TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Cat Health › Irritable bowel syndrome?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Irritable bowel syndrome?

post #1 of 36
9/13/10 at 8:56am
Thread Starter 
have any of you experienced IBS with your cat or dog or other pet?

if you don't know, my Meatloaf has been in and out of the vet the past 3 weeks because of chronic diarrhea and fever.

She's on antibiotics now and her poops are normal, however she can't control when or where she poops. The vet says that it is a possibility of IBS.

I'm worried a) is she going to die? and b) will I have enough money to take care of her?

Have any of you experienced it?

I'm really depressed. I just want her to get better.
Reply
post #2 of 36
9/13/10 at 9:09am
Yes, 2 cats with IBS and IBD here... Hope and Bugsy.
Hope had a horrible, horrible time... What finally worked for her was Metronidazole for 10 days (well, she actually took many courses), Amforol to control diarrhea as needed (do NOT give it if your cat has Kidney disease!!!), prednisone for a month and then phasing out, and switching her to Hills Z/D.

I tried many diets before Hills Z/D - pretty much all choices available out there, but Hills was the only one she could take. She has been doing awesome since she has been on it, and hasn't had a flare since I put her on the diet - she is out of all meds.

Bugsy is also 1/2 on Hills z/d and 1/2 on an all fish diet, as he is also allergic to chicken, and he takes dialy meds to Stomatitis, which contains an immune modulator that helps with his IBD.

The first thing I would do is work with a vet that understands IBS/IBD, and change his diet - what is he eating now?

Metronidazole works wonders in the beginnig of the treatment, and so does pred. I am not a fan of pred for life, but if it is the only thing that works, then be it - it is definitely better than the symptoms!

Please do not let your baby go without treatment...
And yes, pred, diet, etc, is a very affordable treatment
Reply
post #3 of 36
9/13/10 at 9:26am
Can't answer B for you, but if you've been using this vet for a while and they're decent (as in decent person) they should allow payments if necessary. Talk to them. And always be on time with your payments.
Reply
post #4 of 36
9/13/10 at 10:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Desirai View Post
have any of you experienced IBS with your cat or dog or other pet?

if you don't know, my Meatloaf has been in and out of the vet the past 3 weeks because of chronic diarrhea and fever.

She's on antibiotics now and her poops are normal, however she can't control when or where she poops. The vet says that it is a possibility of IBS.

I'm worried a) is she going to die? and b) will I have enough money to take care of her?

Have any of you experienced it?

I'm really depressed. I just want her to get better.
I currently have 2 with it ...

A= No it is a trying but manageable condition... Carolina is so correct about diet but the BIG issue is No two Ibs/ibd cats need the exact same one ... For me one gets wet food the other cannot handle it ... Some need no grain food ,others need with grain...

B= Once controlled this is not a expensive disorder
Reply
post #5 of 36
9/13/10 at 10:14am
Franklin has IBD, rather than IBS. the only true method of diagnosing IBD is biopsy. I don;t believe true IBD can be managed through diet. Does Meatloaf have IBD or IBS?
Reply
post #6 of 36
9/13/10 at 10:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KyleW View Post
Franklin has IBD, rather than IBS. the only true method of diagnosing IBD is biopsy. I don;t believe true IBD can be managed through diet. Does your cat have IBD or IBS?
It truly can be as I have a biopsied cat that thru diet Alone... not to mention this is to date the 6 ibd/ibs( many vets use one or the other it is in reality just one thing or group of issues ) animals in my home... not to mention countless others that I have helped with the vet guidance...
Reply
post #7 of 36
9/13/10 at 10:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sharky View Post
diet but the BIG issue is No two Ibs/ibd cats need the exact same one ... For me one gets wet food the other cannot handle it ... Some need no grain food ,others need with grain...

B= Once controlled this is not a expensive disorder
Totally! Bugsy and Hope have completely different needs! Bugsy can deal with Z/D just fine, but Hope can not have Bugsy's fish diet at all...

It is totally a cat-specific diet here... Luckily Z/D works for both of mine, so I can have both of them on the same wet food with no problems!

