Undiagnosed cat with digestive issues. Stuck and not knowing what steps to take next. We need help.

[gatinos]

Dear Cat Site members,

My 12yr old cat has been suffering from gastrointestinal issues since September 2016 and after many vet visits, tests and a lot of food improvements, I still don't know what is wrong with him. 

I'll throw a timeline here. I know it's long but I've tried to make it as clear and thorough as possible so we can get adequate advice for our situation. We would appreciate any help or advice we can get. Understanding not everyone has the time or will to read all this, I've highlighted in red his symptoms and wrote a summary of his current ones at the end. 

Winter 2015:

• Symptom: First urine infection of his life after a 2 day long car ride from Florida to NC. 
• Solution: Bought a water fountain.
• Result: Never happened again.

Summer 2016:

• Symptom: After a yearly checkup, we are told he is a little overweight.
• Solution: Scheduled feedings 2x day & calorie count + outdoor walking on a leash
• Result: Weight loss but obvious food obsession

• Symtom: Food obsession
• Solution: Adding extra feeding time at midday.
• Result: Major improvement

• Symptom: Nene starts having behavioral issues, mainly with my other cat. He starts chasing and stalking her (never happened before).
• Solution: Start adding more play time to their routine.
• Result: Slightly improved, still having issues...

• Symptom: Nene starts vomiting dry kibble whole.
• Solution: Adding water to their kibble.
• Result: Vomiting becomes less frequent.

September 2016-TODAY

• Symptom: Nene starts wanting to eat EVERYTHING and comes back from the neighbors balcony and vomits plant leaves
• Solution: Increased food dosage
• Result: Slight improvement

• Symptom: Nene has his first ever diarrhea, and it's bad!
• Solution: 24hr fast & chicken w/rice for a few days
• Result: Back to normal, or so I thought.

• Symptom: Nene starts rubbing his ass on the floor (anal glands impacted)
• Solution: Visit to the vet and emptying 
• Result: Traumatized cat and diarrhea again

• Symptom: Vomiting & diarrhea
• Solution: Vet visit and 2 week fast on home cooked turkey & pumpkin 
• Result: Harder stools and less vomiting

• Symptom: Doesn't want to eat
• Solution: Prescribed canned food (Hill's I/D)
• Result: Not improving

• Symptom: Continued vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy & weight loss
• Solution: Blood & fecal tests 
• Result: Clear of kidney or liver diseases. No parasites found in feces. Triglycerides slightly high?

• Symptoms continue
• Solution: Possible food allergy suspected so started novel protein (rabbit)
• Result: Major improvement for about 2 weeks

• Symptom: Diarrhea starts again
• Solution: Wet food change every 2 weeks more or less (Wild Calling Rabbit canned food, Natural Instinct rabbit canned food, etc.

Currently:

• Better energy levels and mood
• Weight loss in the past but has gained a tiny little bit lately
• Struggling to eat at times but hungry
• Stalking other cat at times
• Often crunched posture, especially after eating
• Tummy roaring 
• No diarrhea at the moment since we changed to Ziwi Peak rabbit & lamb a few days ago but I suspect it could come back again as it has done in the past after a few days of the new food.
• Rare vomiting 
• Grass eating & vomiting 
• He knits me often and can get a little rough! 

Current state of mother cat (me): very worried & confused

He clearly isn't well and, although the really bad times seemed to have gone past, he still isn't himself and he is clearly struggling with his tummy.

The vet isn't really giving me any direct action to take and I don't know what to do. I worry it could be cancer, and he says it could be, but the only way to know is by opening him up.

I read a lot about hyperthyroidism as he seems to have quite a few of the symptoms so I suggested doing a blood test.

After my last strong enquire about possible treatments or tests our vet came up with these:

1. A intestinal biopsy
2. Blood test to measure B12 levels and hormones
3. B12 injections
4. Continue trying out foods 

He has MAJOR stress when we visit the vet and sometimes just the visit makes his symptoms worse so I want to have a clear game-plan before I start bringing him in again every week or so. 

I'm sure we all feel the same about our kitties, but so you know, he is the sweetest companion, very loyal, friendly, loving and he truly saved my life when I found him @ 18 years old not knowing my place in the world. 

