Loperamide for Dogs & Cats: Diarrhea Treatment & Safety

Diarrhea in cats is a frustrating problems for owners, veterinarians, and certainly for cats, although they can’t tell us directly how they feel about it. Usually in cases of chronic diarrhea (symptoms lasting more than a week) the cat usually seems to be feeling pretty well, but if left undiagnosed and untreated over time the patient can lose weight and start to show signs of general illness, like lethargy, poor haircoat, and dehydration. These problems are due to the effects of reduced nutrient absorption over time. Whatever the inciting agent, nutrients and water aren’t absorbed into the body, and the food that’s ingested makes its way through the intestines much faster than it should, resulting in soft stool. It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of chronic diarrhea in cats. If the diarrhea doesn’t resolve on its own (or perhaps with the addition of a little dietary fiber, like canned pumpkin) in a few days, the cat needs to see a veterinarian for an examination and testing to determine what’s going on. Here’s more information about the possible causes of diarrhea in cats, and what we do about them.

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Imodium can safely be tried only if a bacterial and parasitic infection has been ruled out or treated for simultaneously. It is possible they are all having an adverse reaction to the dewormer you used. In which case getting them with an antibiotic and probiotic would benefit them more than just the Imodium. I would consider taking 1 puppy out of the litter to the vet to get them tested for any remaining intestinal parasites, and then the recommended treatment above should be considered. In the meantime I would recommend feeding them all a bland diet of boiled plain chicken and rice or cottage cheese to help settle their stomachs. Also over the counter probiotic Culturelle can be started to see if this makes a difference with their stools. Best wishes Witt your pups and I hope you get their loose stool resolved soon. Take care.

It's actually not good to give Imodium for diarrhea unless advised by a veterinarian. Diarrhea is the body's way of getting rid of toxins, or bacteria/viruses/parasites that are causing harm. All Imodium does is prevent diarrhea, but does nothing to treat the cause of the diarrhea. I would not recommend giving Imodium unless Cooper was suffering from relentless diarrhea. For more information about this drug and dosages, I recommend you read the article at the link below. https://www.petcoach.co/article/loperamide-imodium/ I hope that helps and Cooper gets better soon.

It would be best to consult with your veterinarian before changing treatment or giving other medications. Legally, we are prohibited from recommending medications or dosing information in the absence of a physical exam and a patient-veterinarian-client relationship. You can try withholding food for 24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or an unflavored electrolyte replacement beverage. Resume feeding a bland diet in small frequent amounts until symptoms resolve. Transition slowly to the regular diet afterwards. A stool sample should be submitted to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. A veterinary probiotic such as Prostora, FortiFlora or ProViable may promote gut health.

Hi and thanks for posting! Imodium AD can be used to help decrease diarrhea and can be used cautiously in cats (and only under the direction of your primary care vet), however, too much or an overdose of it can cause constipation which may lead to other problems. I would continue to monitor her at home for any behavioral changes and signs of illness and if you are still concerned, I would recommend you call the Pet Poison helpline to speak to a consulting veterinarian for further instructions at (855) 764-7661.

You don't mention how many tablets he ate, or how much he weighs. Like all toxicities, Imodium toxicity is dose-dependent, meaning the severity of signs is related to how much was ingested. Dosages of 1.25 – 5 mg/kg can cause vomiting, depression, and salivation. The best way to help him is to get him in to see a vet who can give drugs to control nausea and administer activated charcoal to absorb the rest of the drug in the GI tract. Fluids will likely help him feel better as well.

Hi. Imodium is contraindicated in cats. Please don't give otc meds to cats as many are toxic. I would recomend a vet visit if she is not eating, vomiting and diarrhea. She may have parasisites, have ingested toxins, have primary GI disease or any number of other things. Unless prescribed for her I wouldn't recomend the amoxicillin/clavanuate as one of the side effects of this antibiotic can be diarrhea and vomiting. If she was prescribed this, contact her vet as they need to know she is reacting to it. Try offering small amounts of bland chicken and rice. If she can eat and keep it down gradually mix her cat food back in. But if not she needs a vet visit.

No, there are no over the counter medication safe for cats. You can add probiotics to the diet as this can help. They can be purchased at your vets or pet store. You may want to talk about adding cobalimine to him also. The B vitamins can be lacking with cats with diarrhea and supplementing that can help.