Enteritis in cats - Studying the problem! Feline infectious enteritis.

If your beloved pet feels unwell, has diarrhea and vomiting, you should immediately consult a doctor. It is important to find out what is causing this condition - food poisoning or enteritis, and prescribe the correct treatment. Do not delay your trip to the clinic, because in some cases, enteritis in cats is fatal.

Enteritis in cats is an inflammation of the mucous layer of the small intestine with disruption of all its functions. Can be bacterial or viral.

Bacterial usually develops as a secondary disease against the background of salmonellosis, tuberculosis, other infectious diseases, mechanical damage or poisoning.

There are three types of viral enteritis in cats:

• coronavirus - affects the surface layer of the intestinal lining, characterized by the absence of temperature. Those sick with this type of enteritis recover most easily. The cat will become a carrier of pathogens and pose a danger to other individuals.
• rotavirus - more common in kittens. If the kitten is treated on time, at the first symptoms, the disease recedes.
• parvovirus is the most dangerous type, which is not always curable. Many people know this disease as “distemper”. The danger is that general intoxication of the body occurs, dehydration, a decrease in leukocytes and serious damage to the gastrointestinal tract. After recovery, the cat remains infectious to its relatives for up to six months.

None of the types of feline enteritis are dangerous to humans.

Viral enteritis occurs in an acute form, and bacterial enteritis often occurs in a chronic form. In the chronic course of the disease, the large intestine becomes inflamed.

Causes of the disease

Viral enteritis is transmitted from one cat to another through shared food, through feces when using a shared toilet, or through soiling while walking outside. A cat can infect kittens in utero or during feeding. Dirty shoes, in which the owner comes from the street, can also serve as a source of infection. There is a possibility of transmitting the disease through airborne droplets during very close contact, so under no circumstances should a healthy animal be allowed to communicate with a sick animal.

The cause of bacterial enteritis is most often poisoning, poor-quality food, and helminths, which damage the intestines and make it vulnerable to bacteria.

How to recognize the disease?

If the following symptoms appear, you should consult a doctor:

• diarrhea, in which undigested pieces of food, mucus or blood can be seen in the feces;
• colic - manifests itself in the fact that the cat changes its body position, moves from place to place, while behaving restlessly and suddenly meowing;
• bloated stomach, gases with an unpleasant odor, constant loud rumbling in the stomach;
• when pressing on the tight abdomen, it becomes clear that the cat is in pain;
• white coating on the tongue;
• refusal of food;
• smell from the mouth;
• vomit;
• weakness, lack of shine in the eyes, dull fur, indifference to the owner;
• elevated temperature.

The presence of at least two of the above symptoms gives reason to suspect enteritis in cats. Despite the fact that all the symptoms are similar to signs of poisoning, you should not take risks and wait for the cat or kittens to “go away on their own.” Only a doctor can make an accurate diagnosis.

Diagnosis of the disease and treatment

Diagnosis is made by external symptoms and laboratory tests.

When examining a cat, the doctor will definitely ask you to answer the questions: whether the cat was vaccinated, what the cat was fed, whether there was vomiting, how often loose stools occur, its smell and color. These questions are necessary in order to distinguish whether the disease is food poisoning or enteritis.

If poisoning is excluded, then blood is taken for bacteriological and virological culture. This is the only way to determine what type of enteritis in cats, which is important for prescribing treatment.

Treatment is carried out comprehensively. Glauber's salt or castor oil are prescribed to cleanse the small intestine. To restore the acid-base balance in the gastrointestinal tract, a solution of citric acid or soda is administered orally. The doctor will prescribe which remedy to use, since it depends on the type of inflammation in this case: acidic or alkaline.

To reduce the symptoms of the disease, medications are prescribed:

• antipyretics;
• antiemetics;
• antibacterial;
• antispasmodic;
• astringents (for diarrhea);
• hemostatic (in the presence of blood in feces and vomit).

Depending on the type of enteritis, antibiotics or immunomodulators are used for treatment.

Home care

At home, it is necessary to provide proper care for a sick cat.

