Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Diet
Far too many cat parents accept occasional, or even chronic, vomiting and diarrhea as a fact of life with cats. Cats just do that sometimes, don’t they? Well, no. Healthy cats don’t vomit on a regular basis, nor do they have diarrhea. Chronic vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration, and, if left untreated, can become life threatening.
The most common cause of gastrointestinal problems for cats is Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Although cats of all ages can be affected, it is typically seen in middle-aged or older cats. The term IBD is used for a number of chronic gastrointestinal disorders. Physiologically, it is characterized by an infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lining of the digestive tract. The location of the inflammation can help determine the specific type of IBD.
Symptoms of IBD
Symptoms most typically include chronic vomiting and diarrhea, but sometimes, constipation can also be a problem. Some cats present with weight loss as the only clinical sign.
Diagnosis of IBD
To rule out other causes of gastrointestinal problems, your veterinarian will perform diagnostic tests that may include complete blood cell counts, blood chemistry, thyroid function tests, urinalysis, fecal analysis, abdominal x-rays, and ultrasound. The most definitive way to diagnose IBD is through biopsies of small samples of the intestinal lining. These samples can be obtained through endoscopy or abdominal surgery. These procedures require general anesthesia.
Medical Treatment
IBD is usually treated with a combination of medical and dietary therapy. Corticosteroids are used for their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant properties, and they can also serve as an appetite stimulant. However, steroid therapy carries serious longterm side-effects.
The Diet Connection
There are commercially manufactured diets available for the treatment of IBD, most of them containing so-called “novel proteins,” ie., proteins that the cat may not have been exposed to before such as rabbit, venison, and duck. (We used to call them the “Disney diets” when I still worked at a veterinary clinic – Thumper, Bambi and Donald…).
However, increasingly, holistically oriented veterinarians are seeing a connection between diet and IBD. These vets believe that commercial pet foods, especially dry foods, are a contributing factor to the large numbers of cats with chronic IBD. They also discovered that many cats improve by simply changing their diets to a balanced grain-free raw meat diet. Similar results may be achieved with a grain-free canned diet, but a raw diet seems to lead to quicker and better results.
Vomiting and diarrhea are not something you, and your cat, should learn to live with. Take your cat to a veterinarian for a thorough physical exam. After ruling out other conditions or diseases as causes, the solution might just be something as simple as changing your cat’s diet.
Photo by Kim Newberg, Public Domain Pictures
Very helpful information. I just want to say thanks for all the great posts you do and the wonderful information you provide for cat lovers. Our cats are a part of the family and we have to pay attention to their health, as well as our own. Thanks again.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Hi everyone who has a cat with IBD. One of my cats has been on Prednisone for about 4 years and she gets it orally every 3 or 4 days. She had IBD so bad her stools were jellied and she vomited daily. I now have her on Weruva canned food and she is doing great. My other cat Tiger lost almost half his body weight, had chronic pudding like stools. We tried the oral prednisone for him and it was a nightmare. At the vet’s one day a woman brought a dog in that got a pred injection. I asked the vet about it and after an ultrasound on his little belly we decided to do the injection as well as pancreatic enzymes. Tiger now has normal stools and is slowly putting weight back on. He went once a week for a B12 shot and every 3-4 weeks for a pred shot. We only do the pred when he starts vomiting again. By the way at first he ate the enzymes in his food but now he won’t touch it. He is pretty smart as the enzymes are supposed to be odorless and tasteless but cats know what’s up. I highly recommend the ultrasound to rule out any other problems that may appear as IBD. My cats are 16 abd 17 and there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for them. IBD is a big problem and I highly recommend feeding a grain free product. Wishing everyone well… Love those kitties.
Diane
I’m glad Tiger’s protocol is working for her, Diane. With some IBD cats, you just can’t avoid steroids.
Diane,
I have two cats with IBD, one is severe. Where do you get the cat food you suggested in your above post? Also, do you think the enzymes really help? Thanks!
You can get good quality raw and grain-free canned foods at most specialty pet stores, or online from places like Petflow (see the link in my sidebar) or Petfooddirect.com. To see some of the brands I recommmend, read this post: http://consciouscat.net/2012/03/22/the-best-food-for-your-cat/
And yes, I do believe the enzymes/probiotics make a difference.
That was great information about this disease. I have had two cats with it and one poor thing had it while I was having chemo and didn’t know she was sick for 6 months. She also has thyroid problems. Anyway, she is takes the thyroid medicine and also some prednisolone and she is fine now. I know the steroids are not good for her, but it sure helps her quality of life and she has been on it for 3 years now and is still doing all right. Great post. Thanks
I wish this would work for my cats…about 4-5 months ago, I switched to EVO Grain-Free cat food but my two cats are still vomitting about twice a month or so; otherwise, they are healthy. I’m still feeding them this food. I’m feeding them the Dry Food because they don’t like the canned food.
Thanks.
You’re welcome, Mason – I’m glad you find my posts helpful.
Marg, sometimes, steroids are what it takes to control IBD, and it becomes a quality of life decision. They may cause probolems down the road, but if it can’t be controlled any other way, then they are a good option.
Gayle, it sounds like the EVO grain-free food is at least controlling the IBD in your cats. Have you tried raw food with them? It might be a bit of a stretch since they don’t like canned food, but it migth be worth a try.