And yes, the main expense you will have is going to be in the beginning, controlling the symptoms he is having now, and trying to figure out the best treatment path. Once that is done, maintaining him in good shape is not expensive. A lot of times IBS can be managed with diet alone... if you need to have him on pred., that is a very affordable medication.
Reply
post #8 of 36
9/13/10 at 10:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sharky View Post
It truly can be as I have a biopsied cat that thru diet Alone... not to mention this is to date the 6 ibd/ibs( many vets use one or the other it is in reality just one thing or group of issues ) animals in my home... not to mention countless others that I have helped with the vet guidance...
I respectfully disagree. IBD and IBS are not the same thing and are not interchangeable. Diet alone may alleviate IBD symptoms in the short run, but they will resurface. Each succeeding bout will be harder to combat. On the other hand, I am completely ignorant of IBS and its impact on cats.
Reply
post #9 of 36
9/13/10 at 10:39am
Thread Starter 
Hi, thanks for everyone's replies.

It is encouraging to know that it can be controlled/treated.

She doesn't have a diagnosis, it's just "If this doesn't work, we will test for irritable bowel syndrome"

(off topic: right now I'm watching out my window and meatloaf is rolling in the sun. so beautiful <3 it's such a lovely day outside.)

Meatloaf is definitely feeling better now that she's been on probiotic for a week.

Well, the vet I go to definitely is a great person and doesn't charge much. Unlike the 'corporate' vet I went to before that charged me outrageous fees and taxes and did nothing for her
Reply
post #10 of 36
9/13/10 at 10:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KyleW View Post
I respectfully disagree. IBD and IBS are not the same thing and are not interchangeable. Diet alone may alleviate IBD symptoms in the short run, but they will resurface. Each succeeding bout will be harder to combat. On the other hand, I am completely ignorant of IBS and its impact on cats.
Honestly, and maybe others have this opinion too, I don't think there is very much IBS, if any, in cats. IMO it's all IBD, allergy, or underlying infection (parasite/bacterial/virus-immune).
I feel much the same for people, IBS is the diagnosis made when a doc runs out of ideas.
Reply
post #11 of 36
9/13/10 at 10:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Desirai View Post
Hi, thanks for everyone's replies.

It is encouraging to know that it can be controlled/treated.

She doesn't have a diagnosis, it's just "If this doesn't work, we will test for irritable bowel syndrome"

(off topic: right now I'm watching out my window and meatloaf is rolling in the sun. so beautiful <3 it's such a lovely day outside.)

Meatloaf is definitely feeling better now that she's been on probiotic for a week.

Well, the vet I go to definitely is a great person and doesn't charge much. Unlike the 'corporate' vet I went to before that charged me outrageous fees and taxes and did nothing for her
What is your vet doing in regards to his diet? Anything? What is he eating?
Reply
post #12 of 36
9/13/10 at 11:04am
Thread Starter 
she is eating 9lives/friskies with fortiflora
Reply
post #13 of 36
9/13/10 at 11:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Desirai View Post
she is eating 9lives/friskies with fortiflora
Your first move needs to be to get away from cheap foods. At the very least get your kitty off of foods containing artificial flavors and dyes. You may not need to go with limited ingredient or something like Z/D, just something better.

ETA: Just to be honest, here. I feed a little friskies to Siri and my kittens (indoor cats) and the two I have outside - it doesn't bother them the slightest. But if Tomas (kitty with chicken issues/more sensitive to foods) steals any it's horrible! Bad bad gas and watery diarrhea.
Reply
post #14 of 36
9/13/10 at 11:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
Your first move needs to be to get away from cheap foods. At the very least get your kitty off of foods containing artificial flavors and dyes. You may not need to go with limited ingredient or something like Z/D, just something better.

ETA: Just to be honest, here. I feed a little friskies to Siri and my kittens (indoor cats) and the two I have outside - it doesn't bother them the slightest. But if Tomas (kitty with chicken issues/more sensitive to foods) steals any it's horrible! Bad bad gas and watery diarrhea.
I bought her a bag of blue buffalo but she wouldn't eat it. :/

I wish I could get samples of foods because I don't have a lot of money but I'm trying to care for her the best I can
Reply
post #15 of 36
9/13/10 at 12:06pm
Do you have pet stores or a feed store? most will give you any samples they have..

