IBD, vitamin malabsorption, and B-12 shots

Background: My IBD cat has had bowel issues for a while (acutely since January, but she's had issues with vomiting her whole life), and I've seen two vets that don't have much else to suggest besides "try another food." One of them gave her a steroid injection, but I didn't see much change besides her eating more for a couple days. I changed her diet (now Kattovit Sensitive grain-free chicken wet food) and there was a bit of improvement (no vomiting, solid poop though with bright blood on it occasionally). Recently (the past two weeks) her poop's gone soft again (ribbon-like to liquid) and she's been vomiting every couple days.

I've read a few members having success with treating their cats' IBD with B-12 shots and I was curious to hear more experiences with that. (How soon you saw a change, dosage/timing, what other treatments you were doing at the same time, etc.) Could it make an IBD cat's diarrhea worse? I saw a lot of mention of it helping constipation.

Could long term bowel inflammation cause deficiency in other vitamins? I'm wondering if I should get an injectable B-complex, rather than just B-12 (it's over the counter where I am). I'm especially worried about B-1/thiamine deficiency, because she seems to have some neurological symptoms (anisocoria/uneven pupils, skin twitching).

I asked the vet about vitamin deficiencies from her not eating much, and his suggestion was "you can give her a vitamin paste if you want," but the vitamin pastes are full of ingredients that I worry could contribute to her bowel issues (which I still haven't been able to figure out if there's a food trigger). And if she's having major gut inflammation, I don't know what from a vitamin paste she'd even absorb.

I don't know if it would hurt anything to just start giving the B12 shots.  There is a blood test available from Texas A&M which checks B12 and folate levels.  http://vetmed.tamu.edu/gilab/service/assays/b12folate   The website says a blood test for Pancreatitis should also be done because Pancreatitis can affect the results.

My IBD kitty just had it done along with a ultrasound because he was loosing weight.  His came back with normal B12 but high folate levels so the vet had me start using a probiotic.

The thickening in the intestinal walls affects nutrient absorption which is the reason for the B12 shots.  I know you have been to 2 vets but you may need to try another one.  I went to several vets over a 6 year period before I found one that got things right for my kitty.  Diet changes alone isn't always enough to control IBD.  My kitty is on a small daily steroid dose.

I'm already broke from taking her to multiple vets and getting the blood tests done that told me she has CRF. (The second vet basically just redid the test the first vet did, even though I brought up being concerned about vitamin deficiencies and liver/pancreas issues.) One of the sites on B-12 supplementation in IBD cats was saying that a cat's serum B-12 level can be normal even while it's low/deficient in the spinal fluid and other areas, so I don't think I'll stress her out by taking her to a vet again soon.

I have been thinking of finding a better probiotic for her, though. (I feed her Fortiflora intermittently.) Which one are you using, and did you see any changes from using it?

IBD absolutely can cause malabsorption. No need to get the expensive GI panel if the vet will prescribe B12 shots and you can administer them at home. They will only help.

Notably, if blood serum levels of B12 are low, the diarrhea will not resolve no matter what you do until those levels are brought up to normal.

As to probiotics, I have worked with a LOT of IBD cats. A yeast-based probiotic called S boulardii is tremendous for IBD. It is not digested, acts locally in the lumen of the gut to restore normal functioning and reduce inflammation. But it is also important to provide an acidophilus supplement, as that is an important component of amino acid uptake.

Fortiflora has one active ingredient, E faceium, and it is primarily animal digest, which can also cause problems for IBD cats. Here is probiotic info and dosages for you. Please note that many choose to combine the Renew Life Ultimate Flora with the S boulardii with great success. It can take a little time, but the combination helps put weight back on your kitty. http://www.ibdkitties.net/Probiotics.html

If you want to read up more on S boulardii, here is information on it. http://www.thecatsite.com/t/283161/saccharomyces-boulardii-use-for-diarrhea-and-gi-disease-incl-ibd

Oh - you may also want to consider adding a digestive enzyme. I use Animal Essentials Probiotic & Digestive Enzymes. It has some acidophilus in it, not enough to use it alone for the probiotic component - but I've used a number of plant-based digestive enzymes, and this seems to be the most effective (for us). Others have experienced similar results.