It is important to follow a dietary regime. On the first day of treatment, you cannot feed the animal. This is not difficult to do, because the cat will refuse food on its own. On the second and third days, they give liquid oatmeal porridge cooked in meat broth. The fiber contained in cereals helps the stomach recover and improves intestinal functions. On the fourth or fifth day, you need to feed the cat minced meat. If she cannot eat solid food, there is no need to force her. It is enough to give a little meat broth.

If the animal completely refuses to eat, glucose drips are placed to maintain the body.

Water should be available in unlimited quantities. If he does not drink, water is injected behind the cheek with a pipette or syringe without a needle. They do this in small portions, but often. Regidron helps against dehydration.

The place where the sick cat is located should be warm and clean, and regularly ventilated. To recover, a cat needs the attention and affection of its owners.

Preventive measures to protect your cat from enteritis

To protect your cat from infection with enteritis, it is necessary to do preventive vaccination on time. It is held once a year.

The animal should be treated regularly for fleas, ticks and helminths.

When bringing small kittens or a new cat into your home, you must quarantine for a month.

It is worth approaching the issue of nutrition responsibly. Long bones are contraindicated for cats, as they can damage the intestinal walls, leading to disease. Do not feed table scraps, spicy or fatty foods.

It is important to keep your cat's litter box clean. The tray should be regularly disinfected with a product containing chlorine. If there are several cats in the house, one tray should be no more than for two animals.

When coming from the street, wash your shoes or put them in a closed closet.

Do not let your cat walk on its own, and even less so if it is not vaccinated.

Enteritis in cats - what is it? What types of enteritis exist and what causes them? What symptoms does it accompany and why is it dangerous? We will try to talk in detail about the group of diseases that are hidden behind the term “enteritis” in this article.

Let's take a closer look at some of the factors leading to enteritis in cats.

Viral enteritis in cats

The causative agents of infectious viral enteritis in cats can be several types of viruses, the main of which are coronavirus and parvovirus (feline panleukopenia virus).

Coronavirus enteritis in cats

Coronavirus infection usually causes enteritis and other moderate lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. This is a moderately contagious disease, that is, whether a cat gets sick upon contact with a pathogen depends on its state of health and the presence or absence of a concomitant disease. Kittens and older cats are at risk. Clinical symptoms may not appear, but the cat will become a lifelong carrier of coronavirus. The recovered animal will also be a carrier of coronavirus infection for the rest of its life and serve as a source of infection for other cats. However, this virus is not dangerous for humans.

Another danger that awaits a cat sick with coronavirus infection is the possible mutation of the pathogen into a virus that causes feline infectious peritonitis. This disease, unfortunately, is incurable, but such a mutation occurs only in a small percentage of cases.

The main symptom of coronavirus enteritis in cats is diarrhea, and there is no specific treatment, so all measures are aimed at easing the symptoms of the disease. Read more about this disease in our article “Coronavirus infection”.

Parvovirus enteritis in cats (panleukopenia, “feline distemper”)

This disease is extremely dangerous for cats and is highly contagious, but humans cannot become infected with it. Panleukopenia leads to serious damage to the gastrointestinal tract, general intoxication and dehydration. The main clinical symptoms of this type of viral enteritis in cats are vomiting and diarrhea, which are the cause of dehydration. An increase in temperature, refusal to feed, and a general decrease in the level of leukocytes in the blood are also observed. Treatment of viral enteritis, or gastroenteritis caused by parvovirus in cats, is aimed at alleviating the symptoms of the disease and improving the condition of the animal, since there is no specific antiviral therapy. After recovery, the cat remains contagious and dangerous to other cats for at least 6 weeks (and in some cases longer).

Read more about parvovirus enteritis in our article “Panleukopenia”.

Other pathogens of viral enteritis in cats

There are other types of viruses that cause acute diarrhea in cats. For example, in kittens it could be rotavirus or astrovirus. The symptoms of these viral infections are similar to those of coronavirus enteritis, and treatment is also symptomatic. The disease is curable, but help must be provided to the kitten as soon as possible.