From my experience the main triggers are Fish( unless your name is Bugsy ) , Wheat , corn , SOY and artificial colors and flavors... You can check the current diet and find all the main offenders
Reply
post #16 of 36
9/13/10 at 12:09pm
Ok, if your cat has IBS/IBD, your first move has to be changing the diet to a limmited ingredients diet. I highly recommend putting him on Hills Z/D - that IMHO will be that safest route. Leaving him an a diet with many ingredients, cheap or expensive, will never allow you to get to the bottom of this IMHO.
If your vet didn't change your cat's diet, I would be thinking this to be very strange. This is really the very first thing to do. Every time he eats, he will be putting his bowels through an inflammation process all over again if you don't do that.
Reply
post #17 of 36
9/13/10 at 12:28pm
^But how does one know this is even IBD/IBS? No biopsies have been done, it certainly doesn't sound like an elimination diet has been done, and likely very little diagnostics - especially since the vet hasn't pointed out the food issue. It could simply be that this cat can't tolerant friskies and 9lives - they have a lot of junk in them that perfectly healthy cats can't deal with (like soy). Right now IBS just sounds like guessing.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Desirai View Post
I wish I could get samples of foods because I don't have a lot of money but I'm trying to care for her the best I can
Natural Balance is very good about sending people samples. From stories on here, people that ask usually end up with a box full.
Reply
post #18 of 36
9/13/10 at 12:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
^But how does one know this is even IBD/IBS? No biopsies have been done, it certainly doesn't sound like an elimination diet has been done, and likely very little diagnostics -...Right now IBS just sounds like guessing.

Natural Balance is very good about sending people samples. From stories on here, people that ask usually end up with a box full.
I agree. Find out what is ailing meatloaf before trying to treat him. I spent two years chasing imaginary food allergies. Diagnose and then treat, not the other way around. As to Natural Balance, they are the only dry food I've ever seen samples for. My guys wouldn't eat it though. They do eat Natural Balance canned food exclusively, Chicken & Green Pea L.I.D..
Reply
post #19 of 36
9/13/10 at 12:51pm
Elimination diets will help if it is food allergies in there organic form....
Diet change when you are feeding foods commonly known to cause BOTH food allergies and Ibd would be a very reasonable first step.... I have dealt with this for so long the first vet who diagnosed on of my animals said use metamucil ... Thankfully more is known and understood today

Bloodwork would be first IMHO to ensure no infections , organ issues are found ...

What cleaners do you use in home?>

Biopsy is very $$$$$$ and not all vets do them in their office thus you may have to go to another vet( or a specialist depending where you live)... A gastroenteroligist would be a wonderful vet to see but alas many of us do not live close to one
Reply
post #20 of 36
9/13/10 at 12:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Desirai View Post
I bought her a bag of blue buffalo but she wouldn't eat it. :/

I wish I could get samples of foods because I don't have a lot of money but I'm trying to care for her the best I can
if you only knew what goes in cheap cat food i don't think you would be thinking that way, just be self aware what you are feeding your cat and give it a more quality of life for it's sake, i know cat food is not cheap but there are alternatives like making your own cat food from home instead of buying cheap cat food from the store.
Reply
post #21 of 36
9/13/10 at 12:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
^But how does one know this is even IBD/IBS? No biopsies have been done, it certainly doesn't sound like an elimination diet has been done, and likely very little diagnostics - especially since the vet hasn't pointed out the food issue. It could simply be that this cat can't tolerant friskies and 9lives - they have a lot of junk in them that perfectly healthy cats can't deal with (like soy). Right now IBS just sounds like guessing.

