Ibs Advice Please

verna davies

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My 2 year old male cat has just been diagnosed with IBS. Has anyone had any experience with this or any advice please
 

denice

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If it hasn't moved into IBD you may be able to manage it with diet. The usual approach is to try a novel protein, a protein that your cat hasn't eaten before. A simple food is best, one that has as few extras beyond meat, liver and supplements as possible. Wet food is usually your best bet as far as not having extras in it. If your cat is a dry food addict then look at the ones that are labeled limited ingredients.
 

artiemom

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denice denice has it correct. IBS is kind of a pre-cursor to IBD, which my guy has.

Try a novel protein diet, first. Stay on that one protein for a while.. at least 6 weeks, if not more. You could also try some probiotics.. If it is IBS, then things should not be bad enough to start with medications..

Unfortunately, IBD or even IBS kitties, seem to be very fussy with food.

Symptoms could be from an allergy to a protein or an additive in the food. That is why a single, novel protein diet is a good start, if not treatment.

Keep asking questions.. we are here to help!!
Good Luck..
 

LTS3

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Two web sites with great information:

IBDKitties – Helping Save Lives…One Paw at a Time
Raw Feeding for IBD Cats

A novel protein diet is helpful. I'm not sure what you can get in the UK but look for rabbit, venison, pork, etc. A raw or home cooked diet isn't necessary but something to consider if your cat doesn't do well on commercial novel protein foods. Hydrolyzed protein prescription food isn't necessary either.

Probiotics and digestive enzymes can be helpful. I suggest starting slowly with one for a week or so before adding the other. Too many new things in the diet can cause a flare up.

What does your vet recommend for treatment?
 
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verna davies

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Long post coming up.
Buzz is a really fussy eater, tried grain free, expensive wet and dry, all sorts and he wont eat it. He likes purina one dry so he has been on that for about a year. I want him to have wet food too but have failed to find one he will eat well. I wondered if I had created this diarrhea monster ny constantly swopping the food so for the past 6 weeks he has been on gourmet perle, mostly licks the gravy and only use 1 sachet a day.
Beginning of january was the first bout. Had it for 3 days. Took him to vet and was given canacur and kaogel. One dose of each and it cleared up. 5 weeks later diarrhea again. Gave him canacur and kaogel but didnt work. Back to vet who gave him Metronidazole. 4 hours after first tablet and diarrhea stopped ( vet said too quick for it to have been tablets). 5 weeks of good solid poops and the diarrhea is back. Took him to vet yesterday. He doesnt think it is anything really nasty as the diarrhea is not constant, says he thinks its ibs. I have given him kaogel so I will be lurking by the litter box for the next 24/36 hours.
I has been researching sensitivity food and so far royal canin comes out best but cant really find the difference between sensible 33 and sensitivity. If anyone can recommend a good wet and dry food I would be grateful. Do I have to use same brand of both. Vet has said once on gi food he cant have anything else. As he is a grazer, picks at the dry food maybe 10/12 times a day and as I have two other cats, I cant see adding a probiatic to his food working. He gained weight between first and second vet visit. 4.16 to 4.34
artiemom artiemom , I know your story and I take my hat off to you for the things you do for Artie.@LTS3 I didnt realise you were going through the same thing. Our vets, at least in my area are not specialists/ knowledgeable in specific areas, they are mostly all rounders. If diarrhea comtinues, vet said its faecal test, blood tests then colonoscopy and intestinal biopsy.
As he is only 21 months old it kills me to think he will be unwell for the rest of his life. Any help and advice I can get will be greatly appreciated as I am completely lost and overwhelmed at the moment. Dont know if this makes a difference but he only poops once a day, he still goes only once but it is diarrhea
 
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artiemom

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Oh, I feel so bad for both you and your kitty..

I really do think, you need to try a novel protein diet. If that means you have to buy the prescription food, because then do it. I am not familiar with the drugs you have mentioned.

Purina is not really a good food for IBD/IBS. You need a better food. While the prescription food is not great, it is much better than Purina.

And his tummy needs to be calmed down.

As far as probiotics, Have you tried S. Boulardi? The forums which LTS3 LTS3 quoted are really helpful.

The IBDkitties.com is the best one.

We are here for you...
((hugs))

Going out on a limb, here
@Columbine Sorry, can you add anything? Are you familiar with these drugs? and can you help with food? thanks
 
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verna davies

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Thank you artiemom. I have just come home to more diarrhea and he has never gone twice in a 24 hour period. Today is day 5 of diarrhea so I am waiting for vet to phone me back to see what he suggests. Do you think Hills prescription ( presuming you can get it) is a good food. I cant find much of a variety here. Columbine knows so much about cat food, thank you for adding her.
 

artiemom

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No problem.. I hope she can help.

I think any prescription, novel protein will be better suited.. just to calm the colon.

Have you tried anything like rabbit? Or even Natures Variety Rabbit? that is a regular pet store food. It comes in dry.

The IBDkitties.com site has a protocol for emergency use of S. Boulardi for diarrhea.
They are really great for help and guidance. Unfortunately, their active forums on Facebook; however, they are so helpful. It is a closed group ~~ you have to ask to join.

Is your baby nauseous?

I really am not familiar with the diarrhea aspect, as Artie has constipation, vomiting, and looser stools, with his IBD.

Or can you try some plain baby food, mixed with pumpkin? It is worth a try.. Plain meat baby food without any additives.. no onions, garlic or veggies.
It may be a 'treat' for your kitty, so he may eat it.

If Buzz is a grazer, as is Artie; You can add a probiotic to the wet food. Just mix it in.

This is really the best site to read for help.. I copied it from LTS3 LTS3 post..