The people at this site seem very knowledgeable and I've been reading so many posts here and in so many other sites, but, I still don't know what is wrong with him. 

We would appreciate ANY advice at this point. I'd like to know what my next step should be and what tests you guys think are best to do right now. He has improved a little, so I feel now is the time to go ahead and try to find out once and for all and cure whatever he is struggling with.

Thank you all. 

Love, Silvia & Nene.

IMG_6264.jpg

• gatinos
• Mar 6, 2017

 

[lisajo]

I am so sorry for both of you. I never had a kitty with these issues so I just wish the best

for you both.

I know that low thyroid affects the tummy.

I am sure the vet checked his teeth.

Does he react from vaccinations? My cat did.

Maybe adding fiber, I add Metamucil to my dogs food

when she needs it.

Can you go to a specialist?

I am wishing you well and hang in there you two darlings.

 

[lisajo]

I just thought of something. You would probably know by now, but

if he ever got fleas, even when treated, a tapeworm causes loose stools.

A test doesn't show tapeworms, but they can be visible, tiny white rice dots on the outside

of a poop or even an actual worm, I know it is gross.

I know because my kitty got infected and spread it around to my other furry children,

This icky worm can live in the bowels for a long time, so now I have to treat them with

Advantage (round worms) .A dewormer pill got rid of the tapeworm.

 

[Kieka]

It sounds like you have been trying everything I would normally suggest. It sounds like a real Odyssey. A few ideas:

1) Are there any mobile vets in your area. They cost a smidgen more but might save the stress factor. Just be careful that it is an actual vet and not just a mobile vaccine type set up.

2) Have you tried a slow feeder or elevated feeder. The note about crouched posture makes me think a digestive issue and slowing him down and/or changing the positioning might help.

3) Honestly it sounds like there is something internal not showing up on tests. I would either take copies of all tests to another vet for a second opinion or opt for the surgery and biopsy. Some things just aren't visible without getting in there to see what is happening.

4) I would probably do the blood work right before surgery to group two things in the same visit.

5) Maybe an Omega 3 supplement (named fish like Salmon Oil or Krill Oil) and l-lysine. Neither will hurt to give but could help.

 

[gatinos]

I am so sorry for both of you. I never had a kitty with these issues so I just wish the best
for you both.
I know that low thyroid affects the tummy.
I am sure the vet checked his teeth.
Does he react from vaccinations? My cat did.
Maybe adding fiber, I add Metamucil to my dogs food
when she needs it.
Can you go to a specialist?
I am wishing you well and hang in there you two darlings.

Lisajo,

Thank you for your good wishes, they are very much appreciated. I honestly feel comforted by seeing some response here. Thank you.

No, he doesn't react with vaccines. At least he hasn't before. I'm sorry yours does.

As soon as he first had the diarrhea, we gave him a dewormer and I've had him on flea & tapeworm medications 1x month since. The vet said if it had been tapeworm it should be sorted by now... I'll check the poop just in case, though! Thank you!

 

[stephenq]

Thank you all. 

Love, Silvia & Nene.

Everything you wrote from sept 2016 to present having to do with vomiting, diarrhea sounds like a bad and classic case of IBD (Inflamatory bowel disease) including what you're doing for it and what the vet wants to do, but biopsies are a big step.  I have just written at length about this disease in this thread today at http://www.thecatsite.com/t/334870/possible-lymphoma  (small cell lymphoma can be a complication of IBD and is why the biopsy.   What i don't understand is why your vet has taken this long to get to this point and why the vet hasn't talked to you about Prednisolone, which is the drug of choice if other therapies can't achieve remission.  It is REALLY important to arrest the weight loss and control the other symptoms.

A full discussion on the pros and cons of doing a biopsy and other treatments are in the thread above.

Also good links at http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/brochure_ibd.cfm

and

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/inflammatory-bowel-disease-in-cats

Biopsies are optional, you can start treatment with prednisolone without  biopsy, and there are other drugs you can use before trying Pred.

