My cat's cure for IBD - Tylan

[jessica smith]

Long story short, we have one cat with chronic diarrhea and vomiting, even though sharing same food, water, beds, etc with other cat that is perfectly healthy. We tried all kinds of special diets, but nothing truly did the trick although symptoms were least extreme with "Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hydrolyzed Protein HP Dry Cat Food".

As such, the cat was put on depo-medrol + B12 injections every 2 months, with limited effect.

Finally, they recommended 1/16th teaspoon twice daily of tylan powder. That was impossible as he wouldn't touch any food on it, even covered in his favorite fortiflora, if it had the yucky powder on it, so had to go with syringe which he resists passionately, so we just did 1/16th in warm water syringe provided once a day and ... VOILA!

After about a week appears perfectly cured, and we used up the couple weeks provided. Didn't know for sure that was it, but sure enough he gradually went downhill (but only after several weeks later), and we got more tylan powder and voila, fixed again!

tl;dr: If tackling IBD and nothing is working, ask for Tylan: Tylan® Powder

 

[cataholic07]

Never heard of that powder, what is it? Cats who have IBD should not be on a dry food at all, only carrageenan free wet food or raw. Its easiest on their stomach to digest. Glad you found something to help your cat

 

[kittenmittens84]

Never heard of that powder, what is it? Cats who have IBD should not be on a dry food at all, only carrageenan free wet food or raw. Its easiest on their stomach to digest. Glad you found something to help your cat

It’s an antibiotic but it also has strong anti-inflammatory properties in the GI tract which is I believe why it’s used for IBD. My cat was on it for a bit when his IBD was flaring, it seemed to work for him.

 

[jessica smith]

It’s an antibiotic but it also has strong anti-inflammatory properties in the GI tract which is I believe why it’s used for IBD. My cat was on it for a bit when his IBD was flaring, it seemed to work for him.

Which the steroid was also supposed to do, but wasn't very effective compared to the tylan. Much easier to get one shot though than wrap a cat in a towel always on a random routine because otherwise he runs away and hides and do that EVERY day, lol!

The only thing that fixed him though as he was very slowly but consistently losing weight over the years to the point he was ~7.5lbs, and now he's almost at 9lbs and its pretty much all muscle so its a night and day difference on him. Ideally I hope to get him up to 10lbs some day, but we'll do a little celebration when he hits 9 and be happy with that even.

He's 10 years old now BTW.

 

[jessica smith]

only carrageenan free wet food or raw.

Tried both over the years, trying all kinds of weird exotic proteins sure that would fix it, but alas he still had issues. As a "trial" basis we tried that hydrolized stuff the vet recommended, which is very expensive BTW, and it was finally a little better (not perfect tootsie rolls but always in the litter box at least) and luckily he loves the taste so we just stuck with it because each time I tried different raw or special wet recipes I ended up having to clean Hershey squirts even transitioning slowly (if you want a pretty picture, add the fact that he was gassy too... oof).

So we gave up and just have both of them eating it too, since it was too much of a pain to separate them. $115 a bag! I asked and they don't make that formula in wet. But now that we have a combo that works 100% finally, even if its not a cure, and its been enough months I can say we're good, I'm not motivated to change even if its inconvenient and expensive.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

While I spent way too much time in the medical field to really believe in "miracle cures," I do know that not one medication is the right fit for EVERY individual with the same diagnosis. I'm THRILLED that you found what works for your cat, and it's certainly worth filing away to try.

 

[jessica smith]

While I spent way too much time in the medical field to really believe in "miracle cures," I do know that not one medication is the right fit for EVERY individual with the same diagnosis. I'm THRILLED that you found what works for your cat, and it's certainly worth filing away to try.

I agree, that's why I mentioned if "tackling IBD and nothing is working" because my vets that had been providing other less successful treatments for years apparently had never heard of that treatment, and I didn't either after reading a ton of articles online and what others were trying on forums.

What I didn't mention yet is that I went to a new vet (vet # 4) and it was the new vet, very young lady so perhaps these are new treatments they are just now teaching in school, that gave me that recommendation, along with a couple other things we hadn't ever tried. To be scientific we went one at a time because otherwise we'd have no idea what specifically was the trick. For those curious, the other new suggestions were psyllium powder (generic metamucil) 1/2 tsp once or twice daily calibrated to desired soft serve stool consistency (although other vets had suggested organic pumpkin and firm-up pumpkin/apple fiber supplements which we did try in various dosages without success and is probably the same concept), or to try lopermamide (generic immodium OTC) 1/4 of 2mg tablet once daily for diarrhea with a note to use w/ extreme caution only as temporary bandaid, a deep professional whole-house cleaning and fresh litter, and if all of those failed to do an abdominal ultrasound which would still be cheaper than biopsy. I do still plan on hiring a crew to come and super-clean along with removing carpets from bedroom and installing luxury vinyl tile (faux wood) but hadn't gotten around to that yet.

Wish we had tried it ages ago, would have saved a fortune!

 

[white shadow]

.
Hi Jessica !

Tylan (tylosin) has been around "since Adam was a little boy", and is well known for its absolutely horrid taste. If you need to use it ever again, it's much easier given if it's put into gel capsules ("gelcaps") and the smallest size works perfectly. I find it interesting that it was a newly-minted Vet who used it, as usually and more likely it would be a well-seasoned, experienced Vet prescribing it. Treasure her, she may be one of those consummate Vets some folks wish they had!

