Intestinal parasites are a common cause of soft stools in puppies and kittens. Through the womb and nursing on their mother, young pets often contract parasites. These are frequently treated through routine deworming of pets while they are still with their mothers. In older puppies and kittens more diverse causes may come into play. Often times, younger pets are more inclined to snack on the “presents” left behind by the wild critters in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, often times these “gifts” contain eggs from parasites carried by those animals. Ingestion of these eggs can lead to parasite growth and shedding within your pet. Fecal floatation and fecal smears are two ways we use to diagnose these types of infections. In some cases, the fecal checks will be negative despite heavy parasite burden inside our pets – this means that your pet was not shedding any eggs in that particular sample. So, in some cases where other issues have been ruled out – your pet may receive deworming medication despite a negative fecal sample.
Routine bloodwork, fecal flotation, urinalysis, and radiographs are all methods we can use to determine the cause of soft stool when intestinal parasites do not appear to be the issue at hand. There are still other potential causes for abnormal stools including pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, stress, dietary sensitivity and abnormal gut flora.
The pancreas is responsible for producing enzymes that serve to aid in digestion of foodstuffs as they enter the small intestine. If the glands responsible for the production of these enzymes are not functioning at an appropriate level, the food will not be fully digested. This causes abnormal stools, which are often lighter in color and increased in volume, as well as weight loss as the pet is unable to absorb many nutrients as they are not in an absorbable form. To diagnose this disease, we often perform a serum TLI (Trypsin Like Immunoreactivity) assay. This test measures the level of Trypsinogen and Trypsin within the serum. These are both enzymes that are produced by the exocrine glands of the pancreas.
Dietary sensitivity is also a possible cause for abnormal stools in young pets. Just like people, animals can be sensitive to certain ingredients within their diets, which can lead to gastrointestinal upset. In addition, when an animal’s diet is changed frequently, this can also lead to changes in stool and appetite. If your pet has had multiple changes in diet over the past several months, this is a distinct possibility.
Please contact us or your regular veterinarian if your pet is experiencing soft stools or any other concerns arise. Soft stools can be life threatening in young animals as they can get dehydrated quickly – so always consult your vet if you notice this problem in your puppy or kitten.
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