What is the best dry cat food brand for a cat with irritable bowel syndrome ibs?

Kami

My cat has irritable bowel syndrome and the vet has suggested Hills dry food for sensitive cats as a way forward to combat his diarrhoea. I just wondered if anyone else had any experience with cats with IBS and what they feed them as im worried my vet may be advising that brand as its the only one they sell! Price isnt important, it just needs to be super bland! Many thanks!



Hugh

I have done a raw food diet for my cats for nine years now. In my experience with a number of raw feeding Yahoo groups the problems with IBD in cats frequently resolves in a few days on a raw diet. It is something you should look into. It is well worth the effort if it "cures" your cat. At the very least try some totally grain-free canned cat food as the grain is what causes the problem with cats. Wellness and Instincts cat food are mostly meat (Instincts has some vegetable matter).The Hills precription diets are poor quality and they all use grains in their formulation as does most any dry food.



Marquerite

Since Feline IBD reflects some cats inability to tolerate certain foods, dietary changes play a large part in control of the disease. Veterinarians will often start with an limited ingredient diet containing protein and carbohydrate sources the cat has not eaten before. If you are concerned that the vet is trying to sell "his" brand of food you can always make your own food. I have a sister in law that her dogs have to be feed table food. or they will bleed from their kidneys. So if your worried make a mixture of boiled chicken and rice with a few carrots and peas mixed in it or instead of chicken use chicken livers NEVER use beef, you can use lamb, pork occasionally duck have to watch the fat content. Or you can try these meats. such as rabbit, venison, or even kangaroo meat. Commercial limited ingredient diet products are available at many veterinary clinics, as well as online



Christian

You need something with limted ingredients. even though these foods are mostly meant for pets with allergies, IBS can be thought of as an allergy of the intestine. the intestines get irritated and inflammed and the pets often get bloody diarrhea. My cat has IBS and I have him on science diet prescription Z/D. he is doing great! you can get the food through vets only



Leia

Why not ask your vet. He should be able to answer that for you.



Kamala

Vets get money for suggesting Hills for everything, there are far better foods out there to feed your cat, since Hills uses normal proteins and carbs found in most common foods, and thats what needs changeing. Ideally, the diet should contain a single source of protein not normally consumed by the cat. The addition of dietary fiber is beneficial to some cats. It may take several weeks or longer for cats to improve after a diet change, and during this trial feeding period, all other food sources (like table food, and flavored medications and treats) must be eliminated from the diet. Whatever your cat has been eating, stop feeding it that, and give it a different protein and carbohydrate. Thats the biggest part. Dr. Lisa Pierson, DVM, states, "Too often these cats are treated with a high level of steroids and a so-called prescription DRY diet. I feel very strongly that this common therapeutic regimen needs to be re-evaluated. There are an impressive number of reports of cats that were terribly ill with IBD exhibiting dramatic improvement when ALL dry food was removed from their diet."Some studies have suggested that diets enriched in omega-3 fatty acids may help decrease the inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (fatty acids from fish oil) have been beneficial in human patients. Your hypoallergenic cat food typically contains no wheat, corn, soy, rice or beet pulp. A single, low-allergen protein source such as lamb, duck, fish or venison is also common. It will contain few-if any-artificial preservatives. Natures Variety Instincts. Instincts has a wide variety - duck, beef, venison, lamb. Worth looking at. There is also Purina Veterinary Diet Feline HA, it can be bought without a vets recommendations from general food outlets. Good luck!