How to treat colon inflammation in cats. Gastrointestinal diseases in cats: main signs of illness, treatment and prevention. Adverse reaction to food

Herbal medicine for digestive diseases

The digestive system includes many organs, therefore the range of diseases is diverse: from functional disorders and inflammatory processes to malignant tumors. The proximity of organs in the abdominal cavity and their close functional relationship determine the frequent occurrence of mixed and combined forms of pathology, which must be taken into account when selecting medicinal compositions from plants. Many diseases of the digestive system of inflammatory nature are characterized by a chronic relapsing course, which involves the use of etiopathogenetic, symptomatic, preventive, and replacement herbal medicine at all stages of pathological processes. The experience of using medicinal plants in medicine shows that the share of herbal medicine in the treatment of diseases of the digestive system is highest compared to other groups of diseases. This is due to the fact that there is a need to correct the condition of other systems (nervous, immune, endocrine, etc.).
In the acute period of intestinal diseases, the main role of herbal medicine is to protect the inflamed and weakened mucous membrane from further damage by acid and enzymes of the gastric and other digestive juices. Then there is a need to use anti-inflammatory and antiseptic medicinal plants.
The main objectives in the treatment of the digestive system are:
pain relief;
protection of mucous membranes from irritation;
reduction of inflammation;
normalization of stool;
correction of gastric juice and bile secretion;
regulation of motor function of the stomach and intestines;
stimulation of recovery processes;
treatment of neuroses.
Good results are obtained by a combination of medicinal plants containing gastroprotectors with antacid and enveloping properties: calamus, marshmallow, cordate linden. Their activity increases when combined with antispasmodics: field or peppermint, lemon balm, fennel, etc. As acute phenomena subside, gastroprotectors are needed, in which the reparative effect predominates in combination with a stimulating effect on the secretion of the digestive glands: St. John's wort, red centaury, wild strawberry, small-flowered smokeberry, etc. At the same time, it is necessary to use medicinal plants with hepatoprotective, cholestatic and regulating pancreatic function. Continuous phytoprophylaxis is very effective. Treatment is carried out in conjunction with drugs that eliminate dyskinesia and dysbacteriosis and restore digestion.
Diagnostic symptoms for chronic liver diseases include weakness, fatigue, weight loss, pain in the upper abdomen, bloating, fever, itching, skin rash and joint pain, and in clinically pronounced stages - jaundice. Urine may become dark in color and stool may become discolored. Often liver diseases are not detected until the condition suddenly worsens. To accurately determine the nature of liver disease, extensive laboratory tests are usually required.
Herbal medicines are becoming increasingly important in the treatment of chronic liver diseases, due to their membrane-stabilizing, selective antispasmodic, choleretic and cholekinetic effects. Medicinal herbs such as milk thistle, greater celandine and Javan turmeric have traditionally been used to treat the liver and biliary tract. Milk thistle has a protective and membrane-stabilizing property for liver cells; greater celandine, golden rod, centaury have an antispasmodic and choleretic effect; Javan turmeric, immortelle, as well as liquid extract of tansy flowers and leaves have properties that stimulate the formation and secretion of bile.
In the treatment of cholecystitis, medicinal plants with a multifaceted clinical effect are used: anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, choleretic, antibacterial. Mainly choleretic, i.e. The following have a stimulating effect on the formation of bile: calamus, silver birch, knotweed, red centaury, coriander, burdock, tansy, wormwood, common chicory. Cholekinetics are drugs that increase the tone of the gallbladder and relax the bile ducts. This ability is possessed by extracts from calamus, blue cornflower, three-leaved watch, knotweed, small-flowered fumifera, oregano, common coriander, common juniper, dandelion, shepherd's purse, Tangut rhubarb, chamomile, common thyme, caraway, and yarrow. common, wild rose, common fennel. Cholespasmolytics are drugs that relax the smooth muscles of the gallbladder and biliary tract. Antispasmodics of plant origin include: arnica montana, valerian officinalis, elecampane, St. John's wort, lemon balm, peppermint, sage, etc.
The preparation phytoelite cleansing tea contains a collection of medicinal herbs that act in all specified areas.
The drug is used in the treatment and prevention of diseases of the digestive system in order to completely detoxify the body and eliminate disturbances in the functioning of the intestines, liver, and pancreas. For preventive purposes and to maintain the health of animals during the rehabilitation period, the drugs are given 1 tablet 2 times a day for 10-15 days. If necessary, the course is repeated every 3-4 months. When treating acute forms of various diseases, the drugs are used 1 tablet every 2 hours for 1-2 days. Then 1 tablet 3 times a day until clinical signs of the disease disappear for 7-8 days. When treating chronic forms of various diseases, the drug is given 1 dose 3 times a day. The duration of the drug should be equal to the duration of the disease.

Homeopathic treatment of digestive diseases and metabolic disorders

Symptoms of indigestion are the most common in cats and include decreased or absent appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation.
More often, the digestive process is upset in kittens when switching from one type of feeding to another, in long-haired cats - due to periodically formed trichobezoars (clumps of hair swallowed when licking) and in old animals - as a result of the development of chronic pathologies and associated disorders of the digestive processes, absorption and detoxification.
In addition, at any age, a cat’s digestive system can be affected by an acute or chronic viral disease.
To provide timely and, most importantly, effective assistance when gastroenterological symptoms appear, the following drugs are most often used in homeopathy:
nux vomica-gomaccord - for vomiting 1-2 hours after eating;
Chelidonium-homaccord - for vomiting bile;
Berberis-homaccord - for vomiting and diarrhea or for frequent and watery stools;
Echinacea compositum – for vomiting or diarrhea due to fever;
engistol - when vomiting immediately after eating and if a viral infection is suspected;
cardus compositum – for decreased appetite;
phosphorus-homaccord – for fatty infiltration of the liver;
coenzyme compositum - for pancreatitis and diabetes;
Ovarium compositum – for obesity in cats.