 

[gatinos]

It sounds like you have been trying everything I would normally suggest. It sounds like a real Odyssey. A few ideas:

1) Are there any mobile vets in your area. They cost a smidgen more but might save the stress factor. Just be careful that it is an actual vet and not just a mobile vaccine type set up.

2) Have you tried a slow feeder or elevated feeder. The note about crouched posture makes me think a digestive issue and slowing him down and/or changing the positioning might help.

3) Honestly it sounds like there is something internal not showing up on tests. I would either take copies of all tests to another vet for a second opinion or opt for the surgery and biopsy. Some things just aren't visible without getting in there to see what is happening.

4) I would probably do the blood work right before surgery to group two things in the same visit.

5) Maybe an Omega 3 supplement (named fish like Salmon Oil or Krill Oil) and l-lysine. Neither will hurt to give but could help.

Kieka,

Thank you for your valuable input and advice, I really appreciate it.

1) Not that I know of. Once he started having issues we changed of vet and he is now going to THE BEST in the area. They are a cat certified friendly facility and try really hard but I guess it's natural for him to feel vulnerable when he's been feeling sick and weak. Great idea, though!

2) No, I haven't! Thank you! I'll check an elevated feeder online, it could help with the reflux he seems to have after eating.

3) I might do that and give another ver a shot. At least to have a second opinion. It wouldn't hurt.

4) Yes, good idea to do blood work & biopsy in 1 visit.

5) I was giving them both lysine but was recommended to stop. Apparently recent studies have shown that lylysine can be detrimental for their health (I know, quite a shock!) II'll mention the fish oil to the vet next time and if he approves, I think hit would be good for him and he'll definetely enjoy it!

Thank you for all this wonderful advice. At last I feel we're not so alone in this battle. Thank you! [emoji]128591[/emoji][emoji]127996[/emoji]

 

[Lyzzie]

5) I was giving them both lysine but was recommended to stop. Apparently recent studies have shown that lylysine can be detrimental for their health (I know, quite a shock!) II'll mention the fish oil to the vet next time and if he approves, I think hit would be good for him and he'll definetely enjoy it!

I'm sorry you and Nene are going through this. I don't have any input, but I would love to have link to this studies that have shown L-Lysine to be bad for cats. Thanks again, and good luck

 

[gatinos]

Everything you wrote from sept 2016 to present having to do with vomiting, diarrhea sounds like a bad and classic case of IBD (Inflamatory bowel disease) including what you're doing for it and what the vet wants to do, but biopsies are a big step.  I have just written at length about this disease in this thread today at http://www.thecatsite.com/t/334870/possible-lymphoma  (small cell lymphoma can be a complication of IBD and is why the biopsy.   What i don't understand is why your vet has taken this long to get to this point and why the vet hasn't talked to you about Prednisolone, which is the drug of choice if other therapies can't achieve remission.  It is REALLY important to arrest the weight loss and control the other symptoms.

A full discussion on the pros and cons of doing a biopsy and other treatments are in the thread above.
Also good links at http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/brochure_ibd.cfm
and
https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/inflammatory-bowel-disease-in-cats

Biopsies are optional, you can start treatment with prednisolone without  biopsy, and there are other drugs you can use before trying Pred.

StephenQ,

Thank you so much for your very informative comment and links.

I am also quite frustrated with our vet at the moment. I feel he's taking it really easy and not understanding the urgency of our situation, especially, as you said, when Nené keeps loosing weight and eating less. It's been very difficult to deal with.

I'll have a read through the articles you posted tonight. Thank you, thank you so very much! [emoji]128591[/emoji][emoji]127996[/emoji]

 

[stephenq]

StephenQ,

Thank you so much for your very informative comment and links.

I am also quite frustrated with our vet at the moment. I feel he's taking it really easy and not understanding the urgency of our situation, especially, as you said, when Nené keeps loosing weight and eating less. It's been very difficult to deal with.

