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Possible IBS?

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Moocher - at the- Bridge 625854     Purred: Mon Jun 22, '09 2:31pm PST  Our 18 yo kitty has had diarrhea for probably a year now. We finally took him to a new vet for a second opinion and they were much more pro-active. The vet said it might be IBS (which I find is usually a blanket statement for tummy problems) and prescribed Science Diet z/d. If this helps Moocher we'll keep him on it, but I'd really prefer a better quality food, especially if we're dishing out the money anyway. Anyone have suggestions for a similar food to z/d, but a better one? Also, any ideas other than IBS for why he might have constant diarrhea? We've had every test in the book run, all levels are normal. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Shadow Education is the- Key     Purred: Mon Jun 22, '09 4:01pm PST  Yes you are right IBS is a blanket statement when they cant figure out what is wrong. IF you have all the tests done, then a diet change is in need. Your GI tract is inflammed, and a change in diet can help and even cure this. The prescription food may cause other problems in the long run. These foods they prescibe may say hypoallergenic, but they arent really, as there is so much cross contamination when these foods are made. The dry form is even worse. Plus there is no scientific proof that these diets work, when we compare them to foods that havent been so processed. Did you know that even cats that have had it for a long time can be cured? Ground raw rabbit is something cats will do well on for this issue, and then other raw meats can be fed after, and you probably wont have to deal with drugs. Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents. Let us know how it goes my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Bishop Mr. ``B``     Purred: Mon Jun 22, '09 5:14pm PST  My 12 year old male cat had diarrhea problems for I'd say 8-9 years of his life. The vet I would take him to just sluffed it off as a sensitive stomach. Treated him with medications and prescribed Medi-cal hypoallergenic cat food. The symptoms would clear up for a bit but always return. More medication was pumped into him. The vet switched him over to Royal Canin Sensitivity. The diarrhea would clear up again for a bit but always return. I wish I would have looked into feline health and nutrition many years ago But I was naive and listened to whatever my vet said and prescribed. I thought he knew what was best for my cat. BOY was I wrong.... The more I read about feline nutrition the more I felt I had to get all of the grains and crap out of my cats diet. So, I was going to feed them grainfree canned foods. Then I came across raw food diet for cats. I did alot of research on raw food diets and made the gradual transition from canned food to raw food. Within a month of being on raw food Bishop's diarrhea completely cleared up. It has now been 9 months and his diarrhea has not returned. If I feed him canned I now feed a grainfree canned food. My advice for you is try to get your kitty to eat a grainfree canned food or a balanced raw diet. Cats were not born to eat all of the grains, fillers, perservatives, etc. that are in most cat foods. And this is why we are hearing of cats having more and more problems from eating these foods. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Moocher - at the- Bridge 625854     Purred: Tue Jun 23, '09 7:48am PST  Raw is not an option. The older cats still live with my in-laws and I help take care of them too. My m.i.l. has always fed them grocery store crud and I'm just now convincing her that nutrition is important. Usually I buy the giant bag of our food and half it with her so the older kitties get good food too. However, they are picky, so it's hit or miss. I'm going to go raid our natural food store and get her samples and cans for Moocher to try. Otherwise he's perfectly healthy and might have many more years left, so I'd really like to fix this tummy problem. The poor guy had impacted anal glands too as a result of the diarrhea. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Moocher - at the- Bridge 625854     Purred: Tue Jun 23, '09 7:09pm PST  Update: I got Moochie lots of nummy Natural Balance and California Natural food to try today. Also some probiotic to mix in to help his poor tummy. *crosses paws that he'll like it* my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Bishop Mr. ``B``     Purred: Tue Jun 23, '09 7:27pm PST  These two brands are much better then grocery store brands and I do hope they work out for your kitty!! Unless you are feeding the Limited Ingredients (grainfree) line of Natural Balance then there still are grain and fillers in both of these brands. And if your kitties stomach still is upset then this may be the reason why. My fingers are crossed that it works out - good luck! my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Moocher - at the- Bridge 625854     Purred: Tue Jun 30, '09 5:11pm PST  Since switching to California Natural Moocher had his first good poo in a year!! So it seems it may not be grain related, I hope just a good quality limited ingredient diet will continue to be good for him. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Bishop Mr. ``B``     Purred: Tue Jun 30, '09 6:56pm PST  That is such positive news I am not really sure what you were feeding him for the last year??? Your previous posts never really said. You did mention that the vet wanted him to eat Science Diet.... California Natural is not full of grains and fillers - which is great!! I am curious to hear what flavor of this are you feeding? Are you including the probiotics in his food? Because if you are - this may be helping his tummy as well. I hope the good poops continue my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Hobert von- Kingston III Is it Caturday- yet?     Purred: Tue Jun 30, '09 7:14pm PST  He's my husband's childhood cat and had always been fed Fancy Feast, Friskies, etc. Bleh. We've actually been alternating the wet flavors of California Naturals, he seems to like them all. And yes I've been adding the pre/probiotics. I figured his tummy was probably shot at that point. my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

Bishop Mr. ``B``     Purred: Wed Jul 1, '09 5:23am PST  I am so happy he is feeling much better now that he is off of the grocery store brands filled with all the grains/fillers/meat by products crap. I bet you the probiotics is helping as well. Probiotics are really not to be used long term. Because then once the good bacteria is back then it can start messing with them. Have you thought of using a digestive enxzyme like "Prozyme". This is something you could also bring up with your vet in the future once you are taking him off of the probiotics. Who knows....it may have been something as easy as switching his food. Who would have thought!!!! Edited by author Wed Jul 1, '09 5:24am PST my posts | my page | msg me | my family's posts | gift me | become friends [notify]

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