How to Diagnose Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Cats

Vomiting and diarrhea are common symptoms in cats with IBD.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in cats is not exactly a disease, but the body's chronic "response" to various factors such as the cat's genetics, environmental surroundings, diet, or a suppressed immune system, according to veterinarian Dr. Holly Nash. While the cause of IBD is unknown, research suggests that the condition is related to the cat's immune system. Felines of all ages may suffer from IBD, which usually presents itself through frequent diarrhea and/or vomiting, but it generally afflicts middle-aged and elderly cats.

Things You'll Need

• Your cat's medical records

Instructions

Identifying IBD at Home

1. Observe your cat's defecation patterns. Is your cat vomiting or having diarrhea, or experiencing both conditions more frequently, but also more sporadically than usual? Cats with IBD tend to experience diarrhea and/or vomiting on an intermittent basis, as stated by Dr. Nash.

2. Examine your cat's stools. If her stools are loose, contain increased mucous, or if blood is present, these signs may point to IBD as well.

3. Watch for other changes such as weight loss, decrease in appetite, and even depression in your cat. These symptoms indicate a severe case of IBD that needs to be treated immediately.

Get an Official Diagnosis

1. Bring your cat to the veterinarian for an official diagnosis and treatment if you suspect she is suffering from IBD based on your observations of her physical and emotional changes.

2. Get a complete diagnostic work-up done. This may include all or some of the following: a complete blood count, urine tests, medical history review, physical exam, X-rays, and ultrasound.

3. Rule out other diseases. Since vomiting and diarrhea are very common symptoms for many different feline medical conditions, it is important to make sure your cat is indeed suffering from IBD. The vet may test your cat for parasites in the stomach and intestines, cancer, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, feline leukemia virus (FeLV), and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

4. Get a biopsy done, since this is the only definitive method of diagnosing IBD in cats, according to the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the Cornell Feline Health Center. The vet will remove samples from the lining of either the stomach or colon and the biopsy samples will be sent to a pathologist for analysis. Pawprints and Purrs, Inc., a nonprofit organization concerned about animal well-being and health, states that a cat with IBD will have biopsy results that show irregular levels of certain cells that are stimulated by the body during an episode.

5. Discuss a treatment plan with your vet if your cat is diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease. In most cases, your vet will prescribe a dietary therapy, but if this is not effective, corticosteroids drugs will be prescribed for your cat.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a log of your cat's behavior, defecation patterns, and stool appearance; this may be helpful to your vet in diagnosing your cat with IBD.

• The American Association of Feline Practitioners and the Cornell Feline Health Center warn that excessive vomiting and diarrhea can cause dehydration in your cat. Thus, if IBD is untreated, there may be serious complications that can lead to death.

References

• Pet Education: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in Cats
• Cornell University--College of Veterinary Medicine: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Pawprints and Purrs, Inc: Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Resources

• VetInfo: Inflammatory Bowl Disease in Cats