Hi!! We came over from Sparkle’s blog to check your blog out & may we say AWESOME!! We were going to comment on your most recent post, but then we saw your post on IBD, (& encouraging a raw food diet! YAY!!) we HAD to comment on this one!!
We have been raw fed (mostly rabbit & lamb – don’t like chicken & beef makes us vomit!) for almost four months now – just before Simon was adopted (from a bad situation). When he came home, his fur was greasy & his ears were mottled – he also had loose stool. A few months on raw (& a small addition of a digestive enzyme) has done him a WORLD of good – we’re sure you know what we mean by that!!
So nice to find another raw food supporter – we’ll be back to read more of your blog!!
~Nico, Simon & JayJay
Welcome to The Conscious Cat, Nico, Simon and JayJay! It’s always nice to hear another raw food success story. Allegra loves rabbit, likes chicken, but is not too crazy about turkey. I haven’t tried lamb.
One veterinarian told me, “Why do cats vomit? Because they do. Don’t worry.” Needless to say, I didn’t go back. It’s important for people to know this is not normal, and a change in diet is the first and best way to deal with it. Kitties should be the best they can be!
I had a vet tell me the same thing and I was done with her. Took her to another vet and she was diagnosed with IBD. Muffin has a very severe case. She has been on Prednisone for the last 4-5 years, it’s been so long, hard to remember. She does great on 5mg every third day and she has resigned herself to getting the meds. I am still trying to figure this disease out. I think it’s all the junk in the cat food.
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[...] from the stomach to the intestines) is impaired, something that most commonly occurs secondary to inflammatory bowel disease, which in turn is caused in almost epidemic proportions by grain-based diets and their adverse [...]
My cat has IBD and I just switched from Fancy Feast (after 12 yrs) to Nature’s Variety Instinct Lamb (canned). Can I immediately give her the raw food lamb by Nature’s Variety, or must I introduce it slowly?
Usually, switching from a grain-free canned to a raw diet doesn’t cause any problems, but going slow is always a good idea, Sharon. If you’re not already doing so, I’d also add a good probiotic to your cat’s food.
I think it was just about the next day or two that her stool was “fabulous”! I was amazed and overjoyed. I give both my cats now only Natures’ Variety Instinct canned in Lamb, Rabbit and Duck (which the other one doesn’t like). Eventually, I plan to start the raw diet, but for now, this is working out just great! I recommend this food highly. I tried all the other top companies, and this was the only one they like. If you go on their webiste, there are 80 reviews, and I believe it’s 98% are extremely happy with their products.
Thanks for the update, Sharon. I’m so happy your kitty responded so well to the diet change!
[...] from the stomach to the intestines) is impaired, something that most commonly occurs secondary to inflammatory bowel disease, which in turn is caused in almost epidemic proportions by grain-based diets and their adverse [...]
Sometimes I would swear you are inside my head!!! It almost never fails that whenever I am having an issue with a cat, within a week you will come out with an article about the very subject I am dealing with. As always, very informative.
I’m sorry you’re dealing with IBD, Kathi, but glad that this post was helpful! All my best to your kitty.
Out of the 4 cats I own 3 of them have bowel issues. Muffin age 16 has had IBD for the last 4 years and was so bad her poop had jelly and blood. She was going all over the house. I also had a vet tell me cats throw up for a thousand reasons. Had bloodwork, abdominal xrays and she went on pred. She has been on pred every 3 days. If she goes to 5 days without it she has symptoms like blood and not using litter box. Tiger cat is about 17 and started throwing up every day and pudding poop. He is very difficult to medicate. Had bloodwork and xray. He has some thickening of the intestinal wall and had pancreatitis. I am now giving him pred everyday to get things under control. Vomiting has decreased, still pudding poop. Simon has only loose stools. He is about 9. Their main foods were Science Diet ID for GI problems, friskies turkey and fancy feast turkey. Today I am starting the switch to a grain free food, both wet and dry. Trying Holistic Select to see if it helps. I’ve read the posts and other choices for grain free and raw foods. This disease is truly a nightmare. Tiger cat lost 2lbs since June so that is my main concern. Muffin was at deaths door and is now doing great. If anyone can give me some advice on food and what has worked for them I would appreciate it.. Thank you
I’m sorry you’re dealing with tihs with all three of your cats, Diane. Let us know how they’re doing after you’ve had them on grain-free food for a little while. I’m not familiar with the Holistic Select brand. Two grain-free brands I recommend are Weruva and Nature’s Variety Instinct (they have a new Limited Ingredient line that is grain-free that may be worth a try).
My cat was just diagnosed with IBD a week ago and the vet put him on steriods and changed his diet to hypoallergenic cat food from royal crown which he absolutely hates. For the past few days it was hard to get him to eat the food but we tricked him with treats and baby food but now he refuses to eat it and with the steriods he needs to eat. My vet is on vacation and im out of tricks so does anyone have a good idea of what I can do to try to get him to eat?
I also put a very very small amount of his normal food in a few times but when I do that he will only take a few licks and I cant put that much in because then he will get too sick
If the diet your vet put your cat on is based on the “novel protein” concept, you may be able to find a comparable, more palatable diet with the same type of protein.
ZTo entice a finicky cat to eat, try sprinkling freeze dried chicken or salmon on top of the food. A little bit of tuna or clam juice drizzled over the canned food can also help. You can also try parmesan cheese (yes, the stuff in the green can). Try warming the food slightly before serving.