Ascites

Ascites (abdominal dropsy) is not considered an independent disease - it develops as a consequence of a long-standing and advanced disease (usually the liver or heart), and can also occur in indoor cats due to physical inactivity. With ascites, stagnant serous transudate, which is a filtrate of blood plasma, accumulates in the abdominal cavity of cats (mainly elderly cats, or in pampered domestic animals). In severe cases, cardiovascular failure may develop.
Symptoms: fatigue, difficulty breathing, anemic and icteric mucous membranes, the lower and lateral parts of the abdominal wall are symmetrically elongated on both sides of the body. If the cat is lifted by holding it under the armpits, the ascitic fluid flows into the lower parts of the abdominal cavity, as a result of which the abdomen acquires a characteristic pear-shaped shape.
Treatment: First of all, the veterinarian must identify the primary disease as a result of which ascites developed. Curing this underlying disease (if it can be treated) should lead to healing from dropsy. In addition, the veterinarian prescribes diuretics and cardiac medications, and can, if necessary, perform a puncture to remove ascitic fluid. Feed your cat food enriched with protein, limit water and salt. The animal must be kept warm.
Homeopathic treatment. The combination of drugs Traumeel and Engistol gives the best result for ascites, despite the various causes of this symptom. Injections are made subcutaneously in one syringe, first twice a day, then, after the condition improves, once a day. Treatment in all cases is long-term. It is carried out until the signs of ascites completely disappear.
Diet therapy. Excess sodium leads to the development of ascites. When sodium intake is sufficiently limited in cats with ascites, water and sodium retention ceases and excess is excreted from the body. In cats with heart failure, distilled water should be used during the initial period of therapy until ascites or edema resolves.
This response is often observed in animals with heart failure when they are given a low sodium diet without any other treatment.
Hill's Prescription Diet food (applied to a specific case).
For ascites accompanying heart disease - Hill's Prescription Diet Feline h/d, for hypoproteinemia - Canine/Feline a/d. Hill's Prescription Diet Feline k/d contains a reduced sodium level, which helps prevent ascites in the initial stages of chronic heart failure.

Peritonitis

Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum that develops as a result of infection entering the abdominal cavity, or when a pathological process spreads from organs located in the abdominal cavity (perforated ulcer, rupture of the uterine wall, etc.). It occurs more often in an acute form.
Symptoms: fever, tense and painful abdomen, urination and defecation are impaired or absent, vomiting, the mucous membranes of the eyes are red, rapid pulse, a blood test reveals severe leukocytosis.
Treatment is prescribed and carried out by a veterinarian.

Sluggish appetite

Loss or decreased appetite can occur due to foreign bodies entering the stomach, low acidity of gastric juice, as well as helminthiasis and immunosuppression. In addition, lack of appetite is a common symptom of many diseases, including esophageal obstruction.
First aid: carry out deworming, give the cat Vaseline oil (2-3 ml).
If all this does not help, contact your veterinarian.
Homeopathic treatment. Decreased appetite often indicates that the animal has an increased level of intoxication. This may be due to internal reasons, for example, a chronic focus of inflammation or the formation of a focus of degeneration, or external reasons - environmental pollution.
In the first case, it is best to prescribe the drug cardus compositum. By increasing the detoxification reserve of the liver, this medicine can dramatically reduce the level of intoxication in the body. The result of 2-3 weeks of treatment can be complete normalization of appetite and improvement in general condition.
When poisoning of the body is associated with external, environmental causes, we will get the greatest effect when prescribing the drug coenzyme compositum.
Unlike cardus compositum, which is always prescribed by injection, coenzyme compositum can be given with drinking water, 1-1.5 ml x 2-3 times a week for 1-1.5 months.
Phytotherapy. The so-called vegetable bitters increase appetite - a decoction of wormwood, immortelle, etc. The phytoelite "Cleansing tea", lactobifide, is recommended.
Diet therapy. Hill's Prescription Diet Canine/Feline a/d.

Pica

Perverted appetite refers to eating obviously inedible objects - socks, candy wrappers, Christmas tree decorations, clay, newspapers, and also, in some cases, one’s own and other people’s feces. Often this is not only extremely unhygienic, but can also pose a serious threat to the health of the animal.
A perverted appetite can develop as a result of improper feeding, with pancreatic insufficiency, lack of vitamins (for example, vitamin D), or with spring hypovitaminosis, certain amino acids and mineral elements, with helminth infestation, infectious diseases and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, there are so-called behavioral reasons.
To eradicate this bad and harmful habit, you need to pay more attention to the cat, play with it more often and longer, rewarding it for playing with the “right” objects and, conversely, stopping paying attention to the cat if it carries unwanted objects in its mouth. In addition, when a cat puts an unwanted object in its mouth, you can (if the situation is outside the house) suddenly spray it with water from a children's water pistol. If a perverted appetite worsens in early spring, this may indicate that the body does not have enough vitamins - then you need to add foods rich in vitamins A and C to the cat’s diet. If the cat eats woolen items, kitchen towels, etc. (for some reason, Siamese cats often suffer from this bad habit), it is advisable to add bran to its food, starting from one teaspoon. To prevent your cat from eating feces (a sign of mineral deficiency), you urgently need to replenish its diet with calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin and mineral supplements SA-37, "Gamma" are shown.