Natural Balance is very good about sending people samples. From stories on here, people that ask usually end up with a box full.
Either way, an elimination diet would almost certainly help. For sure it would not hurt.
If food allergy, it would help, if IBS it would help too during the diagnosis phase. What would not help, is to have the cat in a diet with a whole lot of allergens, or in junk food IMHO.
Reply
post #22 of 36
9/13/10 at 4:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolina View Post
Either way, an elimination diet would almost certainly help. For sure it would not hurt.
If food allergy, it would help, if IBS it would help too during the diagnosis phase. What would not help, is to have the cat in a diet with a whole lot of allergens, or in junk food IMHO.
it's not even classed as food, no animal should be eating that stuff.
Reply
post #23 of 36
9/13/10 at 5:05pm
What helped my cat was changing his food. I began feeding him Hill's prescription food, and that made an improvement with his digestive system. He still has a problem though.
Reply
post #24 of 36
9/13/10 at 5:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolina View Post
Either way, an elimination diet would almost certainly help. For sure it would not hurt.
If food allergy, it would help, if IBS it would help too during the diagnosis phase. What would not help, is to have the cat in a diet with a whole lot of allergens, or in junk food IMHO.
The only way z/d would aid in a diagnosis is if the cat ate z/d and nothing but z/d for a minimum of 4weeks, preferably 6-8 weeks. Not treats, no snacks, nothing but z/d. If ate the end of these trial the symptoms have disappeared then you know it's an allergy. But you have no idea what the allergy is. If the symptoms have not disappeared then you know it's not an allergy.
Reply
post #25 of 36
9/13/10 at 5:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KyleW View Post
The only way z/d would aid in a diagnosis is if the cat ate z/d and nothing but z/d for a minimum of 4weeks, preferably 6-8 weeks. Not treats, no snacks, nothing but z/d. If ate the end of these trial the symptoms have disappeared then you know it's an allergy. But you have no idea what the allergy is. If the symptoms have not disappeared then you know it's not an allergy.
and that's why it's called elimination diet.
However, it is also excellent for a cat with IBS - Hope, my cat with IBS can only eat Z/D, nothing else, no chicken, no beef, no venison, no rabbit, no duck, no Turkey, not in raw, not in cooked, not in dry, not in baby food. The only thing that she does well on, and did well on immediately was on Z/D.

I am not saying here Z/D or a LID will be the medicine for this cat. This is NOT what I am saying. What I said was this is the first step, and not the only step. (Although for Hope, AFTER the initial treatment with antibiotics and prednisone, she is managing with food alone, and yes, it can be done for IBS)
When you have a cat that is going through this, IMHO, you should eliminate everything that could be making him sick. Since his digestive system is the affected part, food is naturally the first step to take care of.
This is a long process, and to have this cat eating 9lives while on medication is completely counter productive IMHO. All sides need to be taken care, everything, all possibilities. The food can be making him sick, then change the food and see it. Take care of the diarrhea, Take care of the inflammation, and so on. Everything needs to be done, that is what I am saying.
Reply
post #26 of 36
9/13/10 at 6:38pm
Thread Starter 
hi.. do any of you have experience with kirklands signature cat food?

My neighbor feeds that to her cats and gave me a bowl to try.
Reply
post #27 of 36
9/13/10 at 6:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Desirai View Post
hi.. do any of you have experience with kirklands signature cat food?

My neighbor feeds that to her cats and gave me a bowl to try.
I would not try on a sick cat. You do not want to keep changing food in a sick cat - every time you do that, you upset his digestive system....

It is a good food for healthy cats.

In my house, neither one of my IBD cat who is also allergic to chicken (Bugsy) or my IBS cat Hope would be able to use it.
Reply
post #28 of 36
9/13/10 at 6:47pm
Thread Starter 
but my problem is she won't eat anything except friskies canned food

she doesn't touch any dry food.
Reply
post #29 of 36
9/13/10 at 6:49pm
Thread Starter 
also.. what is the difference between ibd and ibs?
Reply
post #30 of 36
9/13/10 at 6:50pm
Have you tried Natural Balance? The Limited Ingredient Diets?
For example: Venison and Green Pea, Chicken and Green Pea, Green Pea and Duck?

My cats hated a lot of foods... but they took to Z/D Immediately... Ask your vet for a sample - can and dry. Both mine love it...
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Cat Health
TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Cat Health › Irritable bowel syndrome?