Bacterial enteritis in cats

Secondary bacterial enteritis occurs when a cat becomes infected with salmonellosis, tuberculosis, or other infections that affect the gastrointestinal tract. At the same time, for example, E. coli, Escherichiacolli, most likely, is not the cause of pathological conditions, as some experts believe. This type of bacteria is part of the normal intestinal microflora.

The most common bacterial enteritis is caused by salmonella infection. In this case, an acute form develops, often the large intestine is also involved in the process - enterocolitis develops. Young and emaciated animals are at risk. Moreover, salmonellosis in cats can also occur as a chronic disease without symptoms of enteritis. The treatment regimen includes broad-spectrum antibiotics. Be careful: salmonellosis can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Other bacteria that cause, among other things, symptoms of enteritis - CampylobacterjejuniBacilluspisiformis, which causes the rather rare Teasler disease, Yersiniapseudotuberculosis, as well as mycobacteria - the causative agents of tuberculosis. In the latter case, enteritis occurs due to the alimentary form of tuberculosis, that is, when infected with food. Cats become infected by drinking, for example, contaminated milk. All of these are quite rare causes of enteritis in cats, however, if we are not talking about a cat that spends its entire life within an apartment, they should also be kept in mind.

One of the causes of intestinal inflammation in a cat is infection with helminths. Quite a large number of species, for example, roundworms or hookworms, choose the small intestine of a cat as their place of residence. Their hooks and suction cups - accessories to the oral apparatus - injure the mucous membrane of the small intestine, which leads to inflammation. If the infestation is small, the cat will most likely not show clinical symptoms of enteritis, however, if the infestation is severe, then signs of enteritis will not be long in coming. And again, kittens are at risk, so if you have babies at home, you need to monitor their health and the health of the mother cat especially carefully.

The mechanism for the occurrence of traumatic enteritis in cats is extremely simple: if a cat eats, for example, sharp and hard bones, then, passing through the intestines, they scratch and injure it. This is why animals should not be given not only bone fragments, but also tubular bones: when a cat chews such a bone, parts with sharp edges are formed. Other objects swallowed by an animal can also cause intestinal injury. For example, New Year's decorations - "rain" and tinsel - are dangerous. Bright and shiny, they often attract the attention of animals. And even if the “rain” safely passes the entire gastrointestinal tract of the cat and does not cause obstruction, it is quite capable of scratching the delicate walls of the small intestine. And where there is injury, there is an inflammatory process.

Enteritis in cats as a result of poisoning

Symptoms of enteritis can occur in a cat as a result of eating low-quality food, as well as food that is expired or infected with a fungus. Diarrhea can also be caused by water that does not meet sanitary standards.

Enteritis often occurs when a cat comes into contact with poisons of organic or inorganic origin. These could be poisonous indoor plants, household chemicals, and even mice caught after deratization. The cause of symptoms of enteritis in a cat can also be a food allergy.

Symptoms of enteritis in a cat

Regardless of what caused this disease in a cat, common signs of enteritis will be:

• - diarrhea;
• - increased gas formation;
• - stomach ache;
• - undigested food remains in the stool.

At the same time, enteritis caused by various reasons may have other accompanying symptoms. Viral enteritis is often accompanied by fever, vomiting, exhaustion, and apathy. A characteristic symptom of panleukopenia is a sharp decrease in the level of leukocytes. When poisoned, the cat also vomits. It is important that only by the totality of symptoms can a doctor make an accurate diagnosis and choose the right treatment.

Diagnostics

Making a diagnosis and finding out the exact cause of enteritis in a cat is based primarily on medical history. The doctor will ask you in detail about your pet’s lifestyle, vaccination availability, diet and other important factors. A significant portion of your story should focus on the symptoms you observe in your pet.

Even before the final diagnosis, symptomatic therapy begins. The fact is that diarrhea - the main symptom of enteritis in cats - is dangerous primarily due to dehydration. And if vomiting is added to diarrhea, this danger increases. In order to prevent fluid loss from the body, infusion therapy is prescribed. This means that the cat is given drips of saline solutions (for example, saline solution can be used).

