Why does a kitten or adult cat's stool become light: reasons for the change in stool color to white, gray or yellow

Animal feces have diagnostic value for a veterinarian. As a rule, it is sent to the laboratory to check for the presence of parasites, but by asking the owners about the color, consistency of feces and frequency of bowel movements, the veterinarian can make preliminary conclusions about the presence of diseases of the internal organs. How can cat owners understand that the stool is not in order and that they need to take their pet to the veterinary clinic?

What might the stool of a sick animal look like?

In the tray of his pet, the owner may find feces that differ in shape:

  • ointment-like;
  • mushy;
  • liquid;
  • foamy;
  • in the form of “goat peas”;
  • in the form of a tape or pencil.

By smell they distinguish: sour, rancid, putrefactive.

  • Feces acquire a sour smell when the absorption of fatty acids in the small intestine is disrupted or due to fermentation processes in the large intestine.
  • An unpleasant odor, similar to the smell of bad oil, occurs when the secretory function of the pancreas is disrupted or when the flow of bile is disrupted.
  • The smell of rotting occurs when digestion in the stomach is disrupted, dyspepsia develops with the proliferation of putrefactive microflora in the intestines. Or the cat suffers from colitis with ulcerations.

It is customary to distinguish feces by color:

  • red (beetroot);
  • black (tarry);
  • dark brown;
  • light brown;
  • with a scarlet admixture (undigested blood);
  • yellow;
  • light yellow;
  • greenish yellow;
  • bleached slightly yellow, gray, gray-white.

A healthy cat can have red or beetroot feces if it has eaten beets or food colored with bright dyes. This coloring is not pathological and soon the stool acquires a normal color.

Pinworms - Baby food

“Sadikov's disease” - enterobiasis?

When a child’s body is affected by worms, the mother must take care of the baby’s specific nutrition. Eating the right foods can speed up the healing process. It is worth including in the diet:

  1. Spicy dishes. Pepper and spicy dressings worsen the habitat for pinworms.
  2. Sour vegetables and fruits. In an acidic sphere, parasites die faster.
  3. Horseradish with mustard. Not all kids will like such a specific product. But it undermines active reproduction and temporarily paralyzes the worms.
  4. Walnuts, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds. Such products help destroy parasites in the intestines.
  5. Olive and vegetable oil. Relieves irritation of the intestinal walls.
  6. Dairy products. With their use, medications are better absorbed and the intestinal microflora is not disturbed.

During the period of illness, it is recommended to exclude sweets, fatty foods, and foods with a chemical composition - the consumption of harmful foods creates all the conditions for the further proliferation of pinworms in the child’s body.

Diagnostics

If the owner has noticed that his cat has pooped more than once with feces that are significantly different in color, smell and consistency from the norm, it is necessary to find out the causes of this pathological condition as soon as possible, so a visit to the veterinarian and a comprehensive diagnosis is indispensable. At the first appointment, the doctor will examine the pet, ask the owner what symptoms are bothering his pet and how long the problems with bowel movements have been observed. If it is not possible to immediately establish an accurate diagnosis, a referral is given to such additional research methods as:

  • general clinical analysis of blood and urine;
  • fecal analysis for the presence of worms, as well as blood, mucous and other inclusions;
  • biochemistry;
  • Ultrasound of the abdominal organs.

Return to contents

Causes of changes in stool color

The color of feces, as well as its smell, and consistency change due to errors in the animal’s diet or disturbances in the digestive process, in the movement of the food bolus through the intestines, due to evacuation dysfunction or enzymatic deficiency. For the same reason, a cat's stool may contain large amounts of mucus.

Black-colored feces indicate the presence of blood in the stool that has been enzymatically processed in the stomach. This means that the animal is bleeding from one of the upper parts of the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach). This type of feces is called melena and its appearance is usually accompanied by additional symptoms: a disturbance in the general condition of the animal, weakness, and sometimes vomiting.

Very dark, brown, almost black color of feces occurs in cats due to insufficient digestion of food in the stomach. With the development of pathogenic microflora (putrefactive) in the cat’s intestines, the feces also become very dark. In addition, it acquires an unpleasant specific odor similar to the smell of decaying meat. Stool may be dark if you are constipated. In this case, the consistency becomes dense and looks like a highly structured sausage or individual dense peas. Ulcerative colitis, increased secretory activity of the mucous lining of the large intestine can cause too dark stool.

