any age, gender or breed can experience gastroenteritis. However, certain causes are more common in different populations of cats. For example, young cats are more likely to acquire infectious causes of gastroenteritis, while geriatric cats are more likely to develop cancer or degenerative changes.
Diagnosis
Since so many different conditions can cause gastroenteritis, the underlying cause needs to be diagnosed so that treatment can be initiated based upon the inciting cause. When a cat begins to display the signs associated with gastroenteritis, which commonly include vomiting, diarrhea and a loss of appetite, a physical exam is the first step in attempting to determine the underlying cause. During a physical exam, a veterinarian assesses a cat’s hydration status, listens to the heart and lungs, palpates the abdomen for any abnormalities or pain, checks the body temperature and often performs a rectal exam. Diagnostic testing is needed to get to the bottom of the issue and often begins with baseline lab tests, which include a complete blood count (CBC), biochemistry panel and urinalysis. Retroviral blood testing for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) are often performed, as these viral infections can suppress the immune system and make affected cats more susceptible to other infections. Fecal flotation tests determine if intestinal parasites are present. Additional diagnostic tests may be needed and can include an abdominal ultrasound, abdominal x-rays, intestinal biopsies or fecal culture.
Causation
Gastroenteritis can occur in cats due to a wide variety of different underlying conditions. Infectious conditions, including those caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites, as well as toxin ingestion, cancer, or other inflammatory conditions can result in gastroenteritis. With many of these conditions, inflammation or irritation occurs within the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in the onset of vomiting, diarrhea and a loss of appetite. The precise mechanism for the onset of gastroenteritis varies based upon the underlying condition.
The following list includes many of the more common causes of gastroenteritis in cats, but is not exhaustive.
Bacterial
- Campylobacteriosis
- Clostridial enteritis
- Salmonellosis
Viral
- Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) associated enteritis
- Coronavirus
- Panleukopenia (feline parvoviral enteritis)
Parasitic
- Roundworms
- Hookworms
- Tapeworms
- Giardiasis
- Coccidiosis
- Cryptosporidia
Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE)
Eosinophilic enteritis
Drugs
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Corticosteroids
- Antibiotics
Toxin exposure
Foreign body intestinal obstruction
Cancer
Dietary indiscretion
Food intolerance or allergy
Triaditis
- Pancreatitis
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Cholangitis
Treatments
AT-HOME CARE
Most causes of gastroenteritis are managed at home with medications and diet changes. Some viral causes of gastroenteritis can resolve without any specific treatments. The treatment protocol for managing gastroenteritis varies widely and depends on the underlying cause. For some cases, a bland diet with boiled white meat chicken can be offered, yet in other cases, hypoallergenic prescription diets are necessary.
SUPPORTIVE CARE
Many cats with gastroenteritis experience some degree of dehydration. For those cats that are moderately to severely dehydrated, hospitalization for close monitoring, IV fluids and IV medications is often necessary.
MEDICATIONS
Medication is needed for the majority of cats with gastroenteritis, yet the precise medication depends on the underlying cause. Antiparasitic deworming medications are prescribed if intestinal parasites are the underlying problem. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial causes of gastroenteritis. Pain medications manage many cases of cancer and pancreatitis, and corticosteroids may be needed to manage inflammatory bowel disease and some types of cancer.
DEVICES
None
SURGERY
Surgery is needed for cats with foreign body obstructions. Intestinal biopsies are a diagnostic procedure that can be performed via endoscopy or abdominal exploratory surgery.
SPECIALISTS
The diagnosis and treatment of gastroenteritis typically begins with general practitioner veterinarians. However, referral to specialists in internal medicine, oncology, surgery, radiology or critical care may be needed.
Cost Of Treatment
The cost to treat cases of gastroenteritis can vary depending on the underlying cause and the severity of the condition. Mild cases may be treated for less than $400 while severe cases requiring hospitalization, intensive care and/or surgery may cost $3000 or more.
Recovery
Cats can recover from some mild causes of gastroenteritis over just a few days. Other more complicated cases can take weeks for recovery, may require lifelong management or may be fatal. As with the diagnostic testing and treatments, the recovery time for cats with gastroenteritis is dependent upon the underlying cause.
Monitoring
Cats should be monitored at home for any persistence or progression of their gastrointestinal signs. Depending on the cause of gastroenteritis, some cats require intermittent rechecks of blood or fecal tests.
Prevention
The use of a monthly preventative to guard against intestinal parasites, management of food allergies, preventing dietary indiscretions and limiting exposure to drugs or chemicals may prevent certain cases of gastroenteritis.
Disclaimer
The information contained on this page is for educational purposes only. Treatment should only be provided under the advice of a veterinarian who has examined your pet under the laws applicable to your state of residence.