Cortisone Shot/id Diet For Chronic Ibd? New Docs Suggestions

[catmom1977]

Hi All,

Last fall my cat Sasha was diagnosed with severe IBD. After $4,000 worth of diagnostic tests the Animal Specialty group determined she had very severe IBD that they felt had almost assuredly turned into lymphoma. They prescribed prednisone and B12 shots. We were recommended a hypo-allergenic diet. Sasha is a very scared little kitty who was skin and bones by the time we got the diagnosis. Trying to pill her was not working - she would hide and refuse to eat. There was really a danger she would just starve to death. We decided just to try and fatten her up and keep her going as long as possible by trying to sneak meds and powders (pre-biotics/pro-biotics) into her food with minimal luck. We saw a different vet yesterday who seemed to have a totally different take on things - he gave her an antibiotic shot and a strong cortisone shot and recommended teeth cleaning. He wanted her on a ID died. She's down to 4 pounds and 7 ounces despite being fed all day long. She has horrible diarrhea. I cannot see how she could safely be put under anesthesia. Does this sound like a normal treatment plan? Giving her shots is a million times easier than pilling her but I haven't read about these suggestions elsewhere. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[artiemom]

Hi! So sorry you are going through this.

Is there a reason why you guys changed Vets?
It sounds like the first Vet was trying the appropriate treatments. Have you thought about consulting an Internal Medicine Vet? They really have the best handle on IBD...I know you have been though the ton of testing, but something does not seem quite right...

Is this new vet a regular vet or a specialist? If this second vet is a specialist, I would take all her records and go to someone else.. a different Internal Medicine specialist..

There are meds which can be compounded to either treats, or a flavored liquid suspension.
Have you tried wrapping pills in cheese, or crushing and mixing with baby food? It would have to be the non-garlic, non-onion, plain baby meat~~ Gerbers or Beech-nut

Is your baby on an anti nausea drug? along with a steroid. A once in a while steroid shot is not going to be enough to control this... and there is also the addition of probiotics to food.

I really think you need to take her to a Specialist ASAP....

this dramatic difference in approach and diagnosis sounds weird ....something is wrong..

 

[denice]

My IBD kitty is on prednisolone and recently started the B12 shots. I suppose the steroid shots would work but they normally are not used for IBD because of the long term use of the medicine. We laypeople can give B12 shots but not steroid shots because it is a medication versus a vitamin so that means trips to the vet for steroid shots. I don't get the antibiotic shot unless your cat does have badly infected teeth.

I would continue to look for a way to get the prednisolone in orally.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

artiemom is right in that you can get many medications compounded where they are much easier to give. She should know, she gives MANY meds to Artie every day .

Are you still giving Sasha her B-12 injections? Those are critical for IBD cats and should eventually help with the diarrhea.

How about an appetite stimulant? Our last kidney cat would not eat with an appetite stimulant, and she was also impossible to pill, so we gave her hers in the form of a transdermal gel and rubbed it in her ear while she was getting her loving. She never even knew it was happening and it worked quite well.

As far was probiotics and even digestive enzymes, depending on what brands you buy, they can be odorless and flavorless and therefore pretty much undetectable in her food. What I do is dissolve them in a little bit of water before then mixing with their food. And speaking of food, what ARE you feeding her? Since she is barely eating, have you tried switching her to something else?

Here is an excellent website on IBD that you should probably take a look at. It isn't interactive like we are, but it still has a lot of great information in it. Guidelines to Treating IBD – IBDKitties

 

[catmom1977]

Thanks so much for all the replies. Sorry, the food situation is strange - she asks for food all day. I feed her all the time. I think she is most interested from the moisture in the food but she loves greenies and tuna and eats a good bit of wet food. We got to the point where we'd give her anything she wanted as long as she ate. We tried every pill trick. Now that she's still dropping weight we are rethinking this. This vet was so sure of himself - but I'm wondering if he knew anything. Phoning the internist tomorrow. B12 shots every 2 weeks for sure.

 

[babiesmom5]

While your cat was diagnosed with severe IBD last fall, I question whether Sasha had Lymphoma at that time. Left untreated, Lymphoma is usually fatal within 6 weeks. Did Vet #1 offer any further diagnostics to confirm or rule out Lymphoma? Usually with a diagnosis of Lymphoma, cats are started on Prednisolone and Chemo (Leukeran). This is not to say that the severe IBD has not morphed into Lymphoma now as your cat continues to lose weight and now has bad diarrhea. Perhaps further diagnostics are needed.

You did not say what type of cortisone shot Vet #2 gave. There are two types: a short acting one-- Dexamethasone lasting a few days, and a much more potent one--Depo-Medol lasting usually 2-4 weeks.

I have one IBD kitty now who was very hard to pill and we initially started her on Depo-Medol shots at the vet. At first, it lasted 6 weeks, next one only lasted 4 weeks, next one only lasted 2 weeks...you get the idea. The Vet did warn me that these shots DO lose effectiveness, and in many cases stop working altogether! So that's when I knew I needed to change tactics.

I then tried a compounded fish flavored (Prednisolone) chew treat. Cat rejected it. Even hiding it in her food did not work. So now I put the Prednisolone in a chicken flavored capsule and using a "pill-popper", put it down her throat and then immediately reward her with food. It is working fantastic! She is under very good control now. I wish I had gone this route from the very beginning.

I do agree with artiemom that you really need to see an Internal Medicine Specialist ASAP.
They have the best knowledge, experience and understanding of this complex disease.

The website mrsgreenjeens recommended on IBD is very worthwhile also.

I hope Sasha gets the help she needs very soon. Her health is fragile.

 

[karrotlover]

Look for the Facebook group Raw Feeding for IBD Cats. They also have a web site, you can Google that. Even if you don't feed raw, it is such a well-informed and responsive group. My cat has IBD and benefited a lot from the help of this group/web site. He had chronic bloody diarrhea and I used their "stop diarrhea" alternative treatment protocol with success. Originally my cat got the long-acting cortisone shot (Depo Medrol) and did fantastic on it, but when it wore off I had to see if there was a better way. He now has great poops, amazing appetite, and gaining weight back... all with no drugs. Let me know if you have questions about any of this. Good luck!