Light, slightly brown feces occur in animals with increased evacuation function of the large intestine. With the active movement of the food bolus through the intestines, the food is not processed properly. And nutrients are not fully absorbed from it.

An animal's stool may be mixed with fresh blood due to ulcerative colitis, a disintegrating tumor of the lower intestine, or trauma to the lower intestine with a sharp object (a fragment of a chicken bone, a needle or another object swallowed by an animal). A small amount of blood may be present in the stool with anal fissures and bleeding from hemorrhoids. With internal hemorrhoids and spastic colitis, the animal's feces take the form of a ribbon or pencil.

Yellow feces occur in animals on a dairy diet. This color of stool can be due to disruption of digestive processes in the small intestine and the development of dyspepsia associated with fermentation processes. Very light yellow stool occurs when the enzymatic activity of the pancreas is insufficient.

Stool may have greenish impurities due to the presence of bilirubin in it (normally it is absent). Bilirubin enters the stool due to increased peristaltic activity or prolonged use of antibacterial agents and sulfonamides. Suppression of intestinal microflora leads to dysbiosis, although it is believed that cats do not suffer from it. This may be rare in the wild, but eating foods containing antibacterial agents and using such drugs for treatment can lead to serious suppression of the cat's natural intestinal microflora.

Colorless, depigmented or grayish-white feces occur in an animal due to the lack of bile pigments that color it. This occurs when access to the intestines for bile is blocked. A similar situation arises due to infectious diseases of the cat, which cause hepatitis. The reason for the lack of release of bile into the intestines may be mechanical defects (severe spasm of the bile ducts, blockage with a stone), helminthic infestations and organic pathology of the hepatobiliary system (including the growth of tumors). Usually, in this case, the cat’s urine becomes a rich beer color, weakness appears, the quality of the coat deteriorates, and appetite is impaired. Visible mucous membranes, the whites of the eyes and the inside of the cat's ear turn a bright yellow color.

About the structure and appearance of feces

Yes, this may not seem very pleasant, but for the sake of the health and, possibly, the life of your cat, it is necessary to carefully evaluate the appearance, structure, consistency and other characteristics of the feces excreted by the animal.

The norm for cats is brown color and pasty consistency of feces. Again, normally during bowel movements they should be released in one portion. Wateriness and “goat balls” immediately indicate some kind of pathology. By the way, “balls” directly indicate a lack of water in the pet’s diet. This often happens to animals whose owners keep them exclusively on dry food. The yellow color of these pellets may be due to the characteristics of a particular food. It is urgent to show the animal to a veterinarian in the following cases:

  • Greenish-yellow or yellowish-white stool with a cheesy consistency. Such symptoms indicate that food in the cat’s gastrointestinal tract is practically not digested.
  • Watery, yellow and runny. It is very possible that your pet has a serious eating disorder or even an infection.
  • The same yellow feces, but with mucus (especially cloudy), from which an unbearable smell emanates - a clear indication of some kind of infectious disease of the gastrointestinal tract or a massive helminthic infestation.
  • Regardless of the color of the stool, the presence of blood in it is an extremely serious sign. There are many reasons for the appearance of blood in stool. They have one thing in common - a potential danger to the health and life of the pet. If there is blood in the feces, call a veterinarian immediately.

The main reason for the appearance of yellow stool is the acceleration of intestinal motility. The fact is that in the duodenum, bile is “injected” into semi-digested food masses. If digestion proceeds normally, bilirubin contained in bile gradually turns into stercobilin. It is this that, by the way, gives feces its characteristic brown color. In cases where the passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract is sharply accelerated (during infections, poisoning, due to worms, etc.), only bilirubin, which has a bright yellow color, reaches its “destination”.

Treatment by a veterinarian

Cat owners should immediately realize that it is not white feces, as such, that are being treated, but the cause that led to this condition is being eliminated. The speed of restoration of the color of feces will depend on the severity of the condition and the general condition of the cat’s body at the time of contacting the veterinary clinic. Sometimes it is possible to restore the color of stool within a few days, sometimes treatment will take longer. There are rare cases when the condition may be irreversible (liver block, oncology).

A correct diagnosis can be made based on:

  • clinical examination;
  • blood tests (biochemistry and general);
  • urine and feces examinations;
  • Ultrasound;
  • x-ray;
  • biopsy (usually taken from the liver, but performed quite rarely).

Any therapy will be meaningless without normalizing the cat’s diet or transferring the cat to a special diet recommended by the veterinarian, according to its state of health.

