Cat owners know that part of owning a cat is to deal with cat vomit and diarrhea. Many times, the symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea clear up on their own after a day. When your cat is vomiting and has diarrhea at the same time, it’s a sign you need to contact a vet like Nashville Cat Clinic in Nashville, TN.
Poisoning
Cats that eat something poisonous or absorb a poisonous fluid through their skin will often vomit and have sudden diarrhea. This is because their bodies are trying to get rid of the poison quickly. Do not try to make the cat vomit even more. Other signs of poisoning include seizures, lack of coordination, problems breathing, drooling, and coughing. Contact a veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control hotline at 1-888-426-4435.
Gastroenteritis
This is when your cat’s digestive tract is inflamed. There can be many causes, such as bacteria, viruses, illnesses, a foreign body in the intestinal tract, or parasites. It can also be a bad reaction to new foods or new medication. Cat care from a veterinarian is needed to prevent death from dehydration.
Pancreatitis
When the pancreas is inflamed, your cat will vomit and have diarrhea. There are two kinds of pancreatitis: acute and chronic. Chronic means that bouts of vomiting and diarrhea happen often, while acute means that this is the first time an episode has occurred. Other symptoms of pancreatitis include fever and being more tired than usual. Cat care for pancreatitis includes fluids given by IV, painkillers, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Food Allergies
Food allergies are common in cats. The most common foods cats are allergic to include beef, dairy, fish, and chicken. It can take a long time of trial and error to find out just what specific food triggers the allergies. Cats with food allergies tend to have terribly itchy skin.
Tumors and Cancer
Constant vomiting with diarrhea is a common symptom in cats with tumors or cancer. Tumors may not always be cancerous. Any tumor growing in the digestive system can cause chronic vomiting and diarrhea. Lymphoma, the most common kind of cancer in cats, also causes chronic vomiting and diarrhea. Other symptoms of lymphoma include loss of appetite, weight loss, swelling of the lymph nodes, and problems breathing.
Stool Sample
Our veterinarian may ask you to bring a stool sample to rule out some problems that cause cat vomit and diarrhea, like parasites. Only a small sample is needed.
Still Have Questions?
If you have questions about your cat vomiting or diarrhea and live in the Nashville, TN, area, contact Nashville Cat Clinic at (615) 361-1844 to make an appointment today.