Older pets require constant care and affection from their owners. When your cat is older than twelve years, it may begin to lose many of its normal bodily functions. There are good chances that there may be a significant change in the habits of the cat.
Some of these changes may affect the health of the animal.
Older cats often suffer from fluctuating weight, dehydration and diarrhea. All of these are actually indications of serious illnesses.
Diarrhea in older cats is usually caused due to a serious underlying condition. Cats, when older, are more prone to developing kidney diseases, hyperthyroidism, cancer, tumors, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. All of these have diarrhea as a symptom.
Younger cats may experience diarrhea due to their food habits, allergies and even parasites. However, in older cats, something as simple as diarrhea should be considered a warning. As soon as you find out that your older feline is experiencing diarrhea, immediately get the cat checked by a veterinary doctor. The doctor will take some tests and examine the cat physically to determine the cause of the diarrhea. With the help of the physical examination and tests, the doctor will be able to eliminate possibilities of serious disorders and may be able to treat the cat before it takes a toll on the cat’s health.
Diarrhea occurs when the ingested foods move rapidly along the alimentary canal, rushing through the intestines and finally coming out as loose and watery stools. The frequency of the loose stool is generally more than the normal ones. The volume of the stool also increases. If the cat is not treated promptly, it may loose a lot of fluid content and become extremely ill.
Simple diarrhea can be treated at home. However, in older cats, it is best to first take the ailing animal to the vet and get a medical perspective. While the doctor is waiting for the test results, you can start to take special care of your cat. The foremost thing to do is to remove their food bowl and make sure that they have a constant supply of fresh water. For the next twenty four hours, give only water to the cat. After about twenty four hours, start reintroducing food to the cat. Begin with bland and light foods like boiled rice. Meanwhile make sure that the cat is drinking enough water otherwise it could become severely dehydrated.
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