Since even enteritis is sometimes accompanied by a secondary bacterial infection, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used. If the animal is vomiting, antiemetic drugs are prescribed. In the absence of intestinal peristalsis, prokinetics are used. When treating enteritis, a fasting diet is usually prescribed for one to two days, followed by a gentle diet.

In general, depending on the cause of enteritis, the treatment regimen may vary. If the cause of the disease is an allergy, antihistamines are additionally used; if the enteritis is caused by worms, anthelmintics are used. That is why it is so important to make a timely and accurate diagnosis - the success of treating enteritis in a cat depends on it.

Prevention of enteritis in cats

Preventive measures for enteritis are nonspecific. These include timely vaccination and deworming of the animal, a balanced diet, fresh food and clean water available. You should remove poisonous plants and household chemicals from your cat’s reach so that your pet cannot accidentally get poisoned. And of course, you need to carefully monitor your pet’s health: a disease noticed in time is already halfway to recovery!

According to medical terminology, enteritis is an inflammatory disease of the small intestine that affects the inner layer of its mucous membrane and is accompanied by a violation of the secretory and motor functions of the intestine. If the inflammatory process spreads to the stomach, gastroenteritis develops.

This pathology also occurs in animals - cats and dogs. Cats most often suffer from enteritis before the age of 3 months, when the animal's defense system is not yet sufficiently developed. In adult cats, a provoking factor may be a decrease in immunity. This disease is often mistaken for a short-term intestinal disorder, but feline enteritis is dangerous and can have serious consequences, even death.

According to the nature of the manifestations, enteritis is divided into:

• catarrhal (inflammatory) - characterized by swelling of the intestinal mucosa;
• hemorrhagic - with pinpoint hemorrhages in the mucosal tissue;
• fibrinous - with the formation of a curdled protein coating on the intestinal walls;
• necrotic - accompanied by destruction (disintegration) of mucosal tissue;
• ulcerative - with the formation of erosions and ulcers on the inner surface of the intestine.

Depending on the cause that caused the development of the disease, enteritis is divided into non-contagious and contagious (infectious). The former most often result from dysbacteriosis, a sudden transition of a cat to a new type of food, trauma to the gastrointestinal mucosa when the animal eats tubular bones, or the ingestion of toxic substances into the body. The causes of contagious enteritis can be:

• salmonella;
• coli;
• microscopic fungi (candida, mold, fusarium);
• intestinal helminths;
• non-cellular infectious agents - RNA viruses.

Viruses that provoke enteritis are quite resistant to the effects of the external environment, and can remain in the cat’s body in “sleep mode” for a long time (up to a year), without manifesting itself in any way. In most cases, infection occurs when the secretions of sick animals get into food or water; the infection can also be transmitted through direct contact of a healthy cat with a sick one.

You should know: Feline enteritis caused by the Rotavirus, Parvovirus and Coronavirus viruses is not dangerous for either humans or dogs. But the canine pathogen of rotavirus, parvovirus or coronavirus enteritis can be transmitted to cats.

Symptoms

The first symptom of enteritis or gastroenteritis that a cat owner usually notices is diarrhea. In feces there are remains of undigested food, mucus, sometimes mixed with blood.

Clinical signs of intestinal inflammation also include:

• loss of appetite;
• weight loss;
• bloating with gases;
• painful colic, due to which the cat avoids contact;
• paleness of the oral mucous membranes, indicating anemia;
• elevated temperature (this symptom does not always appear);
• depressed state, loss of interest in games;
• loss of desire to keep itself clean (the cat stops licking itself, its fur has an unkempt appearance).

Infectious enteritis is characterized by the development of uncontrollable vomiting, the feces are liquid and reddish in color. When infected with the coronavirus, a severe pain syndrome is observed: the cat literally does not allow you to touch its stomach. Parvovirus enteritis (feline distemper) is considered the most dangerous and often leads to death. It is characterized by a sharp increase in temperature, swelling of the mucous membranes and a nervous tic. Rotavirus enteritis is characterized by rapid dehydration, fever, and blood-streaked stool.

Attention! The main symptoms of different types of enteritis are very similar. The cause of the disease, in particular the type of virus, can only be determined through laboratory testing. Therefore, you should never try to relieve signs of stomach upset in a cat on your own - such actions can only aggravate the disease and complicate its treatment.