I'll have a read through the articles you posted tonight. Thank you, thank you so very much! [emoji]128591[/emoji][emoji]127996[/emoji]

OK, check out the discussion on thecatsite as well.  But some things aren't clear to me.  L-lysine, whether its still recommended or not is for feline herpes an upper respiratpory infection that has nothing to do with digestive issues.  you mentioned doing blood work and a biopsy  in the same visit, i'm not sure its clear to you what this means.  a surgical biopsy for IBD is major surgery, a 6 inch incision, its a BIG deal and will require your cat to stay at least overnight in a hospital, significant recovery and probably at least about $2000.  An endoscopic biopsy still requires anesthesia and is only indicated when the vet suspects upper GI IBD, and you really need an internal medicine specialist for the endo, or a special surgeon at a full service hospital for a surgical biopsy.

I don't understand your vet, your cat is running out of time and changing diets every 2 weeks is going to stop working when you've run out of foods to try and is a classic symptom of IBD, an immune reaction to certain proteins, and having to change foods regularly is classic symptoms of IBD, meanwhile your vet sounds like (from here) that they are re-arranging the deck chairs on the titanic.  You don't have to do a biopsy (read the other thread) but you do need more pro-active care.  

Your vet talked about:

1. A intestinal biopsy
2. Blood test to measure B12 levels and hormones
3. B12 injections
4. Continue trying out foods 

but excuse me, B12 is fine, but its a drop in the bucket with severe IBD, and a biopy is a sledge hammer (although it can be very helpful if you can afford it) but where is the discussion about starter treatments, like Tylosin or Metronidazole and if they don't work as i said before a discussion about moving to prednisolone or biopsy?  (Usually predinsolone is discussed at the same time one discusses biopsies because if you're going to biopsy it has to be before you start the Pred).  Note: the reason for the biopsy is not exactly to confirm IBD (it partly is), its to differentiate between IBD and small cell lymphoma but the initial treatment for both is the same, prednisolone.   You should already have a presumptive diagnosis of IBD based on what you wrote, and a biopsy may confirm it or may not.

The clock is ticking, when my cat's IBD went from mild to severe (defined mostly by weight loss in conjunction with diarrhea and vomiting) he was dead in 15 months despite a biopsy, prednisolone and a bunch of other treatments i haven't mentioned.  Mind you, most of those 15 months were fairly healthy, and it was only the last few weeks where everything went seriously south, but imo, you vet needs to be sending up rockets of alarm, or if not, then your next vet.

 

[Gizmobius]

I emphasize with you as far as the digestive issues are concerned, especially the rotating of proteins that seem to only work for a couple weeks. I don't know if it would help at all with your situation (as I realize a 6-month-old kitten like I have and a 12-year-old cat are very different,)  but I have Gizmo on a digestive enzyme, a probiotic, and I also introduced slippery elm powder every now and then, and the combination of the three has managed to get his stool from diarrhea to soft but formed. A couple months ago, he wasn't able to keep any food down and would vomit undigested food. The vet put him on an anti-nausea medication for a few days and it seemed to clear up. Best of luck to you and Nene!

 

[gatinos]

Everything you wrote from sept 2016 to present having to do with vomiting, diarrhea sounds like a bad and classic case of IBD (Inflamatory bowel disease) including what you're doing for it and what the vet wants to do, but biopsies are a big step.  I have just written at length about this disease in this thread today at http://www.thecatsite.com/t/334870/possible-lymphoma   (small cell lymphoma can be a complication of IBD and is why the biopsy.   What i don't understand is why your vet has taken this long to get to this point and why the vet hasn't talked to you about Prednisolone, which is the drug of choice if other therapies can't achieve remission.  It is REALLY important to arrest the weight loss and control the other symptoms.

A full discussion on the pros and cons of doing a biopsy and other treatments are in the thread above.

Also good links at http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/brochure_ibd.cfm

and

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/inflammatory-bowel-disease-in-cats

Biopsies are optional, you can start treatment with prednisolone without  biopsy, and there are other drugs you can use before trying Pred.

Stephen Q, 

I really appreciate you sharing all this knowledge with us. I can tell you are very experienced and know what you're talking about. I am very sorry you had to go through this with your own cat and I am truly sorry for your sad loss.