What treatment is used (schedules and course durations are developed only by veterinarians with individual dosage selection):

  • hepatoprotectors that normalize liver functions and metabolic processes (thiotriazolin, Essentiale, Hepatovet, Hepatoject);
  • choleretic drugs (ursosan, allohol, cholenzyme);
  • relieving spasms and biliary-hepatic colic (buscopan, baralgin, papaverine, mebeverine).

No-shpa is highly not recommended for cats due to the high risk of developing unwanted side effects;

Diagnostic methods

A thorough examination is required to make a diagnosis and prescribe therapy. First of all, the doctor must find out from the cat’s owners when and under what circumstances the changes began. The diet, previous diseases and features of the clinical picture are refined. After a general examination and temperature measurement, the following diagnostic methods are used in veterinary medicine:

  1. Analyzes. The cat's blood, urine and feces are taken for examination. The test results allow us to determine the general condition of the furry, the presence of parasites, liver and gallbladder diseases, and poisoning.
  2. Coagulogram. A study to determine the rate of blood clotting.
  3. Gastroscopy. Makes it possible to see the true condition of the inner walls of the stomach, detect ulcers or erosion, foreign bodies.
  4. Ultrasound of the peritoneum. Allows you to determine the presence of neoplasms and cysts, stones or sand in the gallbladder, and intestinal obstruction.
  5. Radiography. Detects liver enlargement and the presence of tumors.
  6. Biopsy. If a tumor is detected, the affected tissue is collected for analysis. Against the background of black feces and the accompanying clinic, the liver often suffers.

General examination Clinical examination Ultrasound of the peritoneum

What does it mean if a cat has white stool? The cat has white stools and lethargy

Naturally, each case should be considered individually, because many factors can simultaneously have a direct impact on a cat’s stool, which are not always easy to establish without special tests.

The first thing you should do if you suddenly notice a cat has white stool is to try to remember what he ate the day before, because there is a whole group of products that can affect the bowel movement of animals in such a somewhat unusual at first glance way. In fact, everything has a fairly simple explanation and white feces in a cat can easily be caused by an insufficient amount of enzymes, as a result of which individual ingredients (mainly proteins of animal origin) are not completely digested or, in general, pass through the pet’s intestines. For example, a situation where a cat has white stools most often occurs after eating too fatty dense cottage cheese, white meat and fish. Some types of chicken by-products, and in particular necks, are especially difficult to digest.

Interesting situations also occur with combined feeding, when a pet’s stool can be fragmented not only in consistency, but also in color (partially whitish, partially dark brown with clearly defined boundaries). So, this can be explained by the fact that on the same day the fluffy purr ate dry granulated food and natural proteins (dairy, meat or fish products, etc.). In principle, there is nothing terrible or pathological in this, and if the owner no longer wants to observe such external manifestations in his ward, it is enough to simply reconsider his daily diet.

Another fairly common reason why a cat may have white feces is an imbalance in the protein-carbohydrate balance in their body. Such changes are often observed when a pet regularly receives improperly balanced food and its menu is dominated by carbohydrates, while the entire emphasis should be placed on proteins (proteins of animal origin).

Meanwhile, we should not forget that a cat by nature is a predator and even the fluffiest and most harmless purr is in dire need of meat, so you should not deprive it of such a simple pleasure, because it really is of enormous importance for the normal development of the pet.

That is why an abundance of grain crops, as well as vegetable soups, are not included in the normal diet for cats, although, of course, some types of cereals should still be present in it. For example, almost all cats are recommended to be given rice regularly, even in small quantities. Also, for those pets who suffer from chronic constipation, a significant increase in the volume of ingredients containing easily digestible fiber of plant origin (vegetable stews and soups) is provided. At the same time, the presence of animal proteins in the daily menu must, if not be maintained at the same level, then be reduced in small quantities, mainly by increasing the consumption of carbohydrate-containing ingredients.

If, as a result of such an updated diet, the owner suddenly notices that the cat has white feces, but he is still alert and active, then it is advisable to again amend the menu, continuing experiments until the animal’s stool is completely normalized. Things will be completely different if, in parallel with a change in the color of the stool, other negative symptoms are observed, be it lack of appetite, apathy or, on the contrary, unjustified aggression and irritability, lethargy, drowsiness, as well as an increase in general body temperature.