Esophageal blockage

It most often occurs in kittens, who may swallow plastic or rubber toys or pieces of them while playing. In adult cats, blockage of the esophagus occurs extremely rarely, usually due to excessively greedy eating of food.
Symptoms: the first signs of esophageal blockage are restless behavior, the cat turns its head, twitches, scratches its mouth, coughs, burping and retching may be observed. Sometimes, in this case, a local swelling or painful area can be found in the cervical part of the esophagus.
First aid. If qualified veterinary care cannot be obtained immediately, pour 1-2 teaspoons of Vaseline or vegetable oil down the cat’s throat, and then try, if the foreign body is close to the mouth, to remove it. Try inducing vomiting with pieces of salt. To eliminate spasm of the esophagus, it is recommended to administer 1/4 ampoule of atropine. Contact your veterinarian.

Vomit

Excessive salivation, frequent licking of lips and rapid swallowing movements are signs of nausea and impending vomiting. Vomiting often clears the stomach of hairballs. If poisoning, infections and helminthic infestations are excluded, then vomiting may be physiological in nature. Purifying vomiting, which occurs no more than 1-2 times a month, is generally a physiological feature of cats and other predators. Morning vomiting, so-called hungry vomiting, is also typical for cats. In more severe cases, vomiting is a sign of some illness. It is necessary to distinguish vomiting from regurgitation. Regurgitated food is covered with mucus from the esophagus, as it does not have time to get into the stomach.
If the vomiting is black or bloody, prolonged, accompanied by fever, drowsiness, weakness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, fever, then you should immediately consult a veterinarian. You should not feed a cat if it is vomiting blood.
If vomiting lasts less than 3 minutes and is not accompanied by diarrhea, do not water or feed the cat for 12 hours (give Polysorb diluted in water), after which you can give the cat 1-3 teaspoons of soft food. If the animal does not vomit, increase the amount of food. The next day, feed your cat as usual.
Shown acupuncture, Su Jok therapy.
Prevention. To avoid vomiting, do not suddenly change your cat's diet or give her scraps or toys that she might tear apart and swallow.
Homeopathic treatment. Two medications can be used as antiemetics - atropinum compositum or nux vomica-homaccord.
But if we know the cause of this symptom, then the treatment may be different.
For example, vomiting can be caused by:
inflammation of the gallbladder - chelidonium-homaccord;
kidney - cantharis compositum;
prostate gland - traumeel;
uteri - Lachesis compositum;
meninges - belladonna-homaccord.
For indomitable vomiting, atropinum compositum is more often used (cannot be used in case of obstruction).
For bloody vomiting - mucosa compositum in combination with traumeel. For vomiting, treatment is carried out only in the form of injections.
Phytotherapy. Since vomiting contributes to the rapid leaching of essential mineral salts from the body, it is recommended to introduce restorative phytomines into the diet of cats.
Diet therapy. Hill's Prescription Diet Feline c/d.
For periodic vomiting – Science Plan Sensitive Stomach Formula.

Stomach diseases

Evaluation and diagnosis Feline gastric disease is complicated by its poor clinical availability, involvement in the disease state of many systemic and extragastric diseases, and the predominance of nonspecific symptoms. The stomach reacts most sensitively to environmental influences, emotions and changes in food.

