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My cat is an Exotic Shorthair and has irritable bowel syndrome and has periodic diarrhea. This time have spent almost $500 on tests and vet visits with all results negative! A friend suggested I give my cat cheese and would see positive results. Your thoughts?

Submitted: 20 days and 2 hours ago.

Category: Cat

Value: $15

Status: CLOSED

Pet's Sex: Female
Pet's Age: 10

Already Tried:
She is on Royal Canin HP23, 1/4 Metronidazole tab a day. no other treats, she has always taken lots of water. She is strictly an indoor cat.

Accepted Answer

Hi there XXXXXXXXX,

Thank you for your question and sorry to hear about your girl and her periodic diarrhea! It sounds you and your Vet have put a lot of work into this girl and your Vet bill is quite big at the end of it! It does sound as though you have come to a diagnosis though which is good. I wouldn't definitely NOT suggest cheese if this girl does indeed have IBS. Your girl really needs to stay on the new diet your vet has provided which is least likely to get a response from your girl's gut, whereas cheese will probably send it into overdrive! Not only that but cats are actually lactose intolerant (cheese is full of lactose - which is in all dairy products), meaning that this would probably further worsen her diarrhea.

So be sure to stay away from the cheese please. Please continue with the diet your Vet has prescribed and finish the metronidazole. This is definitely the best bet and hopefully this helps clear things up for good. If she does indeed have IBS, she will need to stay on the special diet for the rest of her life and have not other treats in order to keep this problem at bay.

I hope this help!! Thank you and please now click ACCEPT.

Kind Regards,

XX X X Edwards

Accepts:
Expert:	Dr M D Edwards
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	11/2/2009

Cat Veterinarian

Veterinarian - BVSc (DVM equivalent) - Webmaster & Head Veterinarian for www. onlinepetdr.com

20 days and 2 hours ago.

Reply

Thank you for your info. I guess I should expand on my info. My cat has been on her special diet food for over 2 yrs and has done well. This last bout is starting the third week today and she has been on rx for two weeks. I just checked her litter box and stool is soft and is not formed. She had a "new" test on stool sample that my vet said would help a lot. test is about 6 mos old and I got results on Friday and they were negative. Blood panel also negative.

This current go around is touching on $500 but in the past I have spent well over $1500.

My cat holds her weight (10 1/2 lbs) eats and drinks very well. All her other habits have not changed. Oh, also I put 1/2 capsule of Culturel on her food each day.

Thanks

Accepted Answer

It is good to hear she is holding her weight despite all of this loose stool! It also sounds like you have had a lot of tests run on here. To definitively rule IBS in or out, your Vet would need to get bowel biopsies - which is more work, another anesthetic for your cat and of course, more money. In stead, you could talk to your vet about a trial of steroids for possible IBS/IBD (inflammatory bowel disease). These in combination with a hydrolysed protein diet (such as Hill's Z/D ultra allergen free) would definitely help IF indeed your girl has IBS/IBD.

The other supplements shoudl be fine, but again, do not please give any cheese!!

Best of luck and keep in touch with her progress won't you.

Kind Regards

Dr Edwards

Accepts:
Expert:	Dr M D Edwards
Pos. Feedback:	100.0 %
Answered:	11/2/2009

Cat Veterinarian

Veterinarian - BVSc (DVM equivalent) - Webmaster & Head Veterinarian for www. onlinepetdr.com

20 days and 2 hours ago.

Reply

Thank you so much. I have to call my vet tomorrow with an update and I will ask her about the Hill's food and a possible trial on Steroids.

I will let you know.

Thank you

Posted by Dr M D Edwards 20 days and 1 hours ago.

Answer

Ok good luck!! If she has an other problems going simultaneously, steroids may not be a good idea, but if everything on her bloodwork is fine, there will be no problem with trying a low dose of steroids to see if this makes any difference at all (plus they are cheap - which is also a bonus!

Best of luck,

Dr Edwards

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Question

My cat is an Exotic Shorthair and has irritable bowel syndrome and has periodic diarrhea. This time have spent almost $500 on tests and vet visits with all results negative! A friend suggested I give my cat cheese and would see positive results. Your thoughts?

Optional Information

Pet's Sex: Female
Pet's Age: 10

Already Tried:
She is on Royal Canin HP23, 1/4 Metronidazole tab a day. no other treats, she has always taken lots of water. She is strictly an indoor cat.

Accepted Answer

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Accepted Answer

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Thank you so much. I have to call my vet tomorrow with an update and I will ask her about the Hill's food and a possible trial on Steroids.

I will let you know.

Thank you

Answer

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Question

My cat is an Exotic Shorthair and has irritable bowel syndrome and has periodic diarrhea. This time have spent almost $500 on tests and vet visits with all results negative! A friend suggested I give my cat cheese and would see positive results. Your thoughts?

Optional Information

Pet's Sex: FemalePet's Age: 10 Already Tried: She is on Royal Canin HP23, 1/4 Metronidazole tab a day. no other treats, she has always taken lots of water. She is strictly an indoor cat.

Accepted Answer

Reply

Accepted Answer

Reply

Thank you so much. I have to call my vet tomorrow with an update and I will ask her about the Hill's food and a possible trial on Steroids.I will let you know.Thank you

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Related Cat Questions

Pet's Sex: Female
Pet's Age: 10

Already Tried:
She is on Royal Canin HP23, 1/4 Metronidazole tab a day. no other treats, she has always taken lots of water. She is strictly an indoor cat.

Thank you so much. I have to call my vet tomorrow with an update and I will ask her about the Hill's food and a possible trial on Steroids.

I will let you know.

Thank you