IBD Flare-Up?

[Terri Moore]

What is considered a flare-up? My cat is not eating at all so we're having to syringe feed her. She never seems to feel good, so what is a flare up? She takes prednisolone daily, but it hasn't increased her appetite!

 

[silent meowlook]

A flare up would be a cat that is doing well, suddenly not. So a cat that is eating and drinking having normal stool in the litter box suddenly isn't and is vomiting or having diarrhea. A flare would be like a set back. I is just a term people usually use when describing their cats that aren"t doing well. It isn't a technical vet term.

Your cat sounds like they truly need to see a vet asap A cat that isn't eating needs to be seen>

 

[lisahe]

Full agreement with S silent meowlook on needing to go back to the vet. Often some fluids with meds included can help a lot, particularly if the cat has nausea. Has your vet given you any sort of treatment plan -- changes in diet, medications, supplements -- beyond prenisolone?

 

[Terri Moore]

Full agreement with S silent meowlook on needing to go back to the vet. Often some fluids with meds included can help a lot, particularly if the cat has nausea. Has your vet given you any sort of treatment plan -- changes in diet, medications, supplements -- beyond prenisolone?

The only treatment is prednisolone and cerenia. She hasn't diagnosed IBD - it would take more testing I guess. From what I've read, it sure sounds like it though. My kitty rarely has good days - I watch her closely.

 

[silent meowlook]

Sometimes you need to get a second opinion or an opinion of a specialist. An abdominal ultrasound can show if the intestines are thickened like with IBD. Or if the lymph nodes are enlarged.

Sometimes a cat isn't physically capable of surviving anesthesia. Or sometimes anesthesia will be to much stress on a sick cat. Then a presumptive diagnosis can be made of IBD or even Lymphoma if an ultrasound is done with a qualified IM vet.

Chlorambucil is sometimes used in conjunction with the prednisolone. You would of course need to discuss this with your vet.

I do hope your cat feels better soon.

 

[lisahe]

Fully agreeing with S silent meowlook about ultrasound, too. The thickening question is usually enough for a vet to consider presumptive IBD. The fact that your vet prescribed prednisolone would seem to indicate that they're at least thinking it might be IBD. IBD's kind of a general category anyway: symptoms, severity, treatments, and just about everything else vary.

Our Edwina has slightly thickened intestines and has had food sensitivities as well as inflammation and vomiting issues for years. She's only had an ultrasound (plus stomach surgery to remove inflammation) but everybody figures she has IBD. She generally does pretty well with an herbal/probiotic supplement and Cerenia. We've also found that stress (particularly from the weather, when it's very hot or humid!) and noise often cause flare ups. There's a lot of trial and error involved in all this.

 

[jclark]

What is considered a flare-up? My cat is not eating at all so we're having to syringe feed her. She never seems to feel good, so what is a flare up? She takes prednisolone daily, but it hasn't increased her appetite!

Diarrhea is typically a flare up.

I've been in your situation. What are you syringe feeding?