Gastritis

Gastritis is inflammation of the gastric mucosa. It occurs in both acute and chronic forms.
Acute gastritis may develop suddenly due to poor quality food, swallowed foreign body or due to poisoning. Other primary causes of acute gastritis may be food contaminated with salmonella or staphylococci and certain medications (salicylates, sulfonamides, antibiotics, glucocorticoids, pyrazolone derivatives, etc.). Endogenous factors provoking the development of acute gastritis are infectious diseases, autointoxication, and tissue breakdown from burns. The stomach of cats generally reacts most sensitively to environmental influences, emotions and changes in food.
Secondary causes are general diseases (leptospirosis, liver disease, renal failure, allergies, etc.), circulatory disorders, metabolic and hormonal disorders, increased tone of the vagus nerve.
Symptoms: in acute gastritis, the main symptom is sudden vomiting, sometimes prolonged. The cat is depressed, refuses food, there may be a grayish-white coating on the tongue, pain in the stomach area. An increase in temperature is possible, feces are often unformed, with mucus, and neutrophilic leukocytosis in the blood.
First aid: the cat is put on a one-day starvation diet, after which it should be given mucous decoctions (rice), vegetable puree, boiled chicken meat, polysorb on an empty stomach for 3-5 days. On the first and second days of the disease, antiemetics are prescribed in small doses - metoclopramide (cerucal, maxolan, etc.) and phytoelite cleansing tea in the form of a solution with the instructions of water every 3-4 hours, enemas with chamomile. On the third day, cleansing tea is given 3 times a day according to instructions. Conservative treatment is prescribed depending on the content of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice; in the presence of pathogenic microflora, antibiotics are used - chloramphenicol, baytril, enroxil or imodium, 1 capsule per day for 3 days. To completely restore digestion and prevent dysbiosis, cleansing tea is prescribed 1 tablet once every 2 days for a month, as well as lactoferon (as prescribed - prevention). Chemotherapy drugs are given on an empty stomach only for special indications. It must be remembered that vomiting in cats is the most common sign of many diseases and is associated with stimulation of the vomiting center of the brain. In all cases of vomiting in cats, the soothing herbal tea "Cat Bayun" is prescribed according to the treatment regimen.
It is advisable to show the cat to a veterinarian.
Chronic gastritis. The basis for the occurrence of chronic gastritis is an inadequate response to stressors (frequent exhibitions, change of owner, nervous situation in the family, excessive demands of the owner, etc.), tissue hypoxia, iron deficiency, autointoxication (uremia, urolithiasis, etc.), endocrine diseases (diabetes, hyperthyroidism, “greasy tail”, etc.), inflammatory processes (cholecystitis, pancreatitis, etc.).
Symptoms. With chronic gastritis, vomiting is usually one-time, the cat loses weight, regurgitation, belching, diarrhea or constipation, rumbling, flatulence, and pain in the epigastric region are observed. Typically anemia. This is a so-called precancerous condition of the stomach, and therefore requires very careful attention to these symptoms.
Treatment must be comprehensive, long-term and individually oriented.
Elimination of disturbances in the central regulation of digestion by treating neurosis with the drug "Cat Bayun" according to the instructions.
Diet - exclude bread, dry and canned food (except for special ones), sweets. Boiled meat and fish. Vitamin supplements are only restorative phytomines, as they contain natural, non-chemically synthesized vitamins. Meals 5-6 times a day in small portions. Eliminate fiber and fatty foods.
Homeopathic treatment. Mucosa compositum subcutaneously or orally for all types of gastritis is a basic remedy. A good addition to standard therapy can be drugs such as engystol, nux vomica-homaccord, cardus compositum.
Phytotherapy. In the treatment of gastritis, the most important plants are those with astringent, enveloping, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, sedative, antiseptic, and enhancing tissue regeneration properties. Treatment with medicinal plants can be started after emergency measures (gastric lavage and fasting). The main task of herbal medicine is to protect the mucous membrane from further hydrochloric acid.
Of the phytotherapeutic agents, the most commonly used are decoctions of marshmallow root, dandelion root, wormwood, infusion of ipecac, calamus, birch buds and leaves, immortelle flowers and chamomile, oregano herb, agrimony, dried herb, anise, bergenia, watch, St. John's wort, licorice root, meadowsweet , yarrow and others. You can use "Cleansing tea" tablets.
Prevention. The main measure is annual phytoprophylaxis, which reduces the frequency and severity of exacerbations, and in some animals provides long-term remission. To do this, during the period of exacerbation expected from observations of the animal, use cleansing tea, 1 tablet per day for 1 month. It is optimal to use it in the form of tea, for which you can dissolve 1 tablet in a bowl of water and leave until completely drunk. Carrying out these measures will most likely prevent the development of ulcers and stomach cancer.
With gastritis in cats, the bacteria Helicobacter heilmannii is often detected, which is closely related to the bacteria H.plori, which plays a possible etiological role in human diseases of the stomach and duodenum. Cases of peptic ulcer disease have been identified in cat lovers, in which “cat” bacteria were isolated from people’s stomachs. This indicates the undesirability of excessively close contact between people prone to peptic ulcers and their cats, since Helicobacter heilmannii can be transmitted through saliva.

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the stomach and small intestine. Catarrhal gastroenteritis(catarrh of the stomach and intestines) - develops in cats due to excessively greedy food intake and stomach fullness, and can also be observed with panleukopenia, salmonellosis, staphylococcosis, colibacillosis and some other diseases. Catarrhal phenomena also occur under the influence of one’s own intestinal microflora, which has become pathogenic due to exposure to unfavorable conditions. Most often, gastroenteritis is observed in kittens.
Symptoms: hot and red mouth, warm and dry nose, decreased appetite or extreme picky eating, fever, extreme thirst, constipation and depression. Catarrh of the stomach is often accompanied by vomiting, while the stomach is painful and sensitive to the touch. With intestinal catarrh, these phenomena are absent, while with damage to the duodenum, diarrhea appears and the urine turns bright yellow. Feces with catarrhal inflammation are liquid, watery, fetid, mixed with undigested food and mucus.
First aid and treatment: rest and a gentle diet. For 1-2 days, do not feed the cat, give only water or herbal decoctions and infusions, administer Gamavit subcutaneously, give Vetom-1.1, Lactoferon, Polysorb on an empty stomach for 5-7 days. In the future, feed with nutritious meat food. It is best to feed raw, low-fat meat.
Show the cat to the veterinarian.
Phytotherapy. Among the plants recommended for preparing herbal decoctions and infusions for gastroenteritis are marshmallow root, string, oak bark, sage leaves, and chamomile. A cleansing tea is also indicated.
A number of herbal mixtures are used.
1. Common fennel (fruits) 25 g, marshmallow (roots) 25 g, chamomile (flowers) 25 g, licorice (root) 25 g.
2. For the prevention and treatment of acute gastroenteritis: chamomile, flowers - 2 tsp, silver birch, buds - 2 tsp, large burdock, roots - 2 tsp, large plantain, leaves - 1 tsp, common yarrow, grass - 1 tsp, coltsfoot, leaves - 1 tsp, Scots pine, buds - 1 tsp. Brew one tablespoon in a glass of boiling water, boil over low heat for 25-30 minutes, cool for 10 minutes at room temperature, drain. Squeeze out the remaining raw materials and add boiled water to 0.2 liters. Give the decoction warm 3 times a day 20-30 minutes before feeding. After 15-20 minutes, make a microenema from the same decoction once a day in a volume of 10 ml. The therapeutic dose of the decoction for cats is 8-10 ml, prophylactic - 4-5 ml. (according to I.V. Sidorov, V.V. Kalugin et al., 2001).
3. For the prevention and treatment of chronic gastroenteritis:
St. John's wort, herb - 3 parts, large plantain, leaves - 2 parts, chamomile, flowers - 1 part, yarrow, grass - 1 part, common oak, bark - 1 part. Brew one tablespoon in a glass boiling water and leave for 15 minutes. Give the infusion 3-4 times a day 20-30 minutes before eating. Microenemas from the same infusion are recommended once a day in a volume of 10 ml. The therapeutic dose of infusion for cats is 10-12 ml, prophylactic - 5-6 ml (according to I.V. Sidorov, V.V. Kalugin et al., 2001).

