Probiotics for Cats with Diarrhea

Cats with diarrhea can be treated with probiotic products which are meant to restore the gastrointestinal balance. Diarrhea in cats can be caused by a sudden change in diet, internal parasites, the ingestion of different substances, predisposition to digestive problems, or it can be a symptom of a more severe disorder. There are several methods of treating diarrhea in cats, from antibiotics to probiotics. The probiotics are actually a natural remedy which does not cause side effects in your pet.

Diarrhea in Cats

Diarrhea in cats can happen for various reasons: from dietary changes to internal parasites or other more serious medical conditions which have to be considered seriously and given proper treatment.

Cats are prone to diarrhea when in stressful situations, when changing owners and environment, giving birth, lactating or weaning.

Acute diarrhea happens often in cats and can be treated at home. However, if diarrhea lasts longer than 2 days, it is best to consult your veterinarian in order to get the correct diagnostic and the most appropriate treatment.

Probiotics for Cats with Diarrhea

When cats suffer from diarrhea, owners often use antibiotics in order to reduce the amount of bacteria in the intestines, but antibiotics can have side effects and should not be administered without medical supervision.

A safer alternative is the treatment using probiotics which have the role of restoring and controlling the bacterial flora found in the intestinal tract. Probiotics are actually ‘good bacteria’, that is bacteria that do not cause any disease.

The most common bacteria in probiotics are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. When these benefic bacteria are introduced in the body, they are capable of surviving in the digestive tract and reach the intestines where they colonize and multiply. They change the intestinal environment in a benefic way for your cat because these optimize digestion and correct the bacterial imbalances that might have occur as a result of stress, dietary changes or other factors.

If probiotics are administered there is no need for an antibiotics treatment.

Probiotics come in various forms: tablets, powder, liquid, paste or gels. You can add them to the food you feed to your cat.

Yoghurt is considered a product rich in probiotics, which might help with digestive disorders, but its effectiveness does not always proven since it contains a series of bacteria which are processed by the digestive tract and do not reach the intestines. Therefore, it is probably best that you consult your veterinarian in order to decide on the best probiotics to administer to your cat.

How Do Probiotics Act?

Probiotics regulate the gastrointestinal tract and restore the health of your pet through:

  • Preventing the formation of pathogens in the intestines
  • Providing energy which is easily absorbed
  • Stimulating the immune system
  • Restore barrier functions and visceral sensitivity
  • Regulate intestinal motility
  • Maintain the equilibrium of the micro flora in the intestines

Probiotics can be used in cases of feline acute diarrhea, in various concentrations, depending on the severity of the disease.

 

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