What can I give my cat for her diarrhea?

Our question this week was:

What can I give my cat for her diarrhea?

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Thea Chapin

Answer

Hi – thanks for your email. You wrote asking what can you give your cat for her diarrhea. The bigger question is…why does she have diarrhea. It can be caused by different things and depending on the underlying cause – the treatment varies.

For example, if the diarrhea is caused by worms – a dewormer is the treatment. If it is caused by her getting into the trash or being fed food that doesn’t agree with her – then remove that food source and keep her on a core cat food diet. If it is caused by a sudden food change – make sure you change her food gradually.

DON’T give her any over the counter medications without first checking with your veterinarian. That is a big “no-no”. Some medications are toxic.

If you feel you have to give her something for symptomatic treatment – a small amount of canned pumpkin or a pinch of Metamucil on her food can help – but the ultimate treatment depends on the underlying cause.

The best bet is to call your vet and see if they can help you determine the underlying cause and treat that cause.

An article that might be helpful to you is Diarrhea in Cats.

Best of luck!

Dr. Debra

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