After all the research I've been doing in the last few months, it also sounded like IBS or IBD to me but our vet only mentioned this option for the first time this weekend on an email, I quote:

"Yes I have recieved the updates, I am wait to see how he does on the newish food,  it does seem food related,  any time we change foods with him I suspect we will get some minor diarrhea and or vomiting.  

My suspicion of some inflammatory bowel disease is there as well,  this condition will respond to foods as well.

If the diarrhea is resolving on its own I am okay with just monitoring."

Which to me is very alarming because this has happened over and over again in the past few months...

I don't want to demonize him and I'm sure he has the best intentions but honestly, he doesn't seem to care or be concerned, which only exacerbates my anxiety.

I have read the whole thread on lymphoma and I feel a lot more prepared to deal with our currently situation. I too, feel that a biopsy is a major step and probably a last resource. 

Our vet vaguely told me about prednisolone one day when I called him desperately looking for help but he never explained what it was nor how to use it, effects, reasons, treatment plan, long term, etc., as you just did on your posts. I actually bought it and was about to start him on it when Nene got worse and wasn't eating so I contacted him to let him know that because he wasn't eating, I wasn't giving him the drugs. Nene later improved when we changed to a rabbit diet so our vet said the drugs weren't necessary and it was just probably a food allergy, so he never had them. He hasn't mentioned them since and in fact, he thought he'd given me something else. He seems to  often forget and confuse the treatments and tests Nene has undergone. 

After reading your posts and some serious consideration, I've decided to file a complaint with our vet clinic, which is actually the best in town. I trust the facility, just not the vet, so I'll be enquiring for a vet change this week and a new consultation. 

 
Everything you wrote from sept 2016 to present having to do with vomiting, diarrhea sounds like a bad and classic case of IBD (Inflamatory bowel disease) including what you're doing for it and what the vet wants to do, but biopsies are a big step.  I have just written at length about this disease in this thread today at http://www.thecatsite.com/t/334870/possible-lymphoma  (small cell lymphoma can be a complication of IBD and is why the biopsy.   What i don't understand is why your vet has taken this long to get to this point and why the vet hasn't talked to you about Prednisolone, which is the drug of choice if other therapies can't achieve remission.  It is REALLY important to arrest the weight loss and control the other symptoms.

A full discussion on the pros and cons of doing a biopsy and other treatments are in the thread above.

Also good links at http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/brochure_ibd.cfm

and

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/inflammatory-bowel-disease-in-cats

Biopsies are optional, you can start treatment with prednisolone without  biopsy, and there are other drugs you can use before trying Pred.

Stephen Q, 

I really appreciate you sharing all this knowledge with us. I can tell you are very experienced and know what you're talking about. I am very sorry you had to go through this with your own cat and I am truly sorry for your sad loss.

After all the research I've been doing in the last few months, it also sounded like IBS or IBD to me but our vet only mentioned this option for the first time this weekend on an email, I quote:

"Yes I have recieved the updates, I am wait to see how he does on the newish food,  it does seem food related,  any time we change foods with him I suspect we will get some minor diarrhea and or vomiting.  

My suspicion of some inflammatory bowel disease is there as well,  this condition will respond to foods as well.

If the diarrhea is resolving on its own I am okay with just monitoring."

Which to me is very alarming because this has happened over and over again in the past few months...

I don't want to demonize him and I'm sure he has the best intentions but honestly, he doesn't seem to care or be concerned, which only exacerbates my anxiety.

I have read the whole thread on lymphoma and I feel a lot more prepared to deal with our currently situation. I too, feel that a biopsy is a major step and probably a last resource. 

Our vet vaguely told me about prednisolone one day when I called him desperately looking for help but he never explained what it was nor how to use it, effects, reasons, treatment plan, long term, etc., as you just did on your posts. I actually bought it and was about to start him on it when Nene got worse and wasn't eating so I contacted him to let him know that because he wasn't eating, I wasn't giving him the drugs. Nene later improved when we changed to a rabbit diet so our vet said the drugs weren't necessary and it was just probably a food allergy, so he never had them. He hasn't mentioned them since and in fact, he thought he'd given me something else. He seems to  often forget and confuse the treatments and tests Nene has undergone. 