In this case, there is no point in being idle, waiting for everything to work out on its own, because it is more likely to say that the problem is not in the diet at all, but in the functioning of the pet’s internal organs. So, it is quite possible that the liver or gall bladder has suffered a serious malfunction, which most often occurs when there is an excessive concentration of bile or its obstruction into the duodenum. In the latter case, you should additionally observe your pet’s urine, because if it has changed color, then the above assumption is indeed justified.

In addition, it is necessary to pay attention not only to the fact that the cat’s feces are white, but also to its various impurities and inclusions. The fact is that if a cat's white stool contains mucus or blood, then the problems can be much more serious, affecting the entire digestive system of the pet as a whole.

So, if you notice white feces in a cat with all the side symptoms described above, you should immediately show it to a specialist who will examine and palpate the liver, and also prescribe an ultrasound of the internal organs and a biochemical blood test.

Treatment and prevention of worms

Treatment and prevention of helminthic diseases are carried out with the same drugs, or rather, active ingredients

The only difference is that when treating long-term helminthic infestations, additional precautions or therapy may be required. The composition of all drugs for worms is similar and usually includes two active ingredients

Substances that eliminate roundworms:

  • Piperazine.
  • Pirantel.
  • Milbemycin.
  • Fenbendazole.

Substances that eliminate tapeworms:

Praziquantel and analogues.

The dosage form in the form of drops may have a complex property - eliminate external and internal parasites. In this case, the drug will contain a third active ingredient:

  • Fipronil.
  • Ivermectin.

Important! Strictly follow the dosage of the drug and carefully read the instructions before use. Poisoning with prophylactic drugs provokes additional intoxication, which has a very detrimental effect on the functioning of the heart, kidneys and liver

If drugs are used for prophylaxis, the application algorithm is as follows:

Tablets and suspension - given in the morning on an empty stomach, on the root of the tongue. If you cannot give your cat the medicine, it can be mixed with a small amount of food. The tablets are pre-crushed into powder.

Drops are applied to the withers or back of the head at any time convenient for you. Until the drops are completely absorbed (usually 2-4 hours), you need to monitor your pet so that he does not lick the drug or use an Elizabethan collar.

Critical helminthic infestations require additional precautions. Before starting treatment, be sure to consult your veterinarian

Most likely, the animal will be prescribed shock and maintenance therapy to prepare the body for the load.

If there is a threat of intestinal blockage or perforation, an incomplete dose of the drug is used, after which the cat is given an adsorbent and a laxative. Such measures lead to only partial death of the parasites, so the drug is repeated after 5–14 days.

Symptoms of helminthiasis

Signs of parasites appearing in an animal’s body can be different. Symptoms directly depend on the type of helminths that have entered the cat’s body and the degree of worm damage.

At the initial stage, the disease does not detect itself, but progresses very quickly, as a result of which the cat becomes weaker day by day.

The main signs of worm infection:

  • The animal becomes lethargic and gets tired quickly.
  • Small white worms appear in the cat's stool.
  • The pet's belly becomes dense and severe bloating can be observed.
  • The cat loses its appetite and may refuse food.
  • The fur loses its shine and begins to fall out.
  • Vomit.
  • Problems with passing stool. Constipation alternates with intestinal upset.
  • A cat can “ride” on its butt.
  • The pet becomes nervous and restless.

What to feed a cat with diarrhea

Many owners are concerned about the question of what to feed their cat during and after diarrhea. The first, main rule is a fasting diet in the first day after the onset of diarrhea. This step may seem pointless, but it is important to understand the following:

  • During diarrhea, the mucous membranes work more actively and secrete a lot of fluid.
  • Food that enters the intestines ends up in a mucous environment and is not digested.
  • Due to incomplete fermentation, food does not soften and scratches the intestinal walls.

Simply put, feeding against the background of full-blown diarrhea is a disservice that will only delay recovery. After eliminating the acute condition, the cat should receive a dietary diet for 3–4 days.

If you do not know the exact reasons for the development of the disease, it is better to exclude whole milk from your diet; fermented milk products and cheeses (without salt) are not included in the exception. Feed your pet boiled meat, low-fat broth, cottage cheese and don’t forget about coarse fibers.

What affects the change in the color of stool to white or gray - the reasons for its discoloration

An element called stercobilin is responsible for the color of stool; it is the end product of the breakdown of bilirubin. Stercobilin colors stool brown. Therefore, light-colored feces indicate a lack of stercobilin. You can read more about the process of coloring excrement and the color variations it can take in the article about the color of feces.

