Ibd

The woman who runs a local rescue is not so good with cat diseases. She had a cat come back from the vet and was told he has IBD. I asked how the vet found this out, is there a test? Is it the fact that he has mushy poop and cakes to his butt? He throws up a lot? They do feed crap food. So I am wondering if maybe that is where the problem comes from.

Can someone give me a quick rundown on IBD, or a link to a website for it? What is the best food for this cat? I know constant switching his food is not going to work out.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Diagnostic techniques run from white blood profile to ultrasound to surgical biopsy.

Symptoms run from diarrhea to vomiting and anorexia, sometimes BOTH ends. We go for the presmuptive diagnosis at my house. NO invasive or costly testing.

DIET is the key. Not medications (although they may be needed to control it). Limited protein source, no grains.

Let me know if that is not enough ... I am on kitty #7!

DIET is key ... thou some work better with some grains not none...

Wet food again is better than dry ... many including myself use homemade or raw in controling it ....

I agree SIMPLE till you find the triggers.... which can be stress to , this from a human with it

thank you, that is a good start. The problem is that this cat is living in small room of a cattery full of cats up for adoption. So not only is there constant stress from his living arrangements... he also has his food changed all the time. They mix all the donated foods together and just put a scoop in all the bowls everyday.

That's the worst possible scenario. I don't see how the symptoms could possibly improve if the food is all over the place... you have to find a diet that works for him and stick to only that.

It's really tricky because there are several kinds of bowel disease, and each have different cause(s) and treatments. Some require more fiber, some less, most are helped by wet food (but then if the IBD is caused by allergies you have to figure out which food it is). And then there are medications.

I really think that there will have to be more than a vague diagnosis of IBD in order for the cat to get better... unless this is a short-lived case lasting only a few days (that can be quite common).

What I think is happening is this...

I think that she took the cat to the vet, not really having a ton of money to spend on all sorts of vet work for a cat from the pound that has no owner. She asked the vet for the best guess on what is going on and he mentioned some sort of IBD and gave her z/d food to feed him. She is giving him the z/d but also throwing in some random other food. I am trying to tell her that he needs to stick with one food only.

I am hoping the cat is either allergic to a certain ingredient in the food, or else he is having a tough time with the constant switching in food. Or else he isn't able to handle the foods with the crappy ingredients and red dye in it. If she would first stop feeding him that and focus on one type of food. Ithink that would be a great start.

Z/D only for 6-12 weeks would be best

Yes. You know, considering the food situation, there might not even be anything wrong with this cat. Normal cats often have intestinal or digestive issues for a few days after being switched to a new food, and this cat is being switched constantly. Or, as you say, he's one that doesn't digest cheaper foods well.