Diagnostics

When making a diagnosis, it is very important to carefully collect anamnesis. The cat owner must answer the doctor’s questions in detail:

• when an animal gets sick, how does it manifest itself;
• when the cat was vaccinated and how long ago it was treated for helminths;
• what type and consistency of stool.

Next, the veterinarian conducts an external examination of the animal, assessing the general condition and degree of dehydration. To determine the potential causative agent of the disease, blood, feces, rinsing or a swab from the rectal mucosa are taken for analysis. The swab is tested for the presence of DNA from the virus or antibodies produced by the body against it. A blood test allows you to evaluate the level of white blood cells and red blood cells, as well as identify protein deficiency. If necessary (to determine the quality of intestinal motility), the cat may be prescribed an abdominal ultrasound.

Treatment

The course of treatment for enteritis and enterocolitis in cats is selected strictly individually; the complex of therapeutic measures depends both on the type and cause of the disease, and on which organ systems are affected and to what extent.

First of all, veterinary experts recommend cleaning the cat’s intestines. For this, Glauber's salt or castor oil can be used (the doctor chooses the desired drug, focusing on what kind of catarrh has developed - “acid” or “alkaline”). If a small kitten falls ill with enteritis, you need to act without wasting time: this pathology in kittens often develops at lightning speed and can lead to death in just a few days.

In case of severe pain, cats are prescribed analgesics. If there is blood in the vomit or feces, hemostatic agents are used. To eliminate diarrhea, the cat is given astringents (for example, oak bark decoction) two to three times a day. If diarrhea and vomiting do not stop, and the cat has a high fever, the doctor prescribes antipyretics, antispasmodics and antiemetics, and antibiotics to prevent the development of pathogenic microflora. For viral enteritis or enterocolitis, antibiotic therapy is used from the first day of illness. All medications are selected only by a doctor; treatment can be carried out at home.

Important! Due to the constant loss of fluid through vomiting and diarrhea, enteritis often leads to dehydration. Therefore, it is important that the sick cat’s body receives at least 50 ml of fluid per 1 kg of weight per day. If the animal refuses water, it can be injected in small portions behind the cheek using a pipette or syringe without a needle. To restore the water-salt balance, the doctor may also prescribe drip intravenous infusions of a saline solution based on sodium chloride and glucose to the cat.

Proper care and feeding is of no small importance for the recovery of your pet. The place where the cat is must be warm, kept clean and regularly ventilated. The animal is put on a strict diet for at least a week:

• The first day is only drinking. Instead of water, you can give solutions of Oralite or Rehydron.
• The second and third days - a decoction of oatmeal in meat broth. It envelops the walls of the stomach and intestines, promoting healing of the mucous membrane.
• The fourth and fifth days - thin oatmeal with meat broth. In addition to its high nutritional qualities, it well restores the motor function of the gastrointestinal tract.
• From the sixth day, you can gradually introduce minced meat into your cat’s diet, simmered in a small amount of water or broth.

Life prognosis

Treatment of enteritis in cats, started in a timely manner, is effective in most cases. In animals with a non-contagious form of enteritis or gastroenteritis, or in the case of a disease caused by the FECV coronavirus strain, improvement occurs within 2-3 days, but the course of medication must be maintained in full.

However, if an animal is infected with a mutated coronavirus enteritis virus (FIPV strain), then a rapid death cannot be ruled out; the cat’s life expectancy in this case can be only a few months. Veterinary care for such animals is symptomatic in nature, and is mostly aimed at alleviating the general condition.

Prevention

Measures to protect cats from the development of enteritis are quite simple:

• Timely preventive deworming and vaccination against viral and bacterial infections.
• Regular treatment of the animal against ticks and fleas.
• Use of high-quality feed, and with natural feeding - only fresh products.
• Periodically disinfect the cat's litter box with chlorine-containing products. One litter box should be designed for no more than two cats.

