Hypoallergenic diet, cat?

[Middydd]

Anybody have any experience trying to get a cat on a hypoallergenic diet?

My cat with cholangiohepatitis is still on prednisone 5mg. once a day (since last spring). Every attempt to back him off to every second day has failed and he has a flareup.

The vet thought a hypoallergenic diet might help. He's a super picky eater.

Any suggestions for the content of a hypoallergenic diet? How long do you withhold his regular food if he just won't go for the new stuff?

Anybody have success with hypoallergenic diet for cat IBD or other disease? It's suspected he *might* have IBD, but not diagnosed.

[mcgeiger]

1)Anytime you switch food, you should do it slowly--over a week, with a little more of the new each day--unless told otherwise. Very few cats (especially those on pred!) will starve to death out of stubbornness. The diets are usually a novel protein source (kangaroo, duck, etc) and a novel protein (green peas, rice, etc). Usually which one doesn't matter much, so see what your vet has available. We used to give little sample packets of the 3 we carried to see if a cat had a particular preference. Also, most of these food companies have good policies on returned/uneaten food (but double check!)

2)Has recheck bloodwork been done? Has your vet spoken with you about the risks of long term steroids? Have any other diagnostics been done, or rechecked (radiographs, ultrasounds, endoscope???)? As for IBD the only way to get a definitive diagnosis (and possible cause of the IBD) is by biopsy. If your vet doesn't want to do more work-up, or doesn't know where to go from here, and you're interested in getting a diagnosis...I'd probably consult an internal medicine specialist.

Hope that helps, let me know if there are other questions!

[ErinM]

Very few cats (especially those on pred!) will starve to death out of stubbornness.


Really? I haven't had a cat in so long! I truly believed my vet when he said that "Dogs will eat when they're hungry. Cats will starve themselves to prove a point."


Good luck on the food switch, Middydd!

[mcgeiger]

Some cats are that stubborn (I have one of them ;) ), and there is a risk in "starving" an obese cat, BUT prednisone generally makes you hungry all of the time!!

[Middydd]

1)Anytime you switch food, you should do it slowly--over a week, with a little more of the new each day--unless told otherwise. Very few cats (especially those on pred!) will starve to death out of stubbornness. The diets are usually a novel protein source (kangaroo, duck, etc) and a novel protein (green peas, rice, etc). Usually which one doesn't matter much, so see what your vet has available. We used to give little sample packets of the 3 we carried to see if a cat had a particular preference. Also, most of these food companies have good policies on returned/uneaten food (but double check!)

2)Has recheck bloodwork been done? Has your vet spoken with you about the risks of long term steroids? Have any other diagnostics been done, or rechecked (radiographs, ultrasounds, endoscope???)? As for IBD the only way to get a definitive diagnosis (and possible cause of the IBD) is by biopsy. If your vet doesn't want to do more work-up, or doesn't know where to go from here, and you're interested in getting a diagnosis...I'd probably consult an internal medicine specialist.

Hope that helps, let me know if there are other questions!

Well thanks, McGeiger!! That makes it much easier to know that I can gradually switch him over. We've got a duck/rice blend of food to try him on. I thought I had to cut him off his favourite chicken immediately and only offer the duck. A mixture of the two will be much easier.

Our vet has told us of the longterm risks of steroids, diabetes in particular. But each time we've tried to cut his dose back he's started vomiting by the second day and he's shaking in pain by the third.

They also said that an endoscope may not show much at this point because he's already been on steroids.

He's always been a thin cat, only 7 pounds. He may have gained 6 ounces since being on the prednisone. He is very, very active. He eats in small but frequent bursts, two bites of food, then runs off to investigate a funny noise or play a bit or some other "cat business". Then two more bites. Repeat.

His bloodwork has been repeated bimonthly, the only oddity originally was a very high ALT. It's been normal since, except when we brought him in when he was ill from reducing the steroid dose. Then it was elevated again. But all other blood and urine values tested normal.

He's a puzzle but every day that he's well on his medication is a blessing.

Your input has been much appreciated and the idea of easing him into the food change makes it much less of a challenge.

Thanks!!

[Middydd]

Really? I haven't had a cat in so long! I truly believed my vet when he said that "Dogs will eat when they're hungry. Cats will starve themselves to prove a point."


Good luck on the food switch, Middydd!

We had a cat once who refused to eat because he had an Upper Respiratory problem and couldn't smell the food. We had to force feed him with watered down food squirted into his mouth in a syringe. He definitely would have starved himself "to prove a point". Thankfully, after three days he started eating again, spontaneously, back to normal. We can only assume his sense of smell came back.

Thanks for the good luck wishes!!

[mcgeiger]

The eating of little meals is normal for a cat (I think the average for free-fed cats is like 16x/day :p )

The reason you had to force feed the cat in that particular instance probably wasn't food preference, but cats NEED to smell what they are eating. That's why sometimes in a clinic with stuffy cats we'll even microwave wet food for a few seconds (always make sure it's not too hot!!) to help make it smell more.

