Senior cat has frequent diarrhea. Why isn't anti-diarrhea helping?

Diarrhea can be a sign of a number of different diseases ranging from hyperthyroidism to infections to inflammatory bowel disease or even intestinal cancer. Some of these diseases can be fatal if left untreated, and regardless of the cause of the diarrhea if it goes on it could lead to dehydration and nutritional deficiencies. I think you need to see a veterinarian - you could look into Care Credit as a payment option, or you could ask your local shelter if there is any subsidized veterinary care near you. www.carecredit.com

Poor Lucky! I'm glad to hear that he still seems to be acting and eating normally despite this ongoing diarrhea. Some possible causes of persistent diarrhea include parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, gastrointestinal cancers, liver disease, food allergies, among others. You can try transitioning his diet to a novel protein diet ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=34182 ) with one protein source and one carbohydrate source to limit the ingredients that he is exposed to. Mix his old and new foods together over 5-7 days, then exclusively feed a new diet for at least 8-12 weeks to determine if the change has been effective. Also adding a probiotic ( http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=21478 ) may be beneficial. However, if his diarrhea continues or worsens, Lucky will need to go to his vet for further evaluation and testing. I hope that all goes well!

Even though Mango doesn't do well with travel, I would definitely take him into a vet immediately. He will not be feeling well and is likely distressed even though he's not showing signs of it. Cats can be very stoic when ill, and think about how you would feel if you had frequent diarrhea, was losing weight, and hardly eating. He could have something serious causing his symptoms such as irritable bowl disease or cancer. He needs veterinary care now because senior cats can easily get dehydrated and frequent diarrhea is enough to cause dehydration. Please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. Good luck, I hope this helps!

I am sorry to hear about your kitty! If the food appears different than the one he normally eats it is possible that perhaps there is a different additive or food coloring that has upset his stomach (or is it possible it is a different flavor even though the brand is the same). We can see some pets have GI upset from quick changes in diet. That being said, we can also see diarrhea from other causes, including GI parasites, bacterial overgrowth, inflammatory bowel disease, as a symptom of systemic illness, and more. If he is still energetic with no vomiting you could try getting a probiotic from your vet or the pet store for him which can sometimes help with diarrhea and feeding something bland for a few days (such as plain white rice and shredded boiled chicken or lean ground chicken) or picking up the food you normally get at the pet store and trying this for a few days. If he is having urgency so often he isn't making it to the litterbox, however, it is quite possible he has colitis http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=677 and will likely need prescription medication to get the diarrhea under control, so the fastest solution to eliminating the problem is to have your vet examine him!

Kitty should be examined by a vet to determine the cause. He could have hyperthyroidism and your vet can run blood-work to test his thyroid level. Once your vet determines the exact cause, he/she can recommend a treatment. Hope he feels better soon.

Poor Lily! Diarrhea even in old cats isn't normal. I have diagnosed parasites especially giardia in cats who are strictly indoors. You could try a sensitive stomach food and some probiotics to see if this helps. If not, I would strongly recommend your vet to take a look at her. Your vet will likely do a fecal and possibly blood work, thyroid test and x-rays. I would also make sure they rule out giardia and campylobacter. In older cats, I worry especially worry about inflammatory bowel disease and GI cancer. If your vet is concerned about this, they will be able to talk to you about potential diagnostics (Ultrasound and GI panel, etc) and treatments to help her feel better. I hope this helps and she starts to feel better soon!

Chronic diarrhea in an older cat with vomiting can be a sign of an inflammatory bowel disease or intestinal cancer. The only way to differentiate between the two disease is a surgery to take biopsies of the intestines and have them analyzed. Based on the diagnosis, the diet may be changed or vitamin supplements or steroids may be added to manage her symptoms. They will check for parasite and check her labs for any renal or endocrine disease