K kittenmittens84 nailed it with her post above! Here's an excerpt about Tylan from a reputable veterinary source:

"In small animals, tylosin is not used for its antibiotic properties nearly as much as it is for its an anti-inflammatory properties in the intestine. Its chief use in pets is to treat colitis. In this situation, it is not used as an antibiotic but instead as an anti-inflammatory to soothe the large intestine. While few formal studies have been performed to examine this non-antibacterial property of tylosin, it certainly seems to work in this regard and there are many patients whose diarrhea will not resolve unless tylosin is given continually. Tylosin is safe for long-term use and provides a good alternative to metronidazole, another bowel anti-inflammatory/antibiotic ...."​

Tylosin (Tylan) - Veterinary Partner.com​

So, any "miracle" is probably more likely.........that Vet you lucked into !
.

 

[jessica smith]

Definitely lucky, I didn't even ask for the new vet, but because of COVID she was the one available at the time.

If you need to use it ever again, it's much easier given if it's put into gel capsules ("gelcaps") and the smallest size works perfectly.

Thanks! I see size 5 is the smallest, the best reviewed ones say bovine, hopefully not an allergen.

Only concern is I'm seeing that with pilling instructions you still have to follow up with a syringe of water. I'm wondering if it might just be easier to dilute the medication a bit more, which would reduce its flavor. I was diluting it with only 1cc of water. I'm anxious with pilling since I'm solo if it'd be a challenge to hold him, position his head for pilling, and before he can get a chance to split it out to juggle grabbing the syringe, heh!

He's really clever in that he doesn't really squirm per say but he'll stay totally motionless but at the first opportunity he'll do full strength rapid jerks when least expected. They made it look so easy at the vet, but that's because he's too scared there so he just takes it with no fuss, whereas he has no fear of me so is happy to quickly move his head away at the last second or kick out and get free of the towel, hah!

 

[LTS3]

There are chicken flavored capsules you can use: Capsules for Pets & Animals

There are more pilling tips here:

Pilling Cats: Must-know Tips For Hiding Pills – Cat Articles
The Best Pill-taking Secret I Know...
Pilling Cats and Dogs Safely
How We Give Our Pill Hating Cat A Pill
Getting Cat To Take Pills... Post Tips Here.

 

[jessica smith]

There are chicken flavored capsules you can use: Capsules for Pets & Animals

There are more pilling tips here:

Pilling Cats: Must-know Tips For Hiding Pills – Cat Articles
The Best Pill-taking Secret I Know...
Pilling Cats and Dogs Safely
How We Give Our Pill Hating Cat A Pill
Getting Cat To Take Pills... Post Tips Here.

Thanks, so sorry for the long delay, but I didn't want to be one of those people that says "yay XYZ works" after only one attempt with subsequent failures down the road, hah!

Now that its been a week, I just wanted to update that we did try pilling and it is a success with no apparent complications so far, woot!

I got the bovine one linked before in size 5, the smallest, and only way I could figure out how to fill it was with powder spilling all over the outside of the pills. So I use compressed air and blew the pills off as best I could and then wiped then with a microfiber a little to ensure no gross flavor or smell remains, then as suggested wash and dry my hands really well, then used chicken flavored pill pockets formed around the pill, and I used that technique that was advised of having a second piece of that chicken pill pocket treat handy so the second the one with the pill goes in his mouth I'm enticing him with the second piece so he's quickly gobbling the first.

He does chew the pill pocket once or twice even with that trick, but so far he's never broken out the contents to leave a yucky taste (you'd know as his mouth would foam if it did and he's probably shun the treat in the future).

Then I give them their regular food, and they go drink water themselves on their own after.

No apparent allergic reaction to the treat or anything.

Weight is already at 9.1 ounces, a really obvious visual difference from the 7.5lbs he was at not that long ago! I think plumping him up to 10lbs is an attainable goal for sure now.

 

[jessica smith]

Just a 1 year later update on Wesley's birthday, he now tips the scales at 10lbs 6 ounces, he does not take B12 shots, tylan is only given as needed, and depo medrol injections are now once a month rather than going as long as possible (it was about 2-2.5 months) which seems to be the way to go even though we were warned about diabetes if going too often his bloodwork is always fine. Still on the same (expensive) food as always, which he greedily inhales. Still no fat on him yet, but you can easily see how much more muscular he is compared to when he was skin and bones at his lowest weight.

 

[fionasmom]

Thank you so much for posting this update about Wesley. It is wonderful to hear that he is doing so well with all of your love and care.

 

[crjones555]

Long story short, we have one cat with chronic diarrhea and vomiting, even though sharing same food, water, beds, etc with other cat that is perfectly healthy. We tried all kinds of special diets, but nothing truly did the trick although symptoms were least extreme with "Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hydrolyzed Protein HP Dry Cat Food".

As such, the cat was put on depo-medrol + B12 injections every 2 months, with limited effect.

Finally, they recommended 1/16th teaspoon twice daily of tylan powder. That was impossible as he wouldn't touch any food on it, even covered in his favorite fortiflora, if it had the yucky powder on it, so had to go with syringe which he resists passionately, so we just did 1/16th in warm water syringe provided once a day and ... VOILA!

After about a week appears perfectly cured, and we used up the couple weeks provided. Didn't know for sure that was it, but sure enough he gradually went downhill (but only after several weeks later), and we got more tylan powder and voila, fixed again!

tl;dr: If tackling IBD and nothing is working, ask for Tylan: Tylan® Powder

My girl started tylosin 6 days ago. Not really seeing improvement yet. How long did it take yours and do they have to take it forever now?

 

[fionasmom]

OP has not been back in almost a year. I saw that you posted the question in your own thread as well, so hopefully you will get a response there.