Now let's find out what may be associated with a lack of coloring pigment.

White feces as a result of gallbladder dysfunction

One of the most common causes of white stool is blockage of the gallbladder ducts. Stercobilin is a bile pigment and, due to the difficulty of its transportation, feces become discolored, becoming white, gray or clay-colored. Other symptoms may indicate problems with bile transport, the most obvious being yellowing of the eyes and skin. Blockage of the bile ducts can occur due to tumors or the formation of stones. Stones, in turn, are very dangerous, since the bile duct connects to the pancreatic duct, which will lead to disruption of its secretions.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW!

Gallstones form due to poor nutrition or frequent fasting. The gallbladder requires regular contractions, which occur during meals. When the gallbladder contracts, it releases bile into the intestines to break down fats. During fasting, there is no contraction and, accordingly, no release of bile, which leads to the formation of stones!

When the pancreatic ducts are blocked, its juices will begin to corrode its own tissues, which will further contribute to the leakage of pancreatic juice, which in turn will begin to break down the body from the inside and can be fatal. Therefore, white feces is one of the signs of the need for an urgent medical examination.

Light-colored stool as a symptom of liver dysfunction

The liver plays one of the main roles in digestion. It is in it that bile acids are formed, which then accumulate in the gallbladder. This is not the only process occurring in the liver that causes the stool to change color to gray or white. A lot of different processes and metabolisms of various kinds of substances occur in the liver. In particular, the metabolism of bilirubin, during the breakdown of which the coloring pigment stercobilin is formed. Various types of liver dysfunction can also appear as white feces.

Other causes of white stool in adults

White feces can be caused not only by the reasons described above; the microflora of the intestine itself can affect the change in the color of poop. Light-colored feces occur when bile pigments do not interact properly due to changes in intestinal microflora.

The microflora, in turn, may change for the following reasons:

  • Use of any medications that contribute to intestinal dysbiosis. This phenomenon most often occurs while taking antibiotics.
  • Perhaps you have recently experienced severe stress, which could contribute to changes in the intestines that cause lightening of the stool.
  • A sudden change in diet or poor nutrition also leads to intestinal dysfunction. This is a stressful situation for the body. Therefore, this factor can be attributed to the above. Most often, this factor influences the change in color of stool to gray in children when changing their diet.

The above-mentioned reasons for changes in intestinal microflora most often cause white feces.

If your feces have changed color to white, gray or clayey and this is accompanied by other changes in your body, for example, nausea, sudden changes in temperature, pain in the liver, yellowing of the eyes or skin, then most likely the cause of the white feces is a malfunction liver and gall bladder. In such cases, you should not self-medicate. Problems with these organs can lead to serious consequences, including death. And incorrect self-treatment will only negatively affect the situation and instead of providing treatment, you only finish off your organs. Our body is an integral system, everything in it is interconnected. And if some organ fails, perhaps the source of the problem is in a completely different place. To identify the cause, it is necessary to undergo a series of tests and conduct an examination; this cannot be done at home.

What should a cat owner do first?

White feces in a cat - what to do? Doing anything on your own in terms of medication intervention is highly not recommended. You only need:

  • over the past few days, analyze what and how Murka was fed;
  • adjust feeding if nutritional disturbances are detected;
  • monitor over the next few days whether there is a change in the color of the stool towards darkening;
  • if a change in feeding does not lead to the restoration of the color of the stool, you should visit a veterinarian, preparing as detailed an anamnesis as possible (information about the keeping and feeding of the animal, prior to the lightening of the stool);
  • If white worms are found in a cat’s feces, the feces should be submitted for parasitic analysis.

What to do for prevention?

Liquid or dry feces, which are constantly observed in a pet, in any case, are evidence of some kind of internal progressive disorder. To prevent consequences dangerous to the cat’s health and life, it is important to follow preventive rules. First of all, it is important to monitor the cat’s nutrition and provide it with fresh and clean water. Do not forget to carry out preventive anthelmintic treatment.

If viral infectious diseases develop, do not self-medicate, but take the animal to a veterinarian, who, based on the diagnostic results, will select an effective treatment. In order for the cat’s body to more actively resist various diseases, it is useful to strengthen the pet’s immunity. To do this, it is recommended to give courses of vitamins and various biologically active supplements, which are selected by the veterinarian, taking into account the individual characteristics of the cat.

What treatment is prescribed?