Catarrh of the stomach and intestines

Catarrh of the stomach and intestines is one of the most common diseases that develops in cats as a result of excessively greedy eating and fullness of the stomach, as well as as a result of feeding cold or spicy foods. Catarrhal phenomena also occur under the influence of infection.
Symptoms. Symptoms of catarrh of the stomach and intestines include hot, reddened mucous membranes of the mouth, a warm and dry nose, decreased appetite or extreme picky eating, fever, extreme thirst, constipation and depression. Catarrh of the stomach is often accompanied by vomiting, while the stomach is painful and sensitive to the touch. With intestinal catarrh, these phenomena are absent, while with damage to the duodenum, diarrhea appears and the urine turns bright yellow.
First aid. With an appropriate diet, catarrh of the stomach and intestines goes away relatively quickly and easily in cats. For one to one and a half days, keep the cat on a fasting diet, giving only water. In the future, start feeding your cat nutritious dairy foods. It is also advisable to give rice broth, egg whites, and vitamins.
Treatment: phthalazole 0.2 g 2 times a day, enteroseptol 1/2 tablet 3 times a day, Vetom-1.1.
Prevention consists of proper balanced nutrition and the prevention of infectious diseases.

Stomach ulcer

The disease occurs in cats in two forms: simple And progressive ulcer. It usually occurs in a chronic form and is characterized by ulceration of the gastric mucosa. It develops most often due to diseases of the internal organs (liver, kidneys, bladder, intestines), as a consequence of pancreatitis, etc. Poor quality nutrition, feeding too cold or, conversely, too hot food can also contribute to the development of stomach ulcers.
Symptoms: The disease is often asymptomatic. The first signs are usually depression, weakness, vomiting mixed with blood several hours after eating, and liquid, tarry stool.
Treatment prescribed by a veterinarian.
Homeopathic treatment. The main drugs are mucosa compositum and traumeel. For severe pain and vomiting, atropinum compositum is indicated. Often, the ulcerative process in cats develops as a result of chronic renal failure.
Often treatment with the drugs Cantharis Compositum and Berberis Homaccord results in complete recovery. Perhaps the combination of drugs mucosa compositum and cantharis compositum is most successful in the treatment of gastric ulcers in cats. An ulcer against the background of hyperacid gastritis is most quickly cured with the help of liarsine.
Phytotherapy. Treatment of peptic ulcer disease consists of eliminating or neutralizing factors contributing to ulcer formation (aggression factors) and stimulating the body's defenses (protection factors). Plants with enveloping (calamus, flax, borage, verbena, etc.), antispasmodic (calamus, ammi dentis, anise, oregano, etc.), reparative (aloe, marshmallow, mantle, etc.), antimicrobial (yarrow, calendula officinalis, etc.) are used. knotweed, thyme, etc.) action. Aloe vera juice, for example, can be added to drinking water daily, 1 teaspoon. Also prescribed are decoctions of flaxseed, chamomile flowers, and milk thistle oil. Collection: fennel (fruits) 30 g, chamomile (flowers) 30 g, linden (flowers) 30 g.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, a polyetiological disease, the causes of which can be divided into 3 groups - mechanical - biliary dyskinesia; neurohumoral - disorders of fat metabolism; toxicoallergic effects - infectious diseases, especially viral infections, allergic reactions, disorders of the immune system.
Symptoms.Exhaustion and bulky fatty stools, liquid, pasty diarrhea. The animal looks exhausted, appetite may disappear completely. Frequent urination, skin itching, and scratching are noted.
Very good results are obtained by using the drug "Cleansing tea" for 2-3 weeks every 3-4 hours, 1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight. Then you can switch to a preventive regimen. The use of herbal medicine in the treatment of pancreatitis avoids complications and significantly prolongs remission. To normalize the immune system, you can use neotim 0.5 doses per day in accordance with the instructions.
Preventive measures include strict adherence to a diet - lean meat, low-fat cottage cheese, rice, crackers, egg yolk, restorative phytomines.

Intestinal diseases

Dysbacteriosis (dysbiosis)