After reading your posts and some serious consideration, I've decided to file a complaint with our vet clinic, which is actually the best in town. I trust the facility, just not the vet, so I'll be enquiring for a vet change this week and a new consultation. 

Thank you again, 

Silvia & Nene.

 

[gatinos]

Everything you wrote from sept 2016 to present having to do with vomiting, diarrhea sounds like a bad and classic case of IBD 

Stephen Q, 

I really appreciate you sharing all this knowledge with us. I can tell you are very experienced and know what you're talking about. I am very sorry you had to go through this with your own cat and I am truly sorry for your sad loss.

After all the research I've been doing in the last few months, it also sounded like IBS or IBD to me but our vet only mentioned this option for the first time this weekend on an email, I quote:

"Yes I have recieved the updates, I am wait to see how he does on the newish food,  it does seem food related,  any time we change foods with him I suspect we will get some minor diarrhea and or vomiting.  

My suspicion of some inflammatory bowel disease is there as well,  this condition will respond to foods as well.

If the diarrhea is resolving on its own I am okay with just monitoring."

Which to me is very alarming because this has happened over and over again in the past few months...

I don't want to demonize him and I'm sure he has the best intentions but honestly, he doesn't seem to care or be concerned, which only exacerbates my anxiety.

I have read the whole thread on lymphoma and I feel a lot more prepared to deal with our currently situation. I too, feel that a biopsy is a major step and probably a last resource. 

Our vet vaguely told me about prednisolone one day when I called him desperately looking for help but he never explained what it was nor how to use it, effects, reasons, treatment plan, long term, etc., as you just did on your posts. I actually bought it and was about to start him on it when Nene got worse and wasn't eating so I contacted him to let him know that because he wasn't eating, I wasn't giving him the drugs. Nene later improved when we changed to a rabbit diet so our vet said the drugs weren't necessary and it was just probably a food allergy, so he never had them. He hasn't mentioned them since and in fact, he thought he'd given me something else. He seems to  often forget and confuse the treatments and tests Nene has undergone. 

After reading your posts and some serious consideration, I've decided to file a complaint with our vet clinic, which is actually the best in town. I trust the facility, just not the vet, so I'll be enquiring for a vet change this week and a new consultation. 

Thank you again, 

Silvia & Nene.

 

[gatinos]

 
I'm sorry you and Nene are going through this. I don't have any input, but I would love to have link to this studies that have shown L-Lysine to be bad for cats. Thanks again, and good luck

Thank you Lyzzie. 

Here are some links:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4647294/

And I quote from this site: http://consciouscat.net/2016/01/11/...ptoms-of-feline-upper-respiratory-infections/

"Finally, and most importantly, several clinical studies with cats have shown that L-lysine is not only not effective for the prevention or the treatment of feline herpesvirus 1 infection, some even reported increased infection frequency and disease severity in cats receiving L-Lysine supplementation"

 

[gatinos]

The clock is ticking, when my cat's IBD went from mild to severe (defined mostly by weight loss in conjunction with diarrhea and vomiting) he was dead in 15 months despite a biopsy, prednisolone and a bunch of other treatments i haven't mentioned.  Mind you, most of those 15 months were fairly healthy, and it was only the last few weeks where everything went seriously south, but imo, you vet needs to be sending up rockets of alarm, or if not, then your next vet.

My other cat has recurrent respiratory infections and our vet told us that it does no harm and can actually increase their immunity, so while she was having a cold this winter, I gave the supplements to both my cats until reading a few articles re it's negative effects. Not doing it any more, of course!

No, it wasn't clear to me at all what the biopsy entailed. This is all I knew for what our vet emailed: 

"Intestinal biopsy can only be done under anesthesia , the best way is full thickness biopsy, which involve an abdominal incision. Though this is invasive it gives us the best chance of finding the root cause.( though there is always a chance of a negative finding or generalized inflammation, and while this sounds bad from the surgery stand point medically it can be helpful to rule out several diseases.)"

Now it is much clearer to me, and for the moment, we're not doing it until we have gone through other less invasive options.

You really opened my eyes with this quote. Thank you. 

