Conference misery::feline_v1

I'm sure the vet will check - when a stubborn case of the runs appears, it is
important to culture a stool sample and see if any stubborn bacteria or even
rare parasite is involved.  If the cat goes outside, the parasite is a
possibility.

    
    Bailey has been diagnosed with colitis and it is basically controlled
    with his diet.  As with humans emotions can also be a major factor in 
    triggering it.  His diet consists only of Hill's W/D and egg yolk
    for his coat. I  had quite a few visits to the vets to diagnose
    this as it was not so obvious in the beginning. He would swing from 
    having diarrhea to being extremely constipated.  In both cases there
    was usually a small amount of blood and mucous in the stool. Tests were
    negative for problems such as coccidia, internal parasites, etc.  Basically
    what would happen is that the colon would become inflamed, he would not 
    have a bowel movement because it hurt for him to go and then he would 
    become so blocked that he would strain in the litter box. The Hill's W/D 
    keeps him regular and I keep a prescription of Azulfidine on hand that is 
    used in treating colitis. FYI, just before he was diagnosed one of the vets
    in the practice had read an extensive report on colitis in Exotics and the 
    long term use of Azulfidine in treatment.  
    
    
    

    Colitis in cats is not that uncommon.  In a lot of cases, it is
    triggered by stress.  I once had a female come to my cattery for
    breeding and she was so stressed from leaving her home that she became
    sick with colitis.  And she had not had to travel very far, just a few
    miles from home.  
    
    My sister has a cat that she adopted as a stray that had trouble with
    colitis too.  I think that she controls Carrie's colitis with diet just
    as Marlene does with Bailey.
    
    The owner of the cat might try to consider if there have been any
    changes in routine, environment, diet, etc that may have brought on the
    colitis.  Usually it is one or a combination of these things that
    brings it on.
    
    Jo

    Carrie does have chronic cholitis.  Her diet consists mainly of
    Science Diet Lite Maintenance.  The vet recommended it for her because
    it is higher in fiber which is what he felt she needed to control
    the problem.  It works fine.  The other cats are on it for weight
    control so I only have to buy one type of food.  She does get Bonkers
    liver treats too and they don't seem to cause any problems.  
    
    Jan
    

    thanks for the info...well Mitsy doesn't go outside so I don't
    believe it could be parasites.  (but you never know...she does
    come downstairs to visit me...and we HAD roundworm problems)  
    
    the only change in the diet in the last four months was my
    sister also gives her Hill Science Diet Dry...along with
    the same wet cat food she had been eating for 13 years.
    The Hills is not the Lite...I wonder if it could be to
    strong for her little body.
    
    as far as changes in the environment...well no new cats
    have been added (imagine that!!!) and Mitsy is at the
    age where she lives a very simple life.  she eats, sleeps,
    and comes downstairs to visit for exercise.  she still
    plays....but not too much!! 
    
     Oh well I guess further test are in order....but thanks for
    the info it atleast eased my mind knowing some cats have lived
    with colitis for awhile and it is treatable.
    
    
    Sandy

    Sandy,
    
    When I first noticed the symptoms (after I'd had her a couple
    of weeks) in Carrie I took a stool sample to the vet.  Had 
    them test it for any kind of parasites.  The tests came back 
    negative for parasites.  That is how we finally determined it 
    was colitis.  She was eating Science Diet Growth formula then 
    because we believed her age to be under 1 year.  After we 
    decided she had a colitis problem, then I changed her to the 
    SD Lite Maint. formula and haven't had a problem since.  It's 
    got just enough extra fiber to help her problem.  Work with 
    your vet.  I'm sure he/she will come up with a workable solution.
                                   
    Jan

    Something else I just thought of.  With Carrie if I give her any
    other canned food but SD Lite Maintenance we run into problems.
    Thank goodness SD Lite comes in both canned and dry.
    
    Jan

    My parents are going through something similar with their 12 yr old
    shepherd/husky mix, Mindy.  As long as she's fed boiled chicken and
    rice she's fine.  As soon as they switch her to regular dog food
    she gets the runs.  I think I'll suggest they try Hills Science Diet
    and/or W/D and see if that helps.
      Nancy
    

    Nancy,
    
    I believe "Lick Your Chops" puts out canned dog food with rice/chicken
    and rice/lamb.  I know they do for cats too.  There may even be other
    brands of dog food with the rice mix usually sold at pet supply stores.
    
    Pat
    

    NutriMax makes a lamb/rice dry dog food too.  Most dog foods use
    chicken "products" but many use wheat products rather than rice.  I
    have heard that lots of animals are allergic to wheat.  I once fed a
    weaning mixture that had wheat in it to a litter of young kittens and
    they all came down with diarrhea and an allergic rash.
    
    Jo

I had really good results with the Whiska's Expert canned food...they make
one that's called a "conditioning diet" that is made of chicken and rice.
Beth's tummy problems cleared up within a day.  I kept her on it for a
week and now she's back to her kitten food without any problems.  It's
available in supermarkets and is alot easier than the Gerber's method!!

Mary

    
    Unfortunately I found there was alot of trial and error as to what
    Bailey's system could tolerate.  Besides the frustration of not
    being able to get him on the right track, it was expensive! Thinking
    that "natural" foods such as Lick your Chops and Nature's Receipe
    might work, he got worse.  I ran the gammit of Alpo dry to Max Cat to
    Science Diet including Maint., Lite and ending up with C/D. Guidi's 
    cats in the garden certainly had variety while we were experimenting! 
    As with humans, what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.
    
    

    =.12
    
    and they do thank you aunti Marlene - now they get the same old boring
    things - but those babies have cast iron stomachs and seem to tollerate
    just about anything!
    
    G

    One of my cats seemed to of had this colitis problem over the last few
    weeks.  Took the cat to the vets and he prescibed some type of medicine
    as well as SD Lite.
    
    Well, I have almost a whole case of SD Maint. left so I tried mixing a
    teaspoon of unprocessed bran in with each feeding.  Within 2 feedings
    all is returning to normal for the cat.  I am going to see how things
    workout without the medicine.  Maybe all the little guy needed was a
    little fiber in the diet.  (Humm, maybe he'd like some prune juice to?)