Dysbacteriosis, or dysbiosis, is qualitative and quantitative changes in the species composition of microorganisms that normally inhabit non-sterile body cavities of animals.
Dysbacteriosis is a mandatory companion to any antimicrobial therapy, stress, and immune system disorders.
Symptoms.Dyspepsia, rumbling in the abdomen on an empty stomach and after eating, unstable stool - diarrhea alternating with constipation, dry and flaky skin, rashes, pyoderma, allergies, pathogenic microorganisms may not be detected in fecal microflora inoculations, the content of bifid flora is reduced, more than 25 coccal forms are detected %, E. coli - more than 10%.
Treatment needs to be implemented in several main areas.
Cleansing the gastrointestinal tract. Phytoelite cleansing tea is used 1 tablet 4-5 times a day for the first week, then at the same dose 3 times a day for one week, then 1 dose 1 time a day for a week, then 1 dose 1 time a week for 30 days.
Restoration of the composition and functional activity of normal microflora. In severe advanced cases, it is necessary to use the immunoprobiotic drug lactoferon according to the treatment regimen in accordance with the instructions.
Correction of hypoxia and immunological changes. Systemic use of the drug Neoferon injection according to a treatment regimen with a repeat course after 15-20 days, Vetom-1.1.
Treatment of metabolic disorders and hypovitaminosis. It is necessary to have a dietary diet that helps normalize the intestinal microbiocenosis and the use of restorative phytomins that help eliminate hypovitaminosis.
Treatment and prevention of stress with soothing tea "Cat Bayun". Animals with dysbiosis are not recommended to use hormonal contraceptives. For these purposes, also use herbal tea "Cat Bayun" as directed.
Prevention. Before expected stressful events (exhibitions, matings, trips), the use of the drug Bactoneotim as a preventive regimen and the soothing herbal tea "Cat Bayun" have a good effect. This allows you to maintain normal intestinal microflora and stabilize the immune system without the use of injectable immunomodulators. Nutritious feeding with sufficient fiber, fermented milk products and homemade yogurt with lactobifide.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea (diarrhea) in cats is not uncommon. Because many cats readily try to taste different objects and things, diarrhea occurs frequently. Although the cause of diarrhea can be a change in food intake, digging in garbage dumps and allergies. More serious causes of severe and prolonged stool disorder can also be viral infections, inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal tract, intoxication, liver disease, poor intestinal absorption, tumors, and metabolic disorders. It should be borne in mind that with repeated and profuse bowel movements, a large loss of water occurs, causing dehydration of the body, which can lead to the death of the animal.
First aid for adult animals: put the cat on a one-day fasting diet, give it plenty of fluids: sweet tea, rice water, rehydron solution, manganese solution. Give polysorb diluted with water for 5-7 days and enemas with polysorb, for food poisoning give lactobifide, for infectious diarrhea - diarcan orally, lactoferon 2 times a day, 0.5 tablets, or Vetom 1.1. After a day, give the cat some rice and boiled chicken. Maintain the diet until stool normalizes.
If the diarrhea is severe, painful, with blood, mucus, accompanied by vomiting, if the cat becomes weak, dehydrated, or the diarrhea continues for more than 2 days and does not stop after taking antibiotics, then consult a veterinarian.
Shown acupuncture, Su Jok therapy.
Homeopathic treatment. Nux vomica-homakkord in the form of frequent subcutaneous injections (2-3 times a day) will be the drug of choice in most cases. To enhance the effect, mucosa compositum is used as an additional remedy. Both drugs can be administered in the same syringe.
In case of dehydration, berberis-homaccord must be added to traumeel, and in case of viral diarrhea - engystol.
Interspersed with fresh blood against the background of normal color of stool, as a rule, indicate mechanical damage to blood vessels in the large intestine (spasms). In this case, it is better to use traumeel or berberis-homaccord or both drugs together as the main medicine.
Acute intestinal disorder does not require long-term treatment. This process can be stopped with 1-2 ml injections of the drug Berberis-Homaccord or together with Engystol. For kittens under 1 month of age with diarrhea, both drugs are given orally. If diarrhea occurs against the background of elevated body temperature, then Echinacea compositum is prescribed, also in the form of an injection in young and adult cats or orally in kittens up to 1 month.
Chronic diarrhea causes a lot of anxiety for patients and their owners and is difficult to treat with traditional methods.
From the point of view of homeopathy, the presence of such a pathology indicates chronic renal failure, which is partly compensated by the activation of intestinal drainage.
Prescribing a mixture of drugs Cantharis Compositum and Berberis Homaccord can permanently eliminate this symptom due to its active effect on the excretory function of the kidneys.
Subcutaneous and intramuscular injections of these drugs are given 2-3 times a week for one month.
Phytotherapy. Only the use of complex fees is effective. Recommended medicinal plants: marshmallow, barberry, oak bark, galangal (cinquefoil erect), Icelandic moss, willow bark, centaury, chamomile, calendula, St. John's wort, calamus, lingonberry, elecampane, gray alder, shepherd's purse, marsh grass, great plantain, yarrow, chicory, sage, horse sorrel. Or Phytoelita Cleansing tea. After recovery, it is desirable to restore the reserves of microelements in the body, since the greatest loss occurs with various types of diarrhea. You can use the restorative phytomine mineral supplement phytomins, the composition of which is selected taking into account the mineral needs of the body for various diseases.
Diet therapy. Hill's Prescription Diet Feline c/d, i/d. For diarrhea caused by lack of fiber - Feline g/d, w/d; for malabsorption of food - Feline d/d. For periodic diarrhea - Science Plan Sensitive Stomach Formula.

