How to Manage a Cat's Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Excessive vomiting and diarrhea can mean that a cat has inflammatory bowel disease. Cells responsible for inflammation and immune reactions move into the lining of the stomach and intestines, which thickens them, hindering the bowel's ability to absorb and move food. Little is known about the causes, but once it is diagnosed, diet and medications can help manage a cat's inflammatory bowel disease.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Take your cat to the veterinarian. A physical exam and blood and urine tests are usually the first steps in diagnosis. Your veterinarian rules out other possible problems like food sensitivities, parasites or other more serious illnesses such as kidney disease, diabetes or cancer. If blood work and urinalysis do not provide a definitive diagnosis, a biopsy is usually needed.
2. Change your cat's diet. Because allergies may contribute to or aggravate inflammatory bowel disease, the veterinarian may prescribe a special diet for your cat. You may need to feed your cat special cat food with limited ingredients, reduced gluten content and reduced fat. A common trick is to give the cat foods that it has never eaten, such as green peas and rabbit. A new diet should be given several weeks to work. Some veterinarians also suggest giving your cat bran or other high fiber supplements.
3. Give your cat any medications prescribed by your veterinarian. One or more medications may be needed to make your cat more comfortable by controlling the symptoms. Drugs and dosages may change, depending on how well your cat responds. Medications can include steroids such as Prednisone, antibiotics like Amoxicillin or Flagyl, immunosuppression drugs and even small doses of over-the-counter antacids or antidiarrheal drugs. Expect to see changes in the frequency, amount and type of medications if a drug does not have the desired result or if there is a risk of side effects. Some cats require medication for the rest of their lives to manage chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
4. Monitor your cat's weight, food and water intake and cat box behavior. If the vomiting and diarrhea continue or resume, consult the veterinarian.

Tips & Warnings

• Inflammatory bowel disease is often confused with "irritable bowel syndrome." While many of the symptoms are similar, irritable bowel syndrome is caused by stress rather than by a physical cause like inflammatory bowel disease.
• Although there is no clear cause of inflammatory bowel disease in cats, theories include immunity issues, parasites and allergies. There may be different causes in different cats and there may be more than one issue causing the problem.
• If a biopsy is required, there are two main procedures used. Endoscopy and surgery each have their advantages and disadvantages. Your vet can also tell you about the advantages and disadvantages of each option, as well as the costs involved.
• Usually a cat with inflammatory bowel disease seems generally healthy and free of pain or discomfort. However you may notice some gradual weight loss or more frequent vomiting and diarrhea, which can become aggravated over time and make your cat vulnerable to other health problems. Any cat suffering from even mild inflammatory bowel disease experiences some degree of discomfort. It is important to get a diagnosis and manage your cat's condition to ensure her best quality of life.
• Be careful to medicate your cat as prescribed. Some medications can be highly toxic to cats if they are dosed incorrectly.