There are widely differing opinions on how long it takes for FortiFlora to become effective when fed to a cat with diarrhea or suspected gastrointestinal upset. Many veterinarians recommend feeding for at least two weeks, but one study showed that it takes five days for the probiotic to reach high enough levels in the gastrointestinal tract to be effective.
One study showed that it takes five days for the probiotic to reach high enough levels in the gastrointestinal tract to be effective. 5
Anecdotal evidence from veterinarians shows variations based on what is causing diarrhea, with many saying it works faster if there are only bacteria present than if there are other causes such as parasites or food sensitivities. Some advocate daily dosing of FortiFlora until symptoms resolve. Others give doses every other day for about ten days after diarrhea has stopped.
The study used cats hospitalized at Purdue University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital because of persistent diarrhea. The felines in the study had a variety of causes for their gastrointestinal upset including parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, and food sensitivities. Researchers discovered that it took five days for high enough levels of FortiFlora to build up in the cats’ GI tracts to qualify as effective.
Cats receiving antibiotics did not show improvement until after at least seven days on the probiotic, according to this research.
Conclusion on How Long Does It Take for Fortiflora to Work in Cats?
There are several opinions regarding how long it takes for Fortiflora to become effective when fed to a cat with diarrhea or other signs of illness. Some advocate daily dosing while others use every other day dosing for about ten days after symptoms resolve.
A Purdue University study showed that cats needed five days for high enough levels to build in the GI tract. Cats receiving antibiotics did not show an improvement until after at least seven days on FortiFlora.