Constipation

Constipation is difficult, slow or insufficient bowel movement. Normally, cats should defecate at least once every 2 days. Constipation affects older animals more often than young animals, and cats more often than cats.
Constipation can occur when your cat eats indigestible objects that cannot pass through the anus, or from clumps of hair, grass, or feces that, when dehydrated, become stuck in the rectum and cannot move easily. Constipation can also be caused by: hernia, tumor, chronic colitis, impaired intestinal innervation, enlarged prostate gland in cats, severe helminthic infestations (especially dangerous in kittens) and improper feeding. In long-haired cats, the cause of constipation can be hairballs (bezoars), which are formed from the cat's own hair, swallowed by the cat during daily washing, especially during natural shedding or when protein metabolism is disrupted. In addition, the structure of the cat's tongue is such (it is very rough, and the hairs seem to “stick” to it) that the licking cat has no choice but to swallow the hair stuck to the tongue.
Symptoms: abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, ribbon-shaped feces with blood and an unpleasant pungent odor, swelling on both sides of the anus.
If grass, fur or pieces of feces stick out from the anus, then treatment can be carried out at home.
First aid: The easiest way is to give a laxative (preferably in the form of suppositories, for example, bisacodyl). If constipation does not stop for a long time, then add fermented milk products and vegetable oil to the cat’s diet - 1 teaspoon per 5 kg of weight. Take your cat's temperature. If the thermometer hits a solid obstacle or blood appears on it, consult a veterinarian. To prevent the formation of hairballs in long-haired cats, Kittymalt helps, which also helps remove hairballs. If you cannot find this remedy, then you can use regular petroleum jelly, which is given to cats 2.5 ml 3 times a day (you can also inject it directly into the rectum). Vegetable oil should not be used for this purpose, since, unlike Vaseline, it is absorbed. But, according to E.P. Dubrovina, a cleansing enema cannot be given to cats with constipation, since the liquid absorbed by the large intestine causes severe flatulence and aggravates the animal’s condition.
Shown acupuncture, Su Jok therapy.
Homeopathic treatment. The most universal combination of drugs for the treatment of constipation: Nux vomica-Homaccord and Chelidonium-Homaccord. If the effect is not sufficiently pronounced, then therapy is carried out using the drug cardus compositum or mucosa compositum. Treatment should only be given by injection. Treatment of chronic constipation should always be combined with the most appropriate diet for the animal.
Phytotherapy. First of all, you need to understand that all laxatives are harmful, especially those of mineral origin. It is necessary to address the root cause of the disease and eliminate it. If this cannot be done quickly, you need to urgently resort to herbal treatment. Aloe juice, black elderberry flowers, and knotweed are recommended. All possible causes of constipation and ways to eliminate them are taken into account most fully when preparing the preparation phytoelite cleansing tea, which includes extracts of St. John's wort, Solyanka, centaury, chamomile, plantain, dandelion, calendula, mint, violet, chaga, mullein, licorice, immortelle, cudweed, yarrow, birch buds, meadowsweet, agrimony, echinacea, fennel, nettle, celandine, barberry, cap, budra, bedstraw, as well as selenium and mumiyo. It is necessary to abolish all mineral supplements during treatment, especially in the form of powders. After its elimination, you can use the restorative drug phytomins, since, along with the mineral component, they contain extracts of medicinal herbs that help cleanse the body of waste and toxins.
Diet therapy. To treat constipation, bran mixed with minced meat is indicated. From food - Hill's Prescription Diet Feline g/d, r/d, w/d. After using the last food, the volume of feces increases in cats. This is a completely normal phenomenon, which is associated with a high amount of indigestible plant fiber in Hill's food Prescription Diet Feline r/d.
For prevention formation of bezoars - Science Plan Hairball Control Formula Adult and Science Plan Hairball Control Formula Senior.

Intestinal obstruction

Intestinal blockage or ileus is a common disease in domestic carnivores. Intestinal obstruction can develop in cats due to constipation (coprostasis), as a result of helminthic infestation, as well as due to swallowed objects (often a Christmas tree decoration in the form of “rain” or thread) or volvulus. Most often, it develops due to the ingestion of hair balls or lumps (bezoars), which are formed in the stomach from hair swallowed when licking fur (see section "Constipation"). As a result, there is an accumulation of feces and gases in the intestines. A common problem in kittens, long-haired and old cats. Distinguish mechanical ileus, in which intestinal transit is blocked, iileus functional or paralytic, caused by atony of the intestinal wall. Functional ileus can be observed in cases of peritonitis, dysotonomia (disturbance of the autonomic nervous system), or after general anesthesia.
Symptoms: the cat is depressed or, on the contrary, does not find a place for itself, it refuses food, a bad odor emanates from its mouth, and vomiting develops. The stomach swells, the cat meows pitifully, rolls on the floor, trying to stretch its stomach, and looks back at its stomach.
First aid. If these symptoms are present, urgent intervention is necessary. Take the cat to a veterinary hospital for an X-ray examination (differential diagnosis is supplemented by contrast X-ray using barium), and if this is not possible, then put it on a one-day starvation diet and give it a large enema with warm water. After giving the enema, press the cat's tail and lift it up with its hind legs and hold it upside down for 10-20 minutes. Give Vaseline oil inside. 1.5-2 hours before administering the enema, be sure to inject subcutaneously 10 ml of saline solution with 2 ml of gamavit to avoid dehydration.
Phytotherapy. Cleansing tea is the best remedy for treating coprostasis in cats. It is recommended to discontinue all mineral food supplements, vitamin treats, and dry food. It is better to switch the animal to a diet of natural meat, fish, and dairy products. After eliminating coprostasis, it is necessary to use the immunoprobiotic drug bactoneotime or lactoferon to restore the intestinal microflora.
Diet therapy. Science Plan Hairball Control Formula Adult, Science Plan Hairball Control Formula SeniorHill`s and Science Plan Feline Hairball Control Formula Light.
These products are designed to help prevent hairballs. All three formulas contain natural plant fibers that promote natural and safe hair removal from the digestive tract, thereby reducing the risk of hairballs. No "active", pharmaceutical or special ingredients are added to act as a lubricant. This product can be used on cats at risk for or with existing hairballs and will help reduce the likelihood of new bezoars forming.
As in regular regular Science Plan diets, Science Plan Hairball Control Formula Adult and Science Plan Hairball Control Formula Senior maintain urine pH at the proper level. Hairball Control Formula Adult does not contain potassium citrate. The resulting urine pH (6.2-6.4) is lower than that of Hairball Control Formula Senior (6.4-6.6). Additionally, Formula Adult contains primarily insoluble fiber, while Formula Senior contains a mixture of soluble and insoluble fiber. This mixture promotes normal gastrointestinal function in aging cats.
Hill's Science Plan Feline Hairball Control Formula Light was specifically developed as it was recognized that a number of cats (particularly neutered or less active cats) prone to hairball formation require fewer calories than other adult cats. .
The high level of plant fiber in Feline Hairball Control Formula Light helps eliminate hair from the digestive tract, reducing the likelihood of hairballs forming and subsequent vomiting. At the same time, the food meets all the needs of a healthy adult cat, providing a completely balanced food with reduced energy value for weight control, and by replacing digestible calories with indigestible fiber to increase gastrointestinal fullness, helping to avoid hunger.
Supplementing with L-Carnitine ensures there is sufficient L-Carnitine present in the body, which limits fat storage and maintains muscle mass.
Hairball Control is not recommended to be mixed with other types of food. This may reduce the efficiency of the fibers. Hairball Control formulas should be fed as a stand-alone product.
Prevention. Do not allow your cat to play with small objects that it can swallow (rags, plastic bags, paper lumps, threads, balls of wool, Christmas tree rain, etc.). To prevent the formation of bezoars and to speed up their elimination, you can give the product "Kittymalt", and also add petroleum jelly to the cat's food (1/2 teaspoon per kg of weight).

