what causes cats stool to be clay like
As a veterinarian, a lot of my time is spent on poop — looking at it, talking about it, thinking about it—all in the service of assessing the health of the pet from which it came.Poop provides a wealth of information, which is why it may seem that veterinarians enquire you about your pet'southward poop — and request samples of information technology — pretty much every time you come into the dispensary.
Of course, pet owners too pay a proficient deal of attending to their animals' poop — co-ordinate to pet insurer VPI, diarrhea was No. vii on the top 10 list of reasons dogs and cats are taken to the vet. We all know what an ideal stool should expect like, right? Not too hard, not besides soft, just right. Simply some variation on that theme is normal and doesn't necessarily mean you have to rush your pet in for a vet visit.
Some cases of abnormal stools are admittedly an emergency; others just feel like i, especially if you're the one tasked with cleaning the carpet. Ane of the more than common questions we reply over the phone is Practise I demand to bring my pet in? Information technology's always worth asking. When we talk well-nigh poop, here's what nosotros're looking for.
The Four C's of Poop
Simply for fun, consider this odd comparison — a veterinarian and a jeweler. A jeweler evaluates the quality of a rock based on size and color and abnormalities, using a specific gear up of criteria. Veterinarians do something similar, albeit on a much higher level, with your pet's excrement. Sadly for those with weak stomachs, we often use food analogies to draw the different elements of pet stool. Sorry about that.
Color: A happy, healthy trunk produces chocolate chocolate-brown stool. This color comes from bile, a fluid released from the gallbladder to help digest nutrient, and bilirubin, a pigment in the bile. Though some variation in colour is normal, certain color changes always catch our attending. Bright red streaks may indicate bleeding depression in the GI tract, while tarry black or maroon stools can exist caused by bleeding in the stomach or minor intestines. Clay-colored or pale yellow stools tin can be caused by problems with the liver, gallbladder or pancreas. Whatever significant departure from the chocolate brown colour that persists for more than than 1 or two stools is cause for concern. An exception would be color changes that reflect the pet's diet, such as kibble containing food coloring that results in flecks of color.
Consistency: You may be surprised to know that some veterinarians use a numerical system to score the consistency of a pet's stool. Yes, we become that specific. The fecal scoring arrangement assigns a value to the stool from ane to 7, where 1 represents very hard pellets and vii is a puddle. The platonic stool is a 2: a firm segmented piece, caterpillar shaped, that feels like Play-Doh when pressed. Some pets naturally have squishier poops than others do, but all stool should agree its form. A unmarried cow pie is rarely a cause for business, bated from the question of how to pick it upward off the grass, but call us for formless stool lasting more than a day.
Blanket: Stool shouldn't take whatsoever coating; you should exist able to choice up the perfect poopwithout leaving whatsoever rest on the basis. A blanket of mucous oft accompanies disorders of the colon. Bright red blood may as well be present in a pet'south stool, which is always alarming for owners. Though a single streak of cherry-red on a stool can happen for a diverseness of reasons and is often not a cause for business, bleeding that persists for more one stool raises a red flag.
Contents: Do I expect y'all to dissect your pet'due south stool at home to give me a rundown of what you're seeing? Absolutely non, just people do information technology anyhow. Rice-shaped flecks of white or long, wriggly spaghetti-like strands (I warned you near the food comparisons) mean your pet may have worms. Excessive grass tin can accompany GI upset; clumps of hair can indicate overgrooming due to allergies, stress or a listing of other medical conditions. Sometimes the stool will provide obvious clues to what your pet has been up to while y'all're abroad, like chewing up your underwear or eating crayons. Only if yous don't want to play CSI with your pet's poop, I understand — we pay people to do that for you.
In full general, I tell pet owners not to rush to the vet afterwards i abnormal stool unless the stool contains a large amount of blood. Many mild cases of stomach or intestinal upset resolve on their own, and give thanks goodness for that. But any changes that persist for more than than two stools or 24 hours do warrant a call to the vet, every bit does whatsoever change accompanied by a decrease in activity or altered eating beliefs. When in doubt, give u.s. a ring: Your friendly local poop experts are always hither for you.
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Source: http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/what-you-should-know-about-your-pets-poop
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