If he's still this sick without meds, and the only abnormality on bloodwork is ALT, I (personally) may try for other diagnostics. While the meds are helping, you haven't really got a diagnosis. I think what the vet is doing is good (keeping your pet happy) and keeping you informed of progress with rechecks and risks (yea for him!), but other diagnostics may help more too. If your content with the situation (or want to try the food and see how that helps), then go for it :) !. Good luck and let me know if there is anything else I can do :)

[tmsl]

Our cat may have IBD as well and she gets a shot about every 4 weeks as she could not tolerate the pills. She has had a rough summer and at the last visit we asked the vet about changing the diet. We now have her on Prescription Diet Low Allergen Duck and Pea formula. It is expensive but we felt that if she would not need the shot as often it would help her in the long run.

She has gained weight and her fur looks much better but she still pulls it out. She vomitted once a week ago, but has not since then so we are trying to hold out a couple more weeks before taking her back for the shot. We also acquired a stray cat that had 5 kittens so I think her issue a week ago may have been more stress than IBD. Everyone is getting along better and we only let them interact when they are supervised.

I would definitely try the food and if they have samples, great, we were not given that option. I understand totally about each day being a blessing that the furbaby is still around.

Laura

[beejayw1]

if he just won't go for the new stuff?

Anybody have success with hypoallergenic diet for cat IBD or other disease? It's suspected he *might* have IBD, but not diagnosed.

Everyone else has answered, but I'll throw my two cents' worth in.

I got a cat last summer who had no fur - rampant allergies had caused her to lick it off. She was on Science Diet Z/D dry (couldn't stand the canned) and I kept her on that until the allergies subsided.

IBD: one of my cats has that, diagnosed empirically, rather than through biopsy. She was on antibiotic and steroid for a couple weeks and it subsided. She gets flare-ups and boes back on the protocol. She gets Science Diet sensitive stomach.

Incidentally, here's my 'allergic' cat now:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid215/p55bcb4cae33b14024b8249ef5aab9304/eceefa0e.jpg

Currently she's leading the country for her breed division. Pretty cute, eh?

[tmsl]

Beautiful cat!! Why the antibiotic/steroid combo? Kelly-is this a treatment I should ask my vet about??

Thanks,

Laura

[beejayw1]

Beautiful cat!! Why the antibiotic/steroid combo? Kelly-is this a treatment I should ask my vet about??

Thanks,

Laura

By all means ask your vet. I believe it's part of an accepted protocol; it worked with the one (elderly) cat. I don't have the specs here at work, but can get them when I get home. As I said, she was diagnosed based on her symptoms; she's too old (IMHO) to put through a biopsy. But the treatment worked.

[mcgeiger]

The antibiotics and steroids can be used to treat symptoms if it is IBD (usually), but may not get to the cause. Long-term antibiotics and steroids also can both have serious side effects.

[beejayw1]

Long-term antibiotics and steroids also can both have serious side effects.

True.

She's on them for no longer than two weeks; has been on the protocol three times in the past six years, both with the approval of her breeder (a veterinarian) and my current vet.

It's a difficult condition in many ways, and I know a lot of people who are frustrated by it. If Nutmeg weren't so old - say, a ten year old cat - I'd try for the biopsy, but at her very advanced age it isn't a good idea. So I watch her like a hawk.

[luv2cook]

When Teko was diagnosed as having a food allergy, we put him on natural balance, duck. It worked great.

[Middydd]

When Teko was diagnosed as having a food allergy, we put him on natural balance, duck. It worked great.

Duck is what we're trying, too. I've started wondering, though, since his favourite food is chicken, is duck "different" enough that he can be allergic to chicken but not duck?

I guess if duck doesn't do the trick I could try ostrich. We have a farm in the area, maybe they'd sell me scraps cheap.

[Middydd]

Everyone else has answered, but I'll throw my two cents' worth in.

I got a cat last summer who had no fur - rampant allergies had caused her to lick it off. She was on Science Diet Z/D dry (couldn't stand the canned) and I kept her on that until the allergies subsided.

IBD: one of my cats has that, diagnosed empirically, rather than through biopsy. She was on antibiotic and steroid for a couple weeks and it subsided. She gets flare-ups and boes back on the protocol. She gets Science Diet sensitive stomach.

Incidentally, here's my 'allergic' cat now:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid215/p55bcb4cae33b14024b8249ef5aab9304/eceefa0e.jpg

Currently she's leading the country for her breed division. Pretty cute, eh?

She is very cute!! What breed is she? She looks tiny. How old is she?

[Middydd]

The eating of little meals is normal for a cat (I think the average for free-fed cats is like 16x/day :p )

Good luck and let me know if there is anything else I can do :)

We're trying the duck food. I guess I'm a little nervous of more diagnostics because he's a very high strung cat who gets super upset going to the vets.

If he doesn't show an improvement with duck, I think we'll have to get more tests or a referral to a specialist, possibly at the veterinary school in Guelph, Ontario.

Thanks again for your thoughts and direction.

[beejayw1]

She is very cute!! What breed is she? She looks tiny. How old is she?

That's a good shot of her. It catches her personality perfectly (little imp!)

She's a Burmese, just 6 1/2 lbs (It's a small breed) and she's a full-grown 2 1/2 years old.

She loves to watch me do my hair and makeup and curls up with my dog all the time.