Here ’s the conflict between a kitten ’s hefty pear-shaped paunch and a swollen one — and how to make your furball palpate better .
A round , chubby tummy just might be a kitten ’s most adorable feature . Right ? Unless you count those prominent , broad eyes and teeny tiny claws . But sometimes a kitty ’s bloated paunch can signal a health offspring . We talked with Carling Matejka , DVM , a spokesperson for pet food for thought companySolid Gold , to rule out what ’s normal when it comes to jackpot tummies and when to be concerned .
How to Tell If Your Kitten’s Belly is Normal or Bloated
Kittens generally have round bellies , especially after eating . When held up under their front legs , their underbody have anavocado or eggplant shape , enunciate Hannah Shaw , beginner of the non - profitOrphan Kitten Club . Healthy pear-shaped abdomen are soft and squishy too .
However , a potbelly shape indicate a bloated belly . It may feel hard and bind out , similar to a meaning belly . Other signs your kitten is n’t feeling ripe include :
If you ca n’t secernate if your pussy has a swollen belly or just a cunning , chunky tummy , see your veterinary surgeon for an test . Your veterinary surgeon can identify if your kitty is normal , bloated , or overweight .
Photo: oxygen / Getty
Why Is My Kitten’s Belly Bloated?
kitten formulate swollen bellies for a bit of reasons rate from nonaged to major . Matejka says that the most common causal agency of bloat in belly areintestinal parasites ( worm ) , weightiness gain , or undue gas from a poor - quality diet . More serious cause of venter enlargement in kittens include enlarged variety meat and a build - up of fluid in the abdominal cavity .
Treatments for a Kitten With a Bloated Belly
Treatments for swollen belly in kittens depend on the inherent grounds . As noted above , enteric parasites are often the perpetrator . Roundwormsare the most common , affecting 25 to 75 percent of grownup cats and even more kittens , fit in to theCornell Feline Health Center . That ’s why veterinarian routinely perform fecal trial on kitty and prescribe deworming medicament to plow and prevent insect .
It ’s important tosee your vet on a regular basis during kittenhood , not just for worm andvaccines , but also to hold back on weight increase and to discourse your growing kitty’snutritional need . Feeding a high - quality , complete , and balancedkitten foodensures your furred pal is let essential nutrients , not empty Calorie that can contribute to excess weighting , say Matejka .
If your kitty ’s bloated paunch has a more serious effort such as harmonium enlargement or abdominal fluid , discourse may admit :
How to Help a Kitten With a Bloated Stomach at Home
" If your kitten is simply bloated from gasolene with no other problems , then the bloating should subside with time , " Matejka says . " Feed your kitten small meals ofhigh - quality kitten fooduntil the stomach returns to normal . "
Also , avoid feed your kitten mesa scraps or giving your kitten milk . Contrary to popular myth , cats and milk do n’t go together . feline are in reality lactose intolerant , which means they do n’t have the enzymes necessary to put up the sugar in milk . toast it can cause digestive upset including bloat and accelerator pedal .
you may also see to it with your ex-serviceman to see if addingprobioticsto your kitten ’s diet would be helpful for digestion , Matejka enjoin . But if the bloating is n’t going out or if you comment additional symptoms , take your kitten to the vet .
A kitten with a laborious , protruding belly is likely know a plenty of discomfort and it could be serious . The preferably you treat the inherent causal agency , the sooner your tiny friend can get back to doing what kittens do well : make playfulness and being first-rate - cunning !