When transporting your pet, you should try to exclude its contact with other animals, and if the cat is to be mated, you should make sure that the potential partner is healthy. If you have acquired a new cat, you must temporarily isolate it from its relatives already living in the house; the recommended period of such quarantine is a month.

Veterinarian about coronavirus gastroenteritis in cats: video

Enteritis in cats is caused by three strains of the virus: coronovirus, parvovirus, and rotavirus. The external symptoms of the disease, regardless of the species of the pathogen, are quite recognizable and characteristic. However, some pets get sick secretly, which causes a lot of problems for owners and veterinarians. The manifestation of alarming signs should not be left to chance. If your cat feels unwell, you should immediately show it to a veterinarian.

The enteritis pathogen poses a serious danger to cats for two reasons. Firstly, it calmly tolerates poor environmental conditions and is capable of instantly infecting healthy individuals. Secondly, the main place of residence of the pathogen is the intestine - the main point in providing the animal with nutrients. With the onset of the disease, this part of the gastrointestinal tract ceases to function normally.

Without treatment, as the situation worsens, the inflammatory process moves deeper into the tissue.

There are several types of enteritis in cats:

• Catarrhal – common. It is characterized by inflammation of the mucous membrane, swelling, and redness.
• Fibrinous - the first type of the disease gradually flows into it. Whitish plaques appear caused by the formation of a large amount of effusion.
• Hemorrhagic is the next stage of inflammation. It is caused by the appearance of wounds on the surface of the intestine; numerous hemorrhages form along the movement of food.
• Ulcerative – the penultimate stage, meaning deep tissue damage. In rare cases, complete destruction is observed, with the release of contents into the abdominal cavity. What leads to the development of peritonitis.
• Necrotic - the last type, means tissue decay and gradual death.

Secondary situations are more widespread. These include cases of complex infection of a cat. When the immune system is forced to defend itself on all fronts at once, the cat’s weakest organ becomes inflamed. Systemic diseases include feline distemper, salmonellosis, pneumonia and many others. When treating such enteritis, it is extremely important to establish the cause of the poor condition. Without this, the money and time spent will be wasted.

Causes and symptoms of enteritis in cats

There are four groups of possible causes for the development of pathology. In the case of cats, improper maintenance, in particular feeding, is at the forefront. The stomach of small pets does not tolerate sudden changes in diet and reacts poorly to low-quality food. Adding fuel to the fire is the desire of the owners to feed the cat tasty, but not healthy food. It is very dangerous to give an animal food that is missing, rotten, or containing foreign impurities. If there is the slightest doubt about the quality, it is better to throw away the packaging than to watch the cat suffer later.

The quality of water should also be taken into account. The ideal option involves providing filtered water. You should avoid drinking liquid that is chemically poisoned or contains large amounts of heavy metal salts. The very appearance of the food can cause the development of enteritis. Some owners are guilty of giving fish bones, the sharp edges of which can easily injure the delicate mucous membrane.

Invasion becomes the reason for the development of enteritis. Helminths themselves are carriers of infection, and coupled with constant damage to the intestinal epithelium they cause great damage. The activity of worms is accompanied by the release of toxic waste. Often these substances cause the development of an allergic reaction and worsening of the condition. Helminth infections as a cause of enteritis are often observed in small kittens. For them, helminthic infestation can result in death.

Another group of reasons are external factors. Ingestion of chemical reagents by a cat leads to damage to the inner lining of the intestines. House plants become a source of poisoning. Many plants are poisonous. And finally, when the optimal balance of microflora is disturbed, dysbacteriosis develops. Without assistance, the disease can lead to enteritis.

Now let's look at the main symptoms of the disease. Let's divide the signs into three categories depending on the type of pathogen. Coronavirus enteritis in cats is accompanied by:

• Refusal to eat, apathy.
• Bloating, diarrhea.
• Feces are yellow-red in color.
• Increased vomiting.

Enteritis develops especially quickly in kittens. Children experience severe pain and avoid touching their stomach. The stomach wall is painful and tight. The temperature remains within normal limits. Rotovirus infection manifests itself in even stronger spasms. Body temperature jumps, excrement contains blood and mucus. Parvovirus is the most dangerous type. It manifests itself in various ways: high fever, nervous twitching, weakness. Without therapy, most cats die.

