My Kitten Has Diarrhea

Reader Question


How can I treat my kitten for diarrhea. It is only 6 wks old.


Suggestion From Dr. Coates for Treating Kitten Diarrhea


Hello there,

When a six week old kitten has diarrhea, it is very important that the animal be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Young kittens can quickly become dehydrated; their conditions may rapidly deteriorate; and they may even die without appropriate and timely treatment.

The basic diagnostic work up for a kitten with diarrhea will include a physical examination, fecal testing to look for parasites or bacteria that can cause disease, and a test for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency viruses. Most of the time, these tests will reveal the answer as to why a kitten has diarrhea, but if they do not, other blood work, a urinalysis, and/or abdominal imaging (e.g., x-rays and ultrasound) may be necessary to get to the bottom of what is going on.



Regards,
Jennifer Coates, DVM