4 month old kitten with gut issues - Giardia? Diet?
Hi guys, I would love some advice/opinions for my 4 month old kitten, Herbie (male, not-neutered, 2.5kg, ragdoll, based in QLD Australia) - as we are just feeling so disheartened with this whole situation. He has been struggling with a gastrointestinal issue for about a month now, and have spent a lot of money on him, to no avail. I've provided a bit of a timeline below, and I would so appreciate any comments:
Thursday 01/08/24 - We pick Herbie up from the registered breeder and bring him home, he settles in very well (we are based in Australia).
Monday 19/08/24 - Herbie gets his second vaccine + we worm him at home with the PetBarn wormer (Revolution Plus).
Wednesday 21/08/24 - Midday I notice he has diarrhoea and vomits twice. Pass it off as the vaccine side effects. That night he is lethargic, and then around 7pm has more diarrhoea and vomiting. Go to emergency vet; they give him IV fluids and anti-nausea vaccine.
Thursday 22/08/24 - Pick Herbie up that morning, he is not lethargic but ongoing diarrhoea. No more vomiting.
Friday 23/08/24 - He vomits once in the morning, call the vets, they say it’s okay as long as he doesn’t again that day. Still runny poos.
Sunday 25/08/24 - Vomits a few times again, diarrhoea is bad again - take to the emergency vet. They think it is a parasite, so they say go home, collect a stool sample and then give it to your usual vets tomorrow. Gave him another anti-nausea vaccine.
Monday 26/08/24 - See usual vets, they send the poo off for testing. Herbie starts Hills Gastrointestinal Biome dry food + gastrointestinal wet food.
Wednesday 27/08/24 - Comes back positive for Giardia, give him a 5 day course of Panacur and a probiotic (Pro-Kolin +). Asked if we should add metronidazole, vet said it was way too harsh for his stomach at this age.
Sunday 1/09/24 - Herbie is finished his medicine course, poos are totally normal- no need to wipe his bum after the toilet. Gave the house a good clean with bleach.
Sunday 7/09/24 - Until today poos were normal. In evening, Herbie is acting lethargic again. Has a runny poo that night.
Monday 8/09/24 - Has diarrhoea in the morning, but acting normal again. Called the vets and asked for another round of Panacur incase he has reinfected himself. Begun that treatment.
Friday 13/09/24 - From Monday evening to now, poos were slightly runny with fat streaks. Finished treatment, cleaned house top to bottom with bleach. Washed Herbie.
Monday 16/09/24 - Poos are still not normal. Saw regular vet again, he thinks diet? Gave him his third vaccine. I asked if we could add a B injection - did that as well. He said he would post it on a vet forum and see what people think.
Wednesday 18/09/24 - Over the past two days, poo has gotten worse, more runny. Vet called, and said that we might need to do another stool sample to see if Giardia is still positive (maybe reinfection)- but I have read that it shows up in stool samples for weeks, even if infection is dealt with? He also said we should move to just wet food, removing dry food. He also suggested we add metronidazole and see if that makes a difference, incase Giardia is still on going. Wants us to continue B injections once a week for a few weeks.
Other Info:
- Previous to all this, he was on Royal Canin Kitten wet + dry food.
- Even before this, he did seem to always have a dirty bum, having to clean him once he goes to the toilet.
- Has maintained being normal; drinking & eating lots, playing.
- Has been outside about 3 times for about 10 minutes prior to Giardia infection, as we were trying to harness train him. Otherwise he is an inside cat.
- Just so over this whole situation, as we have to keep him locked in a room when we are not home incase he goes to the toilet, and puts poo everywhere. Which is not nice for him at all. He also has learned that when he goes to the toilet, we wipe him bum. So now he will try go quietly, and then runs away from us.
- We have to constantly listen out for him using the toilet, and wipe him straight away and pick up the poo. It just isn't maintainable going forward.
- His insurance was in the cooling off period until Friday 30th of August, so we’re not sure if this is going to be covered if it is preexisting. Currently out of pocket about 2.5k, so really trying to only do what’s necessary.
Any advice would be AMAZING, as we are so so tired of this! Thank you in advance.