IBDKitties – Helping Save Lives…One Paw at a Time

((hugs))
 
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verna davies

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I dont think adding probiotic would be any good as I have 2 other cats so Buzz wont get the amount he requires. There is no vomiting. I am unfamilier with novel protein but will google and will search to see if I can get natures variety. Everything seems to contain chicken as you have found out.
 

Timmer

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My Timmer had IBD. One thing I want to mention is loose stools are not technically diarrhea. Diarrhea is loose, but also something that goes on throughout the day or night, several times. That's the way my vet and specialist explained it and it makes sense to me. I think going once every 24 hours, even though it is loose, is not that bad, really. It's better than being constipated. I mean ideally we want the nice formed stools but ...
 
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verna davies

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Timmer Timmer . Thank you for responding. His stools are liquid and he has gone twice in the last 24 hours, something that hasnt happened before. The vet has recommended a fecal test and to put him on Hills I/D prescription diet.
 

artiemom

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I think liquid stools are considered diarrhea.

There is a difference between very soft stools, as in cow patties or soft serve ice cream and just soft logs... those are soft stools..

Liquid is diarrhea..
no matter who you talk to.. even if it is only once a day, it is diarrhea.. think of yourself.. and how you would classify this, if it happened to you...
 

LTS3

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I dont think adding probiotic would be any good as I have 2 other cats so Buzz wont get the amount he requires.
Just mix the probiotic right into canned food and feed that bowl to the one cat separately from the other cats. Probiotics are good for all cats anyways so you can give it to all the cats. A suggested starting dose is 1/4 capsule twice a day.

I am unfamilier with novel protein but will google and will search to see if I can get natures variety. Everything seems to contain chicken as you have found out.
I just looked at Zooplus. Bozita has novel proteins in lamb, elk, reindeer, and rabbit. There's also turkey, beef, and various seafoods. But most of the foods also include chicken. If your cat doesn't also have an allergy to chicken, you could try this brand. Here's the English language web site: Feline Taste | Bozita

Purina Gourmet, basically equivalent to Fancy Feast, has a rabbit: https://www.purina.co.uk/cat/gourmet/product-range/solitaire/premium-fillets-rabbit

This UK brand has rabbit: Grain Free Wet Cat Food - Pure Nature Wild Rabbit - 6x200g

Nature's Menu has a few novel protein options: Grain Free Cat Food Pouches - Buy Today at Natures Menu

There's a brand in the UK called Trovet that you might want to talk to the vet about. TROVET | Dog & Cat Food | Vetsend.co.uk There are some specifically for cats with sensitive tummies and include really novel proteins like horse:eek2:
 
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verna davies

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This infor is great, thank you LTS3 LTS3 . I will speak to my vet. Any suggestions on this?. I would love to give Buzz probiotic but as far as wet food is concerned he hardly eats any, just licks at some gravy, if he eats half a sachet a day thats about it, so it would have to be in the dry food. As he picks at that about 10/12 a day, for him to get sufficient food I have to leave it accessible to him, them the other two eat it also and he then wont get a sufficient amount.
I wanted all my cats to eat grain free but non of them liked it. I tried bozita and several others with no luck.
I discussed novel protein with my vet and he wants to try Buzz on Hills I/D first. If that doesn't work then Hills Z/D which apparently is a novel protein. I'm not entirely happy with Hills I/D because the latest reviews state that Hills have added psyllium which is causing diarrhea in some pets. I googled psyllium and it is a plant base product that is used for treatment of constipation but also diarrhea. Cant quite work that one out!!!. The vet I am with is new to me as my usual one retired so I havent built up any confidence in him yet and that makes me nervous for example, he didnt mention transitioning the new food. As he is not in today, I will have to ask another vet. This does not sit comfortable with me.
How do you test for allergies with a cat?
Thank you for spending your time finding out all this infor for me, right now I feel lost so it's helping so much.
 
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verna davies

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Another thing I am not sure of. If I get say rabbit in dry but cant get wet in same brand, is it ok to feed two different brands?
 

LTS3

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This infor is great, thank you LTS3 LTS3 . I will speak to my vet. Any suggestions on this?
Read what you can online about IBS / IBD treatment online and make notes. Share those notes with the vet and discuss what you feel might be the best way to treat your cat's issues.

I would love to give Buzz probiotic but as far as wet food is concerned he hardly eats any, just licks at some gravy, if he eats half a sachet a day thats about it, so it would have to be in the dry food. As he picks at that about 10/12 a day, for him to get sufficient food I have to leave it accessible to him, them the other two eat it also and he then wont get a sufficient amount.
Does your cat like canned / tinned tuna or other fish for people? You can mix the probiotic into that and give it as a treat. Or try meat only baby food that doesn't contain garlic or onion. I'm not sure what brands are available in the UK.

Another thing to try is Pill Pockets or other pill dough. Amazon UK has these. I use this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Earths-Balance-Pill-Paste-Bacon/dp/B00EP70X4C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1522277571&sr=8-1&keywords=earth%27s+balance+pill+paste The dog one is the exact same one as the cat one. Flatten a piece of dough, carefully pour the probiotic on top, then carefully roll the dough up to cover the probiotic. If using Pill Pockets, use a mini funnel with narrow neck to get the powder into the pocket and then pinch the opening closed. Give as a treat.

It's ok to disagree with the vet about food. My vet was insistent on Hills Z/D but I said no. I do have a case on hand just in case but it's never going to be fed:headshake:

How do you test for allergies with a cat?[/qoute]


Food allergies / sensitivities? A vet can test for them. If you suspect a food sensitivity, you can also just eliminate possible culprits from the diet one by one. Common proteins like chicken can cause a sensitivity which is why a novel protein like rabbit is often recommend for IBD.

Another thing I am not sure of. If I get say rabbit in dry but cant get wet in same brand, is it ok to feed two different brands?
Sure:)
 
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