My new shelter cat has diarrhea and bloody stool. Should I go to ER?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Rose. Poor little girl! I'm quite concerned that she has diarrhea with bright red blood in it and is very lethargic. Based on this, I think she should see a vet now. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. I hope this helps!

Thanks for adopting Eli. Blood in the stool without constipation is often due to intestinal parasites. Please take a sample to your veterinarian and they will look under the microscope for parasite eggs. If they find some they will prescribe the correct dewormer for Eli. If there are no parasites and this continues Eli should go in for an exam. He could have an anal infection, rectal polyp or intestinal inflammation causing the blood. Cats do have blood in the stool more often than other animals so if he's normal and this only happens once in a while I would just keep an eye on him, and bring him in if it is a constant issue. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Eli.

Hello, thank you for using PetCoach. I suggest you have him dewormed and I would also start him on a probiotic (Fortiflora). If you do those two things and the diarrhea doesn't start to resolve in a few days then you need to take him to a vet for an exam. ( https://www.1800petmeds.com/purina+fortiflora-prod10376.html ) ( https://www.1800petmeds.com/drontal+for+cats-prod10073.html ) I don't think the oral flea/tick med is the issue but of course it can be. If you use that again in the future and the diarrhea starts again then you can probably confidently say that it is the issue in which case I would stop using it. Usually if that is the case the diarrhea starts within 24 hours of administration. Two weeks later, it is not likely. The new food is also possibly the culprit but again, you didn't switch cold turkey and it doesn't sound like he is eating that much of it anyway. Again, possible but not likely. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

As long as she’s feeling fine and eating and drinking she should be fine. Please get her back on cat food and water only and this loose stool should resolve without treatment. When cats have bowel irritation they can pass small amounts of blood. If she’s not eating well, not drinking or the diarrhea lasts more than a day then please take her in for an exam and treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Whiskey.

Hello. Fortunately, this is not an emergency. Cat stool is usually pretty dry, so occasional blood is not unusual. I usually recommend 1/8 teaspoon of Miralax twice daily, but you can go up to 1/4 teaspoon twice daily for a few days. Too much Miralax can lead to electrolyte imbalances, so if the blood & dry stool continues, your veterinarian might want to put Lilly on some Lactulose. Do everything you can to increase the liquids taken in by Lilly, including tuna water, or low sodium broth added to food or offered separately along with fresh water. See how this goes before seeing your veterinarian. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The blood you are seeing in the stools may be stress colitis. I suggest you do the following: 1. Put her on a GI supplement for diarrhea that also has probiotics: https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=132480 2. Put her on a GI food that will help with digestion: https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=114749 3. Use some Feliway diffusers in your new place until she seems more comfortable. These really help with stress: https://worldtails.securevetsource.com/itemView/view/198944_HomeDelivery.pml?productId=117324 This is what I would start with. Hope this helps. Best wishes!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If the worms you are seeing are small pieces of rice then they are likely tape worms. You need to purchase a dewormer than gets tape worms (drontal, droncit, cestex) and check her for fleas. Fleas are the intermediate host for tape worm. Also be sure that when you dewormed her before than you repeated the first dose 3-4 weeks later. There are some SPCAs that have low cost veterinary clinics. If the blood persists in her stool I recommend you have her seen. Blood indicates inflammation of the colon. Stop the diatomaceous earth. I hope this helps and good luck!