Chronic vomiting and diarrhea is a term for a long-term and persistent disease that may be due to the cat having an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. If the cat has vomited or had diarrhea for more than three weeks, it is called chronic.
However, this does not mean that the cat cannot get well.
Cause
Why the inflammation occurs is unclear, but it is suspected that several factors come into play. The cat’s own immune system in the stomach and intestines reacts to “wrong” things and can then cause diarrhea and / or vomiting. It can, for example, react to proteins in the feed or to its own good bacterial flora in the intestine.
Other causes of chronic gastrointestinal problems are liver disease, kidney disease, pancreatitis (pancreatitis) and thyroid disease (hyperthyroidism). In the treatment of these underlying diseases, the vomiting and / or diarrhea usually ceases.
Even some infections, especially parasitic ones, can cause chronic concern if the infection is not treated in time. In case of suspected parasite burden, stool samples should primarily be analyzed, to detect or dismiss the presence of parasites. In the event of a parasite occurrence, a targeted treatment is given against the parasite in question and many times the cat is then completely restored. It is important that a treatment against parasites is preceded by a stool test to ensure that it is really parasites that are causing the problems.
It happens that foreign objects in the stomach give symptoms that can resemble a chronic gastritis. The foreign object irritates the gastric mucosa, which causes vomiting.
Diagnostics
To diagnose an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, other causes of chronic problems are first ruled out. If diagnosis is still lacking, the stomach and / or intestine can be inspected with a fiber endoscope, so-called gastroscopy or colonoscopy. In connection with the examination, tissue samples are taken for analysis.
Treatment
Treatment for intestinal inflammation consists of a special diet and often some form of anti-inflammatory medicine. Sometimes the treatment is supplemented with protective preparations for the gastrointestinal mucosa.