Flatulence

Flatulence (bloating due to the accumulation of gases in the intestines) is not very common in cats. At the same time, the accumulated gases put pressure on the diaphragm, which makes breathing difficult. In particularly severe cases, this condition leads to shock and rapid death. Flatulence can be caused by overeating (especially food that easily begins to ferment), excessive drinking, constipation, and sudden movements after eating. It can develop at any age, but is more often observed in small kittens with helminthic infestation, as well as in old animals.
Symptoms: the cat is restless, sometimes rushes about, meows pitifully. The abdomen is swollen and painful to the touch. Defecation and discharge of gases are frequent in the initial period of the disease, and then gradually decrease and disappear completely.
First aid: first of all, to relieve the spasm, give the cat an anesthetic (traumeel, antipyrine 0.2-0.5 g, baralgin). Then, to remove gases, give activated carbon or polysorb diluted in water. Give a cleansing enema. You can also put a wooden stick greased with salt or ichthyol in the cat's mouth and secure it with a bandage on the back of the head - this increases salivation (salivation) and belching, which helps eliminate bloating. Be sure to give 1 tablet of lactoferon, as otherwise putrefactive microflora may develop in the intestines.
Homeopathic treatment. Nux vomica-homakkord and engistol more often than other drugs give the expected result in the treatment of flatulence and impaired intestinal motility. They can be prescribed either in the form of mixed injections or alternating (Nux vomica-Homaccord - in the morning, Engystol - in the evening). It is also possible to take these funds internally. In many cases, you can get by with taking Liarsin internally 2-3 times a day.
If the abdomen becomes enlarged, accompanied by violent peristalsis and the release of gases and the general condition of the animal does not deteriorate, it is best to give the drug Liarsin (every 15 minutes), which usually quickly normalizes the digestion process. If such episodes recur, it is necessary to find out the cause of these manifestations from a doctor.
Phytotherapy. Dill water and infusions of chamomile, cumin, mint, lemon balm, chamomile, and fennel help well.
Diet therapy. Gentle nutrition with a reduced amount of carbohydrates in the diet. Hill's Prescription Diet: Feline c/d, i/d. For a lack of plant fiber (fiber) - Feline g/d, w/d. For periodic flatulence - Science Plan Sensitive Stomach Formula.

Enterocolitis

Adverse reaction to food

Adverse reaction to food is divided into feed intolerance And allergic reaction to the stern. Intolerance manifests itself as a nonspecific reaction, while food allergy is an immunological response in which antibodies are formed.
Symptoms. Clinically, signs of an adverse reaction to food in cats include dermatological or gastrointestinal disorders. Gastrointestinal signs include vomiting, diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, or chronic colitis.
Feed sensitivity plays a major role in the development of many gastrointestinal disorders, especially in the case of acute gastroenteritis and inflammatory bowel diseases
Treatment. A special reaction is caused by gluten contained in cereal grains. When treating an adverse (allergic) food reaction, cats must be given food that they have not previously received. To stop gastrointestinal signs of allergy, the new diet must be given to cats for 4 weeks.
Diet therapy. Hill's Prescription Diet Feline d/d (lamb meat with rice) can be successfully used in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders caused by food intolerance: in the case of inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, its mucous membrane becomes more permeable and a large portion of proteins can penetrate through it, increasing the risk of developing allergies. Therefore, it is recommended to feed animals a diet containing a new protein source for 6 weeks.
Feline d/d foods are highly digestible, contain high-quality carbohydrates and proteins, and are an ideal diet for the treatment of food intolerances.

Liver diseases

Liver diseases (hepatopathy) can have a variety of symptoms, since the liver is the most important intermediate metabolic organ. In 80% of cases, hepatopathy is associated with diseases of the kidneys, intestines, pancreas and central nervous system.
Of the liver diseases in cats, according to Strombeck D.R., Guilford W.D., 1990) the most common are: hepatitis (22,9%), hepatopathy (

Unfortunately, cats often suffer from various diseases of the stomach and intestines, which often reduces...

Gastrointestinal diseases in cats

Unfortunately, many pets experience gastrointestinal diseases throughout their lives.

Colitis

Colitis can be a real challenge for your pet.

Inflammatory processes in the large intestine are called colitis. In the thick section, water is absorbed and feces are formed. The inflammatory processes that occur there lead to impaired motor skills, resulting in a failure in the normal absorption of water and the formation of feces.

Causes

There is no single specific cause for this pathology. The following factors are believed to be associated with inflammation:

Diagnosis and symptoms

A cat colonoscopy will help make the correct diagnosis.

Making an accurate diagnosis depends, first of all, on the correct differentiation of other diseases.

Characteristic symptoms:

1. frequent bowel movements,
2. liquid feces,
3. in small portions.

Often present in feces mucus or blood , atypical color, with a pungent odor. False bowel movements occur. Severe abdominal pain is also possible.

Treatment

The course of treatment is prescribed by a veterinarian. Typically, the signs of pathology disappear within a week, with properly selected treatment.

• Shown antibiotics – tylosin.