If stool that is too liquid or too hard is a consequence of poor nutrition, the first thing you should do is review your pet’s diet. When feeding natural food, it is recommended to diversify the menu with steamed vegetables and fruits, teach the cat to eat special cat grass, which not only normalizes digestion, but also saturates the body with vitamins and essential elements

If your pet is accustomed to dry food, it is important to ensure that clean and fresh water is freely available.

For constipation, medications with a laxative effect are prescribed, for example:

The feces will become soft if you give the animal Vaseline oil. For hepatitis, a course of antibiotics and hepatoprotectors is prescribed. If there is a dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, antacids, probiotics, and medications that improve peristalsis are used.

If there is excessive internal bleeding, the veterinarian will recommend surgery. The procedure is carried out under general anesthesia, after the operation there will be a rehabilitation period, during which the cat will be prescribed a special diet, a course of drug therapy and other restorative procedures

At this time, it is important to monitor the nature of your pet's stool. It should be moderately soft, without foreign inclusions or unpleasant odor.

It is important for the owner to remember that the earlier the disease is diagnosed and treatment prescribed, the better the chances of a full recovery.

Causes of light-colored stool in pregnant women and children

Before a child can be born, it must be conceived and then carried to term. So let's start with pregnant women first and then move on to children.

In pregnant women, gray feces can be observed due to the consumption of large amounts of fruits and all kinds of vitamin complexes. A child needs a lot of vitamins. If this is not accompanied by abdominal pain and other types of ailments, then most likely there is no cause for concern. When changing the diet, the color of feces should normalize. But it is better to consult a doctor.

Newborn babies may also experience abnormal stool color. Infants' poop may contain white specks. These inclusions are nothing more than lumps of fat from the mother's breast milk. Also, when fed heavily with formula milk, baby shit can take on a light color. Diet adjustments are necessary to normalize the color of the newborn's stool. But do not lose your vigilance, carefully monitor your child’s behavior and possible changes in mood; perhaps something hurts him. In this case, the cause of light-colored poop is no longer food, but something else. In any case, it is better to play it safe and consult your pediatrician.

So the couple came to take stock. Know that you need to regularly check what you got there when you go to the toilet for the most part. What if there is a message or distress signal there for you? In some cases, changes noticed in time will play a significant role in treatment. Be attentive to all changes in your body; it has its own alphabet to communicate with you, and sometimes its letters are poop.

And remember, a site about poop will always be happy to help you in any life situation. We wish you healthy feces and excellent digestion and appetite!

Relief!

Transparent mucus from the anus of a kitten

Just like people, cats often become victims of various diseases. Therefore, if your cat has anal discharge or any other suspicious symptoms, you should attach great importance to this.

The important thing here is to take action in time and seek the help of specialists. Only a doctor can accurately determine the cause of the discharge, identify the disease and give recommendations for treatment.

Causes of discharge from the anus

Discharge in a cat during diarrhea or constipation is quite normal and quite common. They manifest themselves in different ways, but are fairly easy to identify, so they are not too dangerous. The owner may also notice a small amount of blood clots in them. This symptom disappears completely with complete recovery. Therefore, you should not worry too much about this.

But if the discharge from either the anus in a cat or the vaginal area in a cat is purulent or mucous in nature and has a characteristic odor, we can talk about the presence of an infection.

Often this can be associated with problems with the genital organs of cats. But there are other options that require careful testing, special tests and smears. Here you should seek the help of a specialist as soon as possible so as not to aggravate the situation and alleviate the cat’s suffering.

Often the cause of discharge from the anus is inflammation of the paraanal glands. Previously, many were inclined to think that such problems were directly related to the abundant use of dry food in the diet of pets. However, it turned out that this is a myth.

Often, discharge appears due to the unusual structure of the intestine itself. For example, you may notice frequent attempts by the animal to sit on its hind legs or walk along the floor.

Such manifestations of attempts to get rid of excess secretions should be immediately noticeable to the owner.

Treatment of anal discharge

But many pet owners do not want to resort to the services of veterinary clinics. Of course, if the owner is absolutely confident in his abilities and is fully aware of the situation that is happening to his cat, more independent treatment is allowed. However, beginners should listen to the opinion of doctors so as not to put their cat at risk.

Sometimes it is not so easy to rid a cat of discharge from the anus. If the abundance of secretion does not decrease and lasts for several days, an examination should be performed.

Here you must thoroughly wash and disinfect your hands. Next, you need to squeeze the area adjacent to the animal’s sphincter with two fingers.