Treatment and prevention of enteritis

Before prescribing a treatment regimen, a comprehensive examination of the cat is carried out in order to establish an accurate diagnosis. Possible bacterial and infectious diseases that have the disease as a symptom are excluded. They take blood, stool, and urine tests and thoroughly examine them. And only then treatment is prescribed.

An effective first step - a starvation diet - is remarkably helpful in the early detection of pathology. The cat is allowed to drink as much as possible or is helped to restore its water balance using the drug rehydron.

Then a light diet of broth, minced meat, and porridge is slowly introduced. Use dietary products that gently envelop the damaged intestines. What medications can be used after consulting a veterinarian? The first step is to cleanse the intestines. Gastric lavage with Glauber's salt, potassium permanganate, and soda will help here. A decoction of oak bark helps stop diarrhea. To replenish fluid loss, droppers are prescribed; they are done under the supervision of a veterinary specialist.

If it is not possible to stop enteritis with light means, they resort to heavy artillery. Antibiotics, antispasmodics, painkillers, and antipyretics are used. The specific names will be clarified by the attending physician; you should not self-medicate. In order to prevent a dangerous disease, it is enough to follow a number of simple rules.

A sick cat is isolated from other pets. In principle, viral enteritis in a cat is not transmitted to other animals and is safe for humans. But if the immunity of those in contact drops, poor living conditions, or contamination, the pathogen can cause unpleasant symptoms. The cat's owner will not get sick with coronavirus or parvovirus, but will begin a chain of infection for other cats.

Adult cats and kittens are no less susceptible to various diseases than people. Enteritis in cats is one of the most common diseases. In the early stages, it can easily be confused with a common stomach disorder, but this pathology is very insidious and can cause serious consequences for the health and life of your furry pet.

Enteritis in cats

What is enteritis? This is a viral or bacteriological disease that leads to an inflammatory process of the mucous membrane of the small intestine and disrupts its basic functions (motor, secretory, excretory). There are acute and chronic types, the protracted phase provokes inflammation of the colon.

Causes of illness in cats and kittens

The reasons for the development of enteritis lie not only in poor nutrition, which causes an imbalance in the stomach; there are also other risk factors, as a result of which the chances of acquiring the disease sharply increase.

The causes of enteritis in cats and kittens are:

• keeping a large number of individuals in one territory (in nurseries);
• contacts of a pet with street animals;
• inadequate care;
• stressful situations;
• hereditary predisposition.

Enteritis in kittens is often congenital, when infection occurs in the womb of a mother suffering from this pathology. A mother can also infect her baby while breastfeeding.

Symptoms of enteritis

The first sign of an insidious disease is an upset stomach, manifested by diarrhea. Diarrhea usually does not cause any suspicion among animal owners. But there are other symptoms of enteritis in cats that should alert the owner:

• feces may contain undigested food debris, and impurities of mucus and blood are observed in the stool;
  general weakness and depression;
• dull and unkempt coat;
• sunken eyes;
• pain of the abdominal wall on palpation;
• painful colic, which may be indicated by a restless state;
• bloating and increased gas;
• elevated temperature;
• decreased appetite;
• bad breath;
• bouts of vomiting.

If any of the above signs of illness are detected, you should immediately contact your veterinarian for diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Remember, timely treatment can save your pet's life.

Diagnosis of pathology

The first diagnostic measure for diagnosing and treating enteritis is collecting and analyzing anamnesis. The veterinarian will ask the owner when the pet got sick, whether there are vaccinations, what type of stool it has, and how long ago the cat was treated for helminths. It is important to pay attention to even the smallest details and describe the symptoms of enteritis to the veterinarian in detail.

In a large group of animals, it is easiest to identify the disease, for example, in a nursery. When diarrhea in cats appears at different time intervals, limited to one or two weeks, therefore, there is a factor of infection. The incubation period lasts for different times due to differences in the immune system.

If diarrhea was observed in the entire livestock at the same time, then most likely the animals received feed poisoning, and there is no danger of illness.

