Loose Stool / Anal Glands?

L

luckystar

Guest
Was just browsing the web on cats and came across the fact that apparently cats have anal glands as well as dogs. Seriously, I didn't know this. It should have been apparent. :dork:

The site said that regular firm stool is required for the glands to be expressed naturally when the cat eliminates. I don't want to have to stick my fingers up my cat's butt or take him to the vet and have them ask if I want to be taught. Or see my poor cat get a finger stuck up his butt! He's not a fan of having his temperature taken, I can't imagine...

Anyways, Manny's had loose stool for a few months now with no other symptoms, weight loss, or dehydration. I was putting a little pumpkin in his wet food for a while, and that seemed to help him out, but he just snubs the food and doesn't really eat it anymore. He'll wait until I make him his other half can in the evening without it.

I seemed to have found just the right food for him before this started again (he had loose stool the day he came home). I feed him high quality stuff; Purina Pro Plan wet food and Purina Healthful Life dry in the morning.

Breakfast: 1/3 c dry

Lunch: 1/2 can wet

Dinner: 1/2 can wet

I'm going to try feeding him another 1/3 cup of dry food for lunch to see if the extra fiber in it will help solidify his stools. Any other ideas? I've heard of using tiny amounts of Metamucil (Psyllium) in their food for extra fiber and firmness, or do you think it's time for another trip to the vet? I think I could avoid it personally, and I'm usually one to take my cat to the vet if he looks at me funny. It's just that there are no other worrying symptoms and cats' tummies tend to be so sensitive to anything that I think it may just be a matter of tweaking his diet again.
 
cattitude

cattitude

My Sweetest Boy
luckystar said:
Was just browsing the web on cats and came across the fact that apparently cats have anal glands as well as dogs. Seriously, I didn't know this. It should have been apparent. :dork:

The site said that regular firm stool is required for the glands to be expressed naturally when the cat eliminates. I don't want to have to stick my fingers up my cat's butt or take him to the vet and have them ask if I want to be taught. Or see my poor cat get a finger stuck up his butt! He's not a fan of having his temperature taken, I can't imagine...

Anyways, Manny's had loose stool for a few months now with no other symptoms, weight loss, or dehydration. I was putting a little pumpkin in his wet food for a while, and that seemed to help him out, but he just snubs the food and doesn't really eat it anymore. He'll wait until I make him his other half can in the evening without it.

I seemed to have found just the right food for him before this started again (he had loose stool the day he came home). I feed him high quality stuff; Purina Pro Plan wet food and Purina Healthful Life dry in the morning.

Breakfast: 1/3 c dry

Lunch: 1/2 can wet

Dinner: 1/2 can wet

I'm going to try feeding him another 1/3 cup of dry food for lunch to see if the extra fiber in it will help solidify his stools. Any other ideas? I've heard of using tiny amounts of Metamucil (Psyllium) in their food for extra fiber and firmness, or do you think it's time for another trip to the vet? I think I could avoid it personally, and I'm usually one to take my cat to the vet if he looks at me funny. It's just that there are no other worrying symptoms and cats' tummies tend to be so sensitive to anything that I think it may just be a matter of tweaking his diet again.
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Pumpkin is a funny thing..it can also cause loose stools. Have you had them run a check for parasites, etc.?
 
L

luckystar

Guest
cattitude said:
Pumpkin is a funny thing..it can also cause loose stools. Have you had them run a check for parasites, etc.?
Click to expand...

He hasn't had any real reason to go to the vet since his surgery, which is good. I suppose it's about time though. I just don't want to waste money taking him to the vet if he really doesn't need to go. The stool isn't even dehydrating him, he's drinking normally and it's just soft, not runny or anything. Reminiscent of soft serve actually. Really stinky soft serve. :barf:

Are the parasite tests just stool samples? Because that would be easy, I have an appointment to test Nacho's next week actually. Could just bring in two bags... It would be kind of difficult to mix up the two :wince:
 
cattitude

cattitude

My Sweetest Boy
luckystar said:
He hasn't had any real reason to go to the vet since his surgery, which is good. I suppose it's about time though. I just don't want to waste money taking him to the vet if he really doesn't need to go. The stool isn't even dehydrating him, he's drinking normally and it's just soft, not runny or anything. Reminiscent of soft serve actually. Really stinky soft serve. :barf:

Are the parasite tests just stool samples? Because that would be easy, I have an appointment to test Nacho's next week actually. Could just bring in two bags... It would be kind of difficult to mix up the two :wince:
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That's what I was suggesting..no need for a vet visit. Are you still giving him stuff for hairballs?
 
L

luckystar

Guest
cattitude said:
That's what I was suggesting..no need for a vet visit. Are you still giving him stuff for hairballs?
Click to expand...

Ran out of the stuff that he likes, and have been forgetting to put in the new stuff because even though there are three tubes around the house, they keep disappearing behind and under things. Doesn't seem to be having a problem, I'm just brushing him more with the Furminator. Seems to have done the trick :)
 
cattitude

cattitude

My Sweetest Boy
luckystar said:
Ran out of the stuff that he likes, and have been forgetting to put in the new stuff because even though there are three tubes around the house, they keep disappearing behind and under things. Doesn't seem to be having a problem, I'm just brushing him more with the Furminator. Seems to have done the trick :)
Click to expand...


I know the hairball gel stuff can cause softserve. :lol:
 
L

luckystar

Guest
sunflower said:
And No one asked you to be a snot....


I put :lol: So go get some tea
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Not trying to be a snot, just trying to say I certainly wouldn't be in here if I was trying to eat.

But then again, I can talk about my cat's soft serve stool and drink a chocolate milkshake unphased.
 
mAlice

mAlice

professional daydreamer
SouthernMdRocks said:
But I hear he gives lots of kisses!!!
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Yes, he does. He's an awesome little kitty. He's also learning to be a lap cat...slowly but surely. He has napped on my lap a few times, with some encouragement. Gotta' catch him when he's ready to nap, though.

He's still trying to figure out why he gets wet when he climbs the throne and attempts to scratch the furniture.

He and Manny sound like a herd of elephants chasing each other through the house, sliding on the wood floors and slamming into furniture. We have our own drift club in the house.

Oh yeah...he brings his toys upstairs.
 
SouthernMdRocks

SouthernMdRocks

R.I.P. Bobo, We miss you!
mAlice said:
Yes, he does. He's an awesome little kitty. He's also learning to be a lap cat...slowly but surely. He has napped on my lap a few times, with some encouragement. Gotta' catch him when he's ready to nap, though.

He's still trying to figure out why he gets wet when he climbs the throne and attempts to scratch the furniture.

He and Manny sound like a herd of elephants chasing each other through the house, sliding on the wood floors and slamming into furniture. We have our own drift club in the house.

Oh yeah...he brings his toys upstairs.
Click to expand...

Glad to hear Manny and him are buds!! Climbing the throne, he's lucky not to get the power washer....
 
L

luckystar

Guest
SouthernMdRocks said:
How have Nacho's poops been? :coffee:
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Luckily easily distinguishable from Manny's (firm), because they're both going in with samples on Monday. Hopefully Manny just needs his food changed, Nacho's just going in for a booster and a routine kitten test they said should be run.
 
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