To avoid worsening the situation, a whole range of measures should be taken to help correct the cat’s condition. Initially, you should arm yourself with special medical gloves. After smearing your finger with Vaseline, you need to insert it into the source of the cat’s discharge.

Carrying out manipulations according to the instructions will lead to an improvement in the pet’s condition within 2-3 days.

However, this procedure cannot be performed without special skills and a full understanding of what is happening. The best thing is to trust the professionals at the veterinary clinic, who will professionally take care of the animal’s health.

If your cat is bleeding from the anus, this may be a reason for surgery. However, this is an extreme measure that is carried out quite rarely.

Often less radical methods of treatment are sufficient, even if it involves bleeding.

After the cat’s condition improves, you should consult a doctor about preventing discharge. This will avoid relapses and improve the cat’s overall condition. Only compliance with the doctor's instructions can prevent the worsening of chronic diseases and the recurrence of inflammatory processes. He can give advice related to:

  • cat care; food; routine examinations of the animal.

It's a shame when your beloved pet gets sick. Especially when the kitten has discharge from his butt. However, the main goal, in this case, should be a directed and productive fight against the disease.

Timely measures can not only alleviate the cat’s condition, but also quickly save it from a dangerous disease.

Therefore, most owners try to make every effort to create favorable conditions for their beloved animal to recover.

What do worm eggs look like?

Let's say you find something that looks like worms in your pet's stool, what should you do next? First, you need to understand what you see. Fecal matter may contain live and dead parasites, their eggs, incompletely digested food, and inedible objects that the cat swallowed accidentally or intentionally.

The range of parasites that a cat can become infected with amounts to hundreds of species. Each parasite belongs to a specific family, subfamily or species. Each type of worm has similar features: color, length, body shape, shape and color of eggs. First, let's figure out what worm eggs look like, which you can distinguish visually.

White round spots in stool - what is it?

Almost all worms that parasitize the body of cats are very modest in size and have microscopic eggs that are invisible to the human eye. The exception is tapeworms, which are also called tapeworms and tapeworms.

The body of these parasites consists of:

  • Heads with oral apparatus, several rows of hooks and/or suckers.
  • Segments (segments) that form a long body.
  • This is incredible! Depending on the type of worm, its body can consist of 4–200 segments. Each segment is a vessel for 1–800 eggs, which must be released into the external environment.

The most common tapeworm that affects cats is the cucumber tapeworm (often called borage). Parasite eggs can be identified by visual signs:

  • Round with slightly pointed tips, similar to sesame or cucumber seeds.
  • White, slightly transparent.
  • The main distinguishing feature is that the eggs move and move due to the flat muscles of the segment.

Tapeworm eggs are most often found:

  • In feces.
  • On the pet's bedding.
  • On the fur around the anus.

The life cycle of borage has its own peculiarities. Each worm is hermaphrodite, meaning it reproduces and fertilizes its own eggs. The egg, released into the external environment, begins to move to find a temporary carrier. The egg is eaten by a flea (flea eater), which becomes a vessel for the maturation of the egg.

When the parasite is ready to molt, it hibernates and waits for the right conditions. A flea living on a cat gets caught in the pet's teeth when it tries to relieve the itching. The swallowed flea is digested, and the egg sheds as soon as it enters the intestines.

Once in a suitable habitat, the head of the parasite is implanted into the intestinal mucosa, in other words, it digs into it with hooks and begins to drink blood. Within 30–40 days, the worm matures and becomes sexually mature. Afterwards, the helminth begins to form segments, each of which contains a fertilized egg. The last segment (the tail of the worm) breaks off and comes out with the feces as soon as the egg is ready to “move” into the body of a temporary carrier.

Ways of infection by pinworms

It is easy for a child to become infected with such a disease. He leads an active lifestyle, learning new things and playing with other children and animals. A baby can “catch” parasites in several ways:

  1. Oral. The child scratches the anus and parasite eggs get under the nails. Anything that the baby touches with his hands can be a site of infection.
  2. Bytovym. After contact with dirty toys, after eating dirty vegetables. This method is the most common. Pinworm larvae remain on the hands and, once they enter the oral cavity, they easily reach a favorable habitat.
  3. Contact. Favorite pets are the main breeding grounds for worms. Children love to play with them and often do not wash their hands after contact.

