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Hello!
I love this site and have received so much support for my IBD kitty in the past. I posted on here last year during my cat's chronic vomiting/diarrhea and subsequent IBD diagnosis, so I am here once again for some advice/thoughts while I await our next IM specialist visit in 3 weeks.
A little background:
My 7 y.o. male Devon Rex cat, Freddie had issues for a few years with intermittent vomiting and inappetence. He has also had fairly loose and foul smelling stools most of his life but otherwise acts healthy and happy. He went almost 2 years with no issues, but in October of 2023, he had a severe episode of vomiting that contained blood, and very bad diarrhea that was maroon in color. He went to the ER and then eventually an IM specialist where he was diagnosed with IBD through ultrasound and blood work. At the time, they could not rule out small cell lymphoma without a biopsy but I decided not to pursue that then because he has a grade II heart murmur which makes treatment and anesthesia riskier. They determined that his entire GI tract (both upper and lower) were moderately inflamed. He also had borderline enlarged jejunal and ileal lymph nodes and low B12 levels. I decided to go the route of a raw diet as I had heard amazing things with raw for IBD cats. He is now on a novel protein raw diet (freeze dried raw rabbit, rehydrated when served), as well as Adored Beast Apothecary healthy gut and gut soothe, and a liquid b12 supplement.
This worked SO well for him for the last year. His poops are now solid and odorless and remain that way to this day (the first time in his life!). His coat grew in thicker, he gained back almost 3lbs, and his appetite was better. He still threw up occasionally but it was much less.
Fast forward to now, he has started to have chronic vomiting again almost exactly a year later even though we haven't changed anything. He usually throws up at least once a day now, and almost always 10-15 minutes after a meal. The vet mentioned the possibility of small cell lymphoma, as stated above, at his first visit which is my biggest fear, but can we rule that out since he did improve for so long?
My understanding is that lymphoma, if left untreated for over a year, would have progressed very far at this point.
I was hoping this was a simple food allergy but now I'm at a loss for what to do. I really don't want to put him on steroids because he has a grade II heart murmur and the vet is apprehensive about this, as am I. He would need an echocardiogram if we go that route and I want to try everything I can before it gets to that.
One other small concerning thing is that he has a new (past two months or so) soft immovable lump on his back right near where his kidney should be that can be felt near the spine. It's about the size of a kidney bean, and I have no idea if it's related to this but will ask about that as well during his visit.
Have any of you experienced similar or have any thoughts on this? IBD sucks so bad, I just want him to be healthy...
I love this site and have received so much support for my IBD kitty in the past. I posted on here last year during my cat's chronic vomiting/diarrhea and subsequent IBD diagnosis, so I am here once again for some advice/thoughts while I await our next IM specialist visit in 3 weeks.
A little background:
My 7 y.o. male Devon Rex cat, Freddie had issues for a few years with intermittent vomiting and inappetence. He has also had fairly loose and foul smelling stools most of his life but otherwise acts healthy and happy. He went almost 2 years with no issues, but in October of 2023, he had a severe episode of vomiting that contained blood, and very bad diarrhea that was maroon in color. He went to the ER and then eventually an IM specialist where he was diagnosed with IBD through ultrasound and blood work. At the time, they could not rule out small cell lymphoma without a biopsy but I decided not to pursue that then because he has a grade II heart murmur which makes treatment and anesthesia riskier. They determined that his entire GI tract (both upper and lower) were moderately inflamed. He also had borderline enlarged jejunal and ileal lymph nodes and low B12 levels. I decided to go the route of a raw diet as I had heard amazing things with raw for IBD cats. He is now on a novel protein raw diet (freeze dried raw rabbit, rehydrated when served), as well as Adored Beast Apothecary healthy gut and gut soothe, and a liquid b12 supplement.
This worked SO well for him for the last year. His poops are now solid and odorless and remain that way to this day (the first time in his life!). His coat grew in thicker, he gained back almost 3lbs, and his appetite was better. He still threw up occasionally but it was much less.
Fast forward to now, he has started to have chronic vomiting again almost exactly a year later even though we haven't changed anything. He usually throws up at least once a day now, and almost always 10-15 minutes after a meal. The vet mentioned the possibility of small cell lymphoma, as stated above, at his first visit which is my biggest fear, but can we rule that out since he did improve for so long?
My understanding is that lymphoma, if left untreated for over a year, would have progressed very far at this point.
I was hoping this was a simple food allergy but now I'm at a loss for what to do. I really don't want to put him on steroids because he has a grade II heart murmur and the vet is apprehensive about this, as am I. He would need an echocardiogram if we go that route and I want to try everything I can before it gets to that.
One other small concerning thing is that he has a new (past two months or so) soft immovable lump on his back right near where his kidney should be that can be felt near the spine. It's about the size of a kidney bean, and I have no idea if it's related to this but will ask about that as well during his visit.
Have any of you experienced similar or have any thoughts on this? IBD sucks so bad, I just want him to be healthy...
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