Enough!!! My cat has IBD!!!!

That's it for me!!!  My poor cat has IBD!! 

I didn't know that cats could get IBD.  Turns out they can get colitis too.  We have always been close and shared everything, but this is too much.  Poor kitty!  Her symptoms are hauntingly similar - D alternating with C, blood and mucus, weight loss.  And the available drugs are human drugs including flagyl and steriods -- my vet says they are investigating biologicals.  Maybe I should bring her along to my remicade infusions and she can share my IV bag! 

This is just too much!  I am considering not subjecting her to the drugs.  She is quite old, absolutely hates going to the Dr. and taking medication -- something else we share.  I have a touch decision to make.  I just can't see her likely flagyl or understanding why I am doing this to her.  Anyone have a cat with this???

I had a cat with liver disease and IBD as well as food allergies. It is best to feed them a prescription diet such as Hill's Science Diet I/D they make it in dry and wet for both cats and dogs. There are other companies such as royal canine as well who make specialty cat and dog foods. They also do make a sensitive system cat food by purina that can be purchased at your local market or specialty pet store. With animal IBD (sry I was a vet tech before all of my surgeries and know way more than I should about all different ailements aminals can get) the most common symptoms are diarrhea, constipation or vomiting. To determine 100% it isnt intestinal parasites mimicing IBD have more than 1 sample of feces tested since parasite ovum may not show up in all samples. Also many of these intestinal parasites are able to infect people as well one parasite that is species specific (however they have mult species of this parasite...the cat ones cannot however infect people in case of coccidia). Many intestinal parasite eggs especially roundworm can even be found in potting soil you purchase at your local store so it is imperative that even indoor animals stay on parasite protection year round.

I found that feeding my cat hills id helped a great deal. I also had used the sensitive systems purina since a 10 pound bag of the id costs about 45 dollars retail and the 16 pound purina runs about 22 dollars. Typically flagyl is given to animals when coccidia is present along with Albon and all other pets should be treated in the house if parasites are the culprit....in coccidia present in a cat only other cats need it in the house etc. basically ID is like rice and chicken ...well on that idea anyway

good luck...

Both cats and dogs can get IBD....you can give your cats probiotics, the lady that told me about the primadophilus reuteri that I use, uses for her cat, she said she tried every probiotic out there for her cat and the primadophilus rueteri was the only one that helped her cat.

:)

Oh my GOODNESS that is just too sad! But she is over 18 years old, that's amazing! What a trooper. One of my cats also has hyperthyroidism like me. He's such a skinny, ratty-looking thing (was emaciated when I found him and brought him in) and when the vet said he was hyperthyroid I just about pooped my pants.

I'm so sorry about your kitty and hope you can find something that makes him feel better and gain back some weight and energy!

Hi I am sening you kitty a prayer poor thing. I hope the kitty gets better.

Our pets are so important, and it's hard to watch them suffer. I hope you find a combo of food and meds that work!

My little dog just finished treatment with Flagyl.  She is only 4 months old, and she had a severe case of diarrea with blood and mucus, and her vet told us it was colitis!!!!!  I couldn't believe it, but thank God, the next day after having her first dosage of Flagyl, she started having normal bowel movements again, and her apetite got back to normal.  Now I am being very careful with what she eats, she eats only dry food for dogs, and nothing more.  Of course everytime she sees us eating something like chicken or steak, she cries like a baby, but....I stick with her diet.

The vet told us, that it's true, animals can get IBD as well.

Hope your cat feels better.....

Christina

Many years ago I had a cat diagnosed with Crohn's disease. This was before I even new what it was (b4 my diagnosis). Unfortunatley, he had a bowel obstruction and had to have surgery...... poor little guy.

((((((((((((Kitty Prayers)))))))))) to your friend. and (((((hugs))))) to you.

i've been rescuing ferral cats for a long time now.

Stella (a tuxedo 7 months) is a special needs kitty.  1 eye.  lost her vision as a young kitten due to a severe eye infection.

it is a heart ache to see this happen to you love.

but...you know how YOU feel so you KNOW how your cat feels.

take care of each other.

the kitty will let ya' know when things are too hard to handle.

 

peace/love

erin

My kitty is sitting beside me now purring. I wish she could tell me how it is going. She isn't eating well and is still having D. But she can still purr!

Thanks for all of your kind words! I took another fecal sample the vet this morning and asked them to test again for worms. I'll get the result back tomorrow. The vet wasn't optimistic for worms, nor was he optimistic about her tolerating the drugs at her age. If it isn't worms and she continues to have trouble, I will take her to the vet and have them gently send her on before me into the next life. Very hard but I don't want her to suffer. It gives me peace to know that she will be with her Maker who loves her more than I can, and that she will escape having to endure the rest of the aging process. 18 years is a pretty good run and she has been remarkably healthy up until now!

Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers!

My persian kitty also has IBD and my vet suggested raw chicken, minced!!! Gross, I know, but it helped. BUT, NOT the liver, that will kill your kitty. She is now a year old and doing fine.

I sooo sorry LynnRN! How great that you had her for so long! I feel blessed to have had mine for 18+. We have to think about the good lives we gave them while they were entrusted to us. We aren't purrrfect (sorry, couldn't resist) but we try to be for our beloved pets -- and relatives too, but that seems harder. ;-)

I volunteer for an animal rescue foundation....my heart goes out to you and your poor kitty. My neighbor has an abyssinian 1 year old cat who was just diagnosed with CD. Her owner decided to go the naturopathic way, and kitty is much better now....I must say it has cost her a fortune. The cat was also put on an "anxiety" type natural therapy as well as all the other diet alterations and CD therapies.
Wishing you and your feline friend much, much luck...and keeping you both in my prayers.
Mary