My cat - inflammatory bowel disease

I'll try to keep it somewhat short...my cat started to throw up shortly after my DD's arrival...it's been over a year now...after multiple xrays ruling out foreign objects and physical exams and blood work, which all came back fine, they did a sonogram and they concluded his liver was damaged from the vomiting, however that is repairable. All of his other organs were in tact and he has an appetite, etc...so they concluded he has inflammatory bowel disease...upper because he has no issues with his bowel movements. We put him on medications, special foods and started giving him pepcid twice a day.

It seemed to work...for about a month. Then we had DD's first bday party at our house and I swear that upset him and he started to vomit again. So we tried the meds again, but this time he decided to puke them up immediately because he hated the taste of them, so we never gave them to him consistently. So I found the ONLY way he doesn't throw up - is if we grind up the special food and mix it with baby food - just the meat baby food. He eats it.

The vet wants to do more testing - but I feel like we always get the same answer. She is a good vet and I trust her, but I think she is somewhat stumped as well. He is running around and playing, hungry, wet nose...purrs...you would never know other than all the weight he lost and him vomiting. I ran out of baby food today and tried giving him the ground up food with water...and he threw it up.

I just don't get it. Does anyone have any experience with this? Can you offer any alternatives of food? He can't keep down any wet food either...I just want him to be better.

Message edited 3/1/2008 8:46:05 AM.

Re: My cat - inflammatory bowel disease

I would get a second opinion. It sounds like something else is going on in his belly.

I'm so sorry your kitty is not feeling well.

Take him to another vet.

Re: My cat - inflammatory bowel disease

I had a cat with the same thing. How old is your cat? It started getting worse for the cat when he got older or got stressed.

Anyway, I had the same situation at my animal hospital and the new vet there tried telling me I needed $400 worth of tests. I didn't do it b/c it happened in spells and that was just a bad spell. It had happened quite a bit before this and we always got the same answers.

When he was really sick which happened once, the vet gave him a shot and that made it all better.

If I were you I would get it checked out depending on how often it happens. Also it would be a good idea to get some fluids (the vet will give him fluids thru the skin) in him. Try that first before they suggest more tests. He is probably dehydrated.

Message edited 3/1/2008 8:21:20 AM.

Re: My cat - inflammatory bowel disease

Thanks for the advice. See...he isn't dehydrated. He has all the signs of a healthy cat - he just can't seem to keep anything but baby food down with ground up special diet cat food. This is the 2nd vet we went to - the first one wanted to admit him that same day and do exploratory surgery and biopsies of all his insides. I said no way and left.

It's not about the costs - I already spent about $1,500 in testing...but they just found the lining of his stomach thickened from the inflammatory bowel disease she thinks it is. I just don't know what further testing would tell us...if a detailed sonogram of all his organs only showed that, along with a little damage to his liver from vomiting, blood work fine, it just makes no sense to me.

The vet said he's a sensitive cat - and this is true. He is obsessed with me and I know he got depressed after DD arrived but we give him a LOT of attention...he has a brother...they play, etc. Her thoughts on after DD's party is that the kids there upset him and kicked up the acid in his belly causing it to act up again, but it hasn't really stopped since then, unless we add baby food with is food. And he's young - he's only 5 years old.

Re: My cat - inflammatory bowel disease

Are you sure he isn't dehydrated? When they throw up they can become dehydrated?

I understand how you feel.

Re: My cat - inflammatory bowel disease

Posted by klingklang77

Are you sure he isn't dehydrated? When they throw up they can become dehydrated?

I understand how you feel.

Re: My cat - inflammatory bowel disease

No particular food, just science diet. If he threw up a bit we gave him fancy feast. I know it isn't the best food, but they always eat it.

He lived until he was 14 years old.

Re: My cat - inflammatory bowel disease

no advice, just &

Re: My cat - inflammatory bowel disease

nothing wrong with the baby food. As long as he eats enough to sustain his weight.

Re: My cat - inflammatory bowel disease

Thanks. Is the baby food along with some ground up cat food enough nutrients for him?

Re: My cat - inflammatory bowel disease

My cat was recently diagnosed with IBD. She was throwing up and was back and forth to the vet for a few weeks without a real diagnosis. We finally ran some tests, and found that her small intestines were thickend, her white count was slightly elevated, and she had lost weight. She's been on steroids and they seem to be working. I do need to watch her and make sure that she doesn't get stressed out, which can cause a flair-up. Its very hard to see her sick and gets me very upset. The only advice I can give you is to try and limit stressful situations, make sure he's eating and drinking water and follow up with your vet.

Re: My cat - inflammatory bowel disease

Re: My cat - inflammatory bowel disease

Posted by Kitkat

Thank you so much. Is hers upper - as in just vomiting? Mine is upper only. I definitely try to limit his stressful situations. Although we have another baby on the way - I wonder if he can sense that. What food are you on? And how are the steroids administered? That option was never given to us.

Re: My cat - inflammatory bowel disease

Thanks! I'm on a mission to find something that works!

Re: My cat - inflammatory bowel disease

Bumping for more advice or experienced cat owners...he missed one dose of pepcid today and threw up his food about 4 hours later.