After the symptomatic picture has been restored, the veterinarian prescribes bacteriological and virological cultures and blood tests. However, laboratory testing is not always possible. In such cases, enteritis in a cat or kitten is treated based on symptoms, therapy is based on medical history.

It is important to pay attention to your pet, because now the support and care of a human friend is very important to him. Source: Flickr (Regina)

Types of enteritis

The disease manifests itself in acute or chronic form; in addition, there are several types of the disease, different in nature.

Coronavirus enteritis

With this type of enteritis, the Coronavirus virus affects the surface layers of the lining of the small intestine. When infected with coronavirus, an animal behaves restlessly, is indifferent to food, and does not respond to the owner’s attention.

On palpation, the abdomen is tight, swollen and acutely painful. The coronavirus type is indicated by frequent vomiting and constant diarrhea. The color of the stool varies from bright red to burgundy, the consistency is liquid or viscous. No increase in temperature is observed. Treatment of coronavirus enteritis in cats has the most positive prognosis.

Rotavirus enteritis

The rotavirus type of pathological process is characterized by sudden and rapid development. A kitten or adult begins to meow loudly and for a long time, arches unnaturally, does not allow its belly to be touched, and refuses food. With rotavirus infection, body temperature rises, the condition is accompanied by frequent vomiting, liquid feces with mucus impurities.

Symptoms of enteritis in a cat require immediate treatment, otherwise the general condition will quickly deteriorate. The animal weakens, severe dehydration occurs, and fever develops. Lack of timely veterinary care can lead to the death of a cat.

Parvovirus enteritis

Parvovirus enteritis in kittens and adult cats is the most dangerous form of the disease. People call it feline distemper; 90% of pets die from this disease. The symptoms of distemper are extensive - a sharp and significant increase in body temperature is accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting, swelling, coughing and nervous twitching, the cat refuses to eat or drink.

Treatment of enteritis

For each type and form of the disease, it is strictly forbidden to resort to self-medication; at best, this will not bring the desired results, at worst, it will significantly worsen the condition. Only a veterinarian can prescribe adequate treatment after diagnostic measures have been carried out and the clinical picture has been analyzed.
Treatment of enteritis in cats is carried out comprehensively. If you follow all the doctor’s recommendations, after a few days you will notice a significant improvement in your well-being. What medications can a specialist prescribe:

• targeted antibacterial drugs, as well as antispasmodic drugs;
• antipyretics and antiemetics;
• drugs to strengthen the immune system.

Therapeutic measures begin with cleansing the small intestine. For this, veterinarians recommend using Glauber's salt; in some cases, castor oil is used. To neutralize the contents of the intestines, 1% solutions of citric acid or baking soda should be used, they are administered orally.

For severe diarrhea, it is advisable to take astringent medications. A decoction of oak bark is best; two to three tablespoons a day will be enough. If a natural remedy turns out to be powerless, then broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs are used; antibiotics prevent the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms. Only a veterinarian can select the drug. In case of bleeding, hemostatic agents like Vikasol are used.

Therapy at home

An important component of general therapy is the treatment of enteritis in cats at home; it comes down to following a special regimen.

After a trip to the veterinarian and the course of treatment prescribed by him, the pet is put on a special fasting diet. On the first day, food is not given at all, part of the drinking water is replaced with medicinal solutions of Oralit, Regidron and similar drugs. The use of such medications prevents dehydration of the body.

On the second day of the fasting diet, they are fed a decoction of oatmeal in meat broth; its high fiber content allows it to coat and cleanse the intestinal walls, which contributes to the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. After another couple of days, the pet can be given minced meat.

If your pet refuses solid food, you should not force it. It is necessary to replace meat dishes with light meat broth, which will help maintain the body’s strength during recovery.

In addition, the owner must provide the cat with a warm and clean sleeping place, regularly clean its fur, and provide access to fresh air, but without drafts. It is important to pay attention to your pet, because now the support and care of a human friend is very important to him.

Prevention of enteritis

Enteritis is a serious disease that can harm the health of a domestic animal. But the disease is easy to overcome if you consult a doctor in a timely manner and follow all his recommendations.

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