The most common cause is failure to maintain normal hygiene. Dirty hands, stale linen, close contact with mucous membranes have a beneficial effect on the appearance of enterobiasis. By teaching your child to be clean, you can protect him from many infections and helminth infections.

Your cat is constipated or changes in stool color

14054 views


Lack of bowel movements is always a sign that your pet is unhealthy. The norm is considered to be at least one bowel movement per day.

If the act of defecation occurs untimely and with long delays, this can lead to intoxication of the animal and other serious negative consequences. If you notice that the cat does not go to the toilet or meows and makes other sounds when defecating, spends a lot of time on this process, but often without results, if the feces are dry and the amount is small, you can talk about constipation in the cat. Constipation can be caused by an unbalanced diet, low protein food, dehydration, or the formation of hairballs in the esophagus. In cases of constipation and complicated bowel movements of your pet, you must contact your veterinarian and take the prescribed treatment.

A change in the color of stool may indicate problems of various origins. The normal color of feces is brown. When the color is normal, but the stool is loose, this can be caused by eating poor quality, stale food, as well as infection by parasites. But what if the stool is an unusual color?

If the stool turns black, this may indicate the presence of digested blood, which indicates internal bleeding in the upper digestive tract.

If blood is found in the stool in the state in which everyone is accustomed to seeing it, scarlet or bright red, it means that the blood has not been digested and bleeding is taking place in the lower parts of the digestive tract. In any case, the presence of bleeding in any part of the digestive tract should not be ignored and prompt assistance from a veterinarian.

If your pet's stool has acquired a greenish or yellowish tint, this may indicate problems with digestion of food, dysbiosis and other digestive disorders. If the stool is completely light yellow or even beige, white, this is an indication of a malfunction of the liver.

Grayish feces indicate problems with digesting the food you eat. If the feces are oily or watery, this may indicate failures in the absorption of excess fluid by the intestinal walls.

If any of the listed manifestations of changes in the quality, quantity, or consistency of your cat’s stool occur, you should immediately contact your veterinarian, take stool tests, and, having received the results and referrals from a specialist, begin treatment.

It is strictly not recommended to start treatment with human drugs and dosages on your own, as this can aggravate the animal’s condition and precious time will be lost.

Useful materials:

  • Cutaneous horn General description of the disease Cutaneous horn on the forehead or face (ICD 10 code - L57.0) -...
  • Cloudy eye in a cat Common causes of cloudy eyes in a cat The most common causes of cloudy eyes are glaucoma, cataracts or keratitis.…
  • Itching and odorless discharge Main causesBefore considering the factors that provoke the appearance of discharge that has a sour odor, it is necessary to immediately note...
  • Normal temperature in animals Normal temperature in different types of animals Veterinary services Day hospital for animals Veterinary certificates Vaccination…

Eating disorders

Owners try to feed purebred cats and cats correctly, in a balanced manner, choosing special food or a diet made from natural products. And this approach is competent and allows you to maintain the beautiful appearance of the animal and its good health.

But sometimes there is a desire to give your pet an extra portion or feed him something fried or delicious pastries. The digestive system, not ready for such changes, malfunctions, food cannot be digested normally, and as a result, diarrhea begins.

Loose stools can also be caused by food that seems safe for cats, such as milk or raw river fish. The causes of diarrhea are varied, but most often veterinarians have to deal with overeating of a pet, which was facilitated by the owner’s desire to pamper the pet.

Food is poorly digested, putrefactive processes occur on the mucous membranes of the intestines, which is why the epithelium comes off, from which mucus is obtained.

Diarrhea can also be caused by a sudden change in the brand of food.

Both manufacturers of ready-made food and veterinarians recommend gradually introducing a new type of food, stretching the transition process over several days.

About your pets' excrement

In this article we will talk about a sensitive topic. about your pets' excrement, aka feces.

Any encyclopedia will tell you - feces (faeces; synonyms: feces, excrement) - the contents of the distal part of the large intestine, released during defecation.

Normally, cats have bowel movements once or twice a day, the stool is formed, slightly moist and soft, dark brown in color, there is no mucus, blood or undigested food in it. Ideally, the size of the stool should be significantly smaller than the amount of food on the plate (25%). When there is less output than input, the cat extracts more nutrients from the food. Large stools are caused by the presence of undigested filler in feed such as corn and other plant products.

Rating
( 2 ratings, average 5 out of 5 )
Did you like the article? Share with friends:
For any suggestions regarding the site: [email protected]
Для любых предложений по сайту: [email protected]