Thanks so much! I'll look into the S. bouliardii. I was also giving her some human probiotics for a little while, but they had weird ingredients like maltodextrin and fructooligosaccharides. They did seem to be helping for a while (until I ran out). I really think gut bacteria imbalance is a huge issue in cats, probably most cats. When I was reading more about making my own cat food, I found out the reason that canned food needs more taurine isn't that it breaks down from cooking, it's because there are other compounds created during the canning process that increase the overgrowth of gut bacteria that break down taurine. One day I'll have all the equipment to make my own cat food....

I ended up with this one http://www.gardenoflife.com/Products-for-Life/Dr-Formulated/Dr-Formulated-Once-Daily.aspx   It has 30 billion CFU which makes it a bit difficult to divide.  I use approximately 1/3 of a capsule split between two kitties, far from an exact science.  I just went to the Vitamin Shoppe.  I looked for something that included L.acidophilus  and is both dairy and soy free.  I know dairy can be an issue for kitties and soy can be an issue for some kitties.

I got some of the Fortiflora from the vet and used it for a short time before I went to the Vitamin Shoppe.  I hadn't seen this one mentioned here before but it's the one I started using.

Anyone try hydroycobalamin? It's supposed to have a longer half life than cyanocobalamin, but may or may not hurt more as a subcutaneous injection. (My OTC choices here are cyanocobalamin and hydroycobalamin.) It would be nice to have to do it less often....

Denice said:

 
I ended up with this one http://www.gardenoflife.com/Products-for-Life/Dr-Formulated/Dr-Formulated-Once-Daily.aspx   It has 30 billion CFU which makes it a bit difficult to divide.  I use approximately 1/3 of a capsule split between two kitties, far from an exact science.  I just went to the Vitamin Shoppe.  I looked for something that included L.acidophilus  and is both dairy and soy free.  I know dairy can be an issue for kitties and soy can be an issue for some kitties.

I got some of the Fortiflora from the vet and used it for a short time before I went to the Vitamin Shoppe.  I hadn't seen this one mentioned here before but it's the one I started using.

Click to expand...

Does your kitty with IBD do well on this probiotic?  I have been looking for one to start Peaches on. I have already tried Natural Factors Double Strength Acidophilus & Bifidus and she wouldn't eat her food even when I put very little in it. She can't have anything with soy or dairy in it.

LDG said:

Oh - you may also want to consider adding a digestive enzyme. I use Animal Essentials Probiotic & Digestive Enzymes. It has some acidophilus in it, not enough to use it alone for the probiotic component - but I've used a number of plant-based digestive enzymes, and this seems to be the most effective (for us). Others have experienced similar results.

Click to expand...

If this one was used does that mean you have to add more probiotic with this?  I tried this one once but it would make the canned food runny like water, is that normal? Also I don't have a lot of money to spend so if I were to try something for Peaches which one would be recommended, the Probiotic or Digestive Enzymes. Peaches does have IBD and takes a steroid every other day and Miralax for constipation issues.

I think it has stabilized his weight.  He could have stood to lose a little but I wasn't doing anything to help him loose weight so the weight loss had been unexplained.  I don't think this one affects flavor of the food much.  My kitties are still a little iffy about finishing their wet food.  I mix the probiotic in a tiny bit of food and give it to them first, that way I know they are getting all of it. 

Snugglecat said:

 
If this one was used does that mean you have to add more probiotic with this?  I tried this one once but it would make the canned food runny like water, is that normal? Also I don't have a lot of money to spend so if I were to try something for Peaches which one would be recommended, the Probiotic or Digestive Enzymes. Peaches does have IBD and takes a steroid every other day and Miralax for constipation issues.

