Chronic diarrhoea in cats Part 1: Establishing a diagnosis

Chronic diarrhoea is a frustrating problem in feline patients, as numerous underlying causes must be considered. This article outlines the diagnostic tests available and highlights the reasons for selecting one test over another. Key features regarding patient history, physical examination, faecal testing, metabolic screening and imaging are reviewed, along with suggestions regarding how and when to collect intestinal biopsies. Treatments for non‐specific diarrhoea are discussed in Part 2 of this series.