 

[gatinos]

 
I emphasize with you as far as the digestive issues are concerned, especially the rotating of proteins that seem to only work for a couple weeks. I don't know if it would help at all with your situation (as I realize a 6-month-old kitten like I have and a 12-year-old cat are very different,)  but I have Gizmo on a digestive enzyme, a probiotic, and I also introduced slippery elm powder every now and then, and the combination of the three has managed to get his stool from diarrhea to soft but formed. A couple months ago, he wasn't able to keep any food down and would vomit undigested food. The vet put him on an anti-nausea medication for a few days and it seemed to clear up. Best of luck to you and Nene!

Thank you very much for your input Gizmobius, 

When this ordeal first started I did the same as you. In fact I had him on even more natural treatments. Eventually they stopped working. I'm not saying this should be the case for your kitty (I definitely hope it isn't!) but it just didn't work for us. I feel it masked his symptoms while the disease was still there. 

I would like to start him back on those once we've figured out a treatment plan though. Any little helps! Another thing that can help by the way and is completely natural is diatomaceous earth.

Here is a quick article for you to read in case you're interested. It's short but will give you a head start on understanding how good this powder is. I actually take it myself! 

https://www.diatomaceousearth.com/diatomaceous-earth-for-dogs-cats/

 

[stephenq]

Silvia & Nene.

Hi

Having watched people file complaints through their state vet board my opinion is that you're wasting energy.  The better plan is to find great vet care, and just because your clinic is the best in town doesn't make them the best, what really counts is a smart committed vet.  What you describe about your vet makes me think they aren't up to the job.  I totally agree you should talk to  different vet, even at the same clinic. No one cares more about your cat than you, but a really great vet is a trusted partner.  Your cat has you, and now they need that vet.

I have worked with many vets, some are great, many are good, and some are not.  Having the degree and the licence doesn't make you good.

 

[gatinos]

 
I have worked with many vets, some are great, many are good, and some are not.  Having the degree and the licence doesn't make you good.

I agree with everything you said StephenQ. Our vet seems to have stepped up to the table and he's been very proactive the last few days. I've been organizing some tests and at the moment here's what we're going for:

1. Blood tests for PLI, TLI, Cobalamin & folate levels.

2. Feline GI panel.

Once we receive results from this, and depending on the results, our next option will be doing an ultrasound but apparently doing an ultrasound requires anestesia? Is that right? 

He mentioned that the ultrasound will only show wether the intestines are thickened or not, which he says they probably are anyways. By the sounds of it it seems like yes, a lot of testing can be done but none of those tests would necessarily give us a diagnostic, even the biopsy. 

Thank you again for your help.

Silvia & Nene.

 

[stephenq]

 
I agree with everything you said StephenQ. Our vet seems to have stepped up to the table and he's been very proactive the last few days. I've been organizing some tests and at the moment here's what we're going for:

1. Blood tests for PLI, TLI, Cobalamin & folate levels.

2. Feline GI panel.

Once we receive results from this, and depending on the results, our next option will be doing an ultrasound but apparently doing an ultrasound requires anestesia? Is that right? 

He mentioned that the ultrasound will only show wether the intestines are thickened or not, which he says they probably are anyways. By the sounds of it it seems like yes, a lot of testing can be done but none of those tests would necessarily give us a diagnostic, even the biopsy. 

Thank you again for your help.

Silvia & Nene.

Those are good tests.  The PLI test is most effective if done when the cat is actively in distress, vomiting etc and its a test for pancreatitis.

The ultrasound is not done under anesthesia, think of when you do one on a pregnant woman.  In the cats case, shaved belly, jelly and a scanner.

Thickened bowel will basically confirm its either IBD or lymphoma, probably IBD

Stay in touch

 

[catwoman707]

As I was reading through your first post and the symptoms, it also became clear to me that this is most likely IBD, and was glad to see @StephenQ  here to help with this.

I have also been through IBD with my girl.

I would highly suggest an ultrasound, but done by someone who is highly experienced and not the vet.

In the results, the technician will add their recommendations which the vet can follow for treatment.

A very uncomfortable illness for your kitty and uncontrolled can bring on much worse, not to mention the suffering.