Click to expand...

I'm assuming the making the food runny is a normal side effect, it's basically digesting the food outside the cat. At least you know the enzymes worked! It might be better to pill the cat with it, though. I've seen conflicting information on whether you have to use enteric coated capsules or not so the enzymes don't get denatured by the stomach acid.

I'm also interested in what others think is more important, probiotics or enzymes.

I ordered the B-12, kinda nervous about how my cat's going to react to me jabbing her with a needle.

I think the probiotics and enzymes are equally important. I have Rube on both of them as well as Organic slippery elm bark and it has helped tremendously. I was initially using just the digestive enzymes alone because it does contain some probiotic, but as LDG correctly stated, not enough and not the right strains. I use Provobial DC but there are lots of good ones. Let us know how it goes.

My vet or at least the one I had at that time she has since left told me not to use the digestive enzymes.  After she got the test results back from Texas A & M she told me to start the probiotics.  I asked her  about the digestive enzymes and she told me no.  I know that kitties with pancreatitis, which my kitty hasn't had, digestive enzymes are kind of iffy.  Sometimes they  help and sometimes they make things worse.

Wow ... I was where you are just a few weeks ago. My 15 year old Persian cat was so sick and this after him having truly been 100% healthy until about 8 months ago and like you did with your cat, I too took my boy to two different Vets who did a million non-invasive tests (each) after which both Vets tentatively diagnosed IBS/IBD. Food changes didn't stop my cat from vomiting two or three times daily for months nor could the Vets stop him from loosing weight. My cat won't take pills and bi-weekly steroid shots didn't seem to help him either. I was at my wits end and then I discovered Vitality Science (through this forum) and it was their recommended regimens (they claim a 97% money back guaranteed success rate) combined with the food I selected off the list of commercial foods they recommended which is INSTINCT wet cat food only (no birds or dry food ... dry food dries cats out) and it's grain, soy, and wheat free and well within 3 days of starting my cat on this course of action I am happy to report that he's stopped vomiting and started gaining weight and started looking and acting like his old self again. Check out Vitality Science. E-Mail or phone them like I did. Their customer service is excellent and because of their advice and products my 15 year old Persian cat who I adore is now one of the lucky 97% enjoying better to excellent health thanks to them. I am cautiously optimistic that my cat is cured of INS/IBD. I pray the same holds true for you and yours too. Good luck.

Could you elaborate on the "no birds" part of the diet they recommended? I switched my cat from fish based dry food to wet chicken, and it got a little better but she's still having issues. Was thinking about trying turkey next because she hasn't had that much in her lifetime. (I've tried a lot of different foods... she's had pretty much every protein at least once.)

Just taking a stab at this.  I think they are recommending 'no birds' because they are a big part of commercial cat food.  Eliminating poultry for most kitties would be a novel protein.  Have you tried the more unusual proteins like lamb or rabbit over a period of time?

My kitty started with his first IBD flare which wasn't diagnosed at 18 months of age.  I tried multiple diet changes over 6 years none of which stopped his flares.  He would have severe flares which required vet intervention, sometimes staying at the vet's for several days on an IV rather than a constant milder issue.  He would go anywhere from several weeks to several years between flares.  Every time he went longer without a flare I would think I had found the 'magic bullet'  My kitty is one of the ones that I believe needs a low maintenance dose of a steroid to keep him from flaring.  I know there are people who believe that steroids can always be avoided but I honestly do not believe that is true.

Here is a link to Vitality Science website http://www.vitalityscience.com/    There are people here who have had success with their products in conjunction with diet changes.

Hi. I just saw your post and I'll attempt to answer the question you asked me about "no birds" ... Vitality Science sent me a list of commercial wet canned cat foods that they recommend as well as companies that sell raw food too. Raw food is a last resort for me because of the prep time involved. My cat is thankfully doing very well on the new canned food mixed with Vitality Science products too. They advised me to stay away from "birds" ... chicken, turkey, etc. because they belief most IBS/IBD cats have developed allergies to them. They (like the above post advised) suggested I stick to canned wet beef, venison, lamb, rabbit, and fishes ... Mr. Vegus likes everything but beef. And they want me to also avoid all dry foods and wets as well that have grains, wheat, and soy in them which the most common (and cheapest) cat foods that are sold in most grocery stores do have. INSTINCT brand cat food is what the owner of Vitality Science (Stephen Becker?) feeds his cat and fortunantly there is a Pet Smart near me that carries it too so that is why I went with INSTINCT wet cat food. They sell "birds" but I am taking Vitality Science's advice and staying away from birds too. I expect the above poster's experience might eventually be mine as well but for now it's a wonderful relief to see Mr. Vegus eating and keeping all his food down and gaining weight too. Good luck to you.

samus said:

 
Could you elaborate on the "no birds" part of the diet they recommended? I switched my cat from fish based dry food to wet chicken, and it got a little better but she's still having issues. Was thinking about trying turkey next because she hasn't had that much in her lifetime. (I've tried a lot of different foods... she's had pretty much every protein at least once.)

Click to expand...

 i can tell u now if u can switch to fresh organic raw chicken for a month or 2 most likely ur cat's IBD will go away.

it's food that causes iBD ppl are giving food that cats aren't suppose to have in the first place

they are meant to eat fresh raw meat, not dry food or heavily processed canned food.

these processed food have so much toxic in them that is very bad for the digestive tract of cats.

I give my cats fresh organic raw chicken myself once every 2 days (chickens killed alive in wet market then i clean up the meat with boiled water, cut them into very small pieces and serve them to my cats , usually within an hr after the chickens being killed)   basically it can cure many dieases as well including cat flu

zhakar said:

 
 i can tell u now if u can switch to fresh organic raw chicken for a month or 2 most likely ur cat's IBD will go away.

it's food that causes iBD ppl are giving food that cats aren't suppose to have in the first place

they are meant to eat fresh raw meat, not dry food or heavily processed canned food.

these processed food have so much toxic in them that is very bad for the digestive tract of cats.

I give my cats fresh organic raw chicken myself once every 2 days (chickens killed alive in wet market then i clean up the meat with boiled water, cut them into very small pieces and serve them to my cats , usually within an hr after the chickens being killed)   basically it can cure many dieases as well including cat flu

Click to expand...

Is that chicken the only thing you feed your cats? How do you clean the meat with boiled water?

Unfortunately I'm in Germany and haven't found a good source of organic meat (the meat quality here's pretty sad, organic's even sadder because there's no demand, you either buy normal meat and don't care or you care so much you're vegetarian). I also contacted Vitality Science and they don't ship to Germany (supplements can't make it through customs).

However, the B-12 came in today. And it's in glass ampoules! The kind you have to break the top off. It's 1mg per ampoule, I don't know if I should use the whole thing at once (or what to do with the rest if I don't). Should I be trying to sterilize her skin with alcohol before injecting it? I know with humans that's the standard, but I watched a couple videos where they injected cats without cleaning the injection site. Is that safe?

I got some S. boulardii, too, and I was hoping it'd be as easy as sprinkling it on her food (the capsules are human sized and gigantic), but she just sniffs it, walks away, and comes to stare at me like "feed me I'm starving!!" She loves eating brewer's yeast, though, I thought it'd be about the same....

Has your vet suggested Entero-Chronic as a supplement? It's a nutraceutical used for IBD and other digestive problems. Our Mogli has IBD, and that as well as a limited ingredient diet, Vet-Concept have made an incredible difference.

I'm surprised you can't get organic meat in your part of Germany. We're down south and it's readily available at some small butcher shops or "Bio-Läden".