Felis ISSN 2398-2950
Therapeutics: gastrointestinal system
Contributor(s): J Escala, Maggie Fisher, Linda Horspool, David Scarff
- * Indicates product not licensed for use in this species.
- Causes of diarrhea include diet, infection, neoplasia/dysplasia, inflammation, drug treatment and stress.
- Treatment must address causative agent, supportive therapy (fluid Fluid therapy: overview Fluid therapy: for diarrhea /electrolyte replacement Fluid therapy: for electrolyte abnormality ), and diet Dietetic diet: for acute intestinal absorptive disorders .
- Antibacterials Therapeutics: antimicrobial drug can be useful, eg if poorly absorbed from gastrointestinal tract (neomycin Neomycin , some sulfonamides, some nitrofurans Nitrofurantoin , dihydrostreptomycin Streptomycin ); or if diarrhea related to systemic conditions, especially in neonates - ideally base selection on bacterial sensitivity tests.
- Probiotics Probiotics and intestinal health to help re-establish normal intestinal microbiota.
Adsorbents
- Given by mouth to adsorb toxins (and note, possibly drugs) → prevent mucosal irritation and erosion.
- See also treatment of poisoning Poisoning: overview .
- Ispaghula husk* and sterculia Sterculia : absorb water → increase fecal mass.
- Bismuth salts Bismuth , charcoal Charcoal activated and kaolin Kaolin : available in compound preparations, for non-specific diarrhea, variable in their absorption of different kinds of toxins.
Antidiarrheal drugs that reduce motility
- Opioid derivatives → decrease intestinal motility but increase segmental contractions for treatment of non-specific acute and chronic diarrhea.
May exacerbate diarrhea by increasing retention time of enterotoxins. - Metabolized in liver; can have sedative effect.
- Loperamide* Loperamide .
Drugs/other used in the treatment/management of chronic diarrhea
- Sulfasalazine* Sulfasalazine : for chronic colitis and maintenance of remission.
Prolonged treatment with mesalazine, olsalazine or sulfasalazine can lead to irreversible keratoconjunctivitis sicca Eye: keratoconjunctivitis sicca .
If canine dose of sulfasalazine used in cats this may induce salicylate poisoning. - Corticosteroids: to control inflammatory bowel disease Inflammatory bowel disease: overview , including lymphocytic-plasmacytic or eosinophilic infiltrates.
- Probiotics Probiotics and intestinal health to help re-establish normal intestinal microflora.
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers- Recent references fromPubMed.
- Hickman M A et al(2008)Safety, pharmacokinetics and use of the novel NK-1 receptor antagonist maropitant (Cerenia) for the prevention of emesis and motion sickness in cats. J Vet Pharmacol Ther31(3), 220-229PubMed.
- Ho C M et al(2001)Effects of dexamethasone on emesis in cats sedated with xylazine hydrochloride. Am J Vet Res62(8), 1218-1221PubMed.
- Colby E D, McCarthy L E, Borison H L (1981)Emetic action of xylazine on the chemoreceptor trigger zone for vomiting in cats. J Vet Pharmacol Ther4(2), 93-96.