My IBD cat has kidney stones.

Hi everyone!

Hope you are having a nice weekend!

I forget to mention this on my other threads.

I was busy worried about my cat’s IBD, but Tabby also has kidney stones…  

Tabby accidentally discovered that she had kidney stones (renal calculi) in 2012.

Since she was doing good back then, and the kidney stones were very small,

the vet told me it wasn’t necessary to remove the stones by surgery.

Tabby is an 8 year old female spayed cat. 

This April, she diagnosed with IBD, and she’s been on Prednisolone for a month.

She is already seeing improvement. She has been gaining weight.

I have switched her diet to Nature's Variety LID canned food in the Turkey formulation. 

When the vet took her X-rays last month, her kidney stones were still there.

Fortunately they were still small. We also checked her blood and urine test.

Her kidney values were within the normal range, however the urine sample showed dilute concentration,

but didn’t require treatment at the time. 

I’ll bring her to the vet next week to recheck her kidney values again. 
The vet and I will discuss if we can lower the medication.

I'm wondering if I should ask the vet about another steroid, maybe Entocort for her kidney stones? 

Have any of you had your cat with IBD and also has kidney stones on long term Prednisolone?

Have you had any problems with it? Have you switched another steroid? 

Any suggestions would be much appreciated. 

I know I have seen a lot of people here concerned about the effect of steroids on the kidneys.  The only thing that I have found is increased thirst, usually short term side effect which causes increased urination.  Of course if it gets really out of hand that could be an issue but I would think that some increased drinking would help with the kidney stones.

I know that awhile back Entocort was talked about a lot for IBD in kitties.  I know more of it stays in the digestive system which is why there are fewer side effects.  It's supposed to be the steroid of choice for diabetic cats.  I asked my vet about it but from her experience she didn't believe it.  She tried it on a few kitties with diabetes and their blood sugar went up the same as on the other steroids.  I know it is much  more expensive than prednisolone and honestly I think it was a lot of hype with very little substance.  I would ask your vet though, he or she will have a lot more experience and info.

Hi Denice,
Thank you so much for answering my question! It really helped. 
I feel much better using the Prednisolone now! 
Yes, I will ask my vet about Entocort as well.

I’m glad to hear that drinking water would help with the kidney stones. 
Tabby used to drink a lot of water. Then her IBD begins to go into remission 
and she is gaining weight, she doesn’t drink much. 
Accordance with the vet's advice, I add water to her food now, 
because her stools are still hard and dry. (She also takes Enulose.) 

Maybe I give her too much of water, I don’t know, 
but it causes increase urination as well. 
Her urine sample showed dilute concentration last month. 
Is it because she drinks a lot of water?! 
My cat’s next appointment is next week, and 
I also bring a free catch urine sample. 

Thank you so much for your time and help!!