What is IBD?
Feline Irritable Bowel Disease (disorder, or syndrome) are terms that describe a group of gastrointestinal disorders which display as inflammation of the lining (mucosa) of the digestive tract. Feline IBD can occur in the large intestine (colitis), the small intestine (enteritis), or the stomach (gastritis).The most common symptoms of Feline IBD are chronic vomiting and diarrhea, symptoms which can be present in a number of other conditions, such as hyperthyroidism, chronic renal failure, or pancreatitis. In some cases, inappetance, accompanied by weight loss, may occur. These symptoms are also common in other conditions.
Since older cats may be afflicted with one or more of these conditions, it is important for the cat's owner to investigate continuing symptoms, rather than to assume they are caused by the existing disease.
Mickey, pictured in the large photo, and her littermate, Snickel, both have been diagnosed with IBD. Diarrhea was their first symptom, and the condition was later diagnosed as IBD. Their cat caregiver has a wonderful partnership with her veterinarian, and the flareups of diarrhea have decreased to about once a month. Mickey is doing quite well now with a supplement of canned pumpkin. Snickel, is now alternating pumpkin, then Miralax when her stools become too dry. You can read more of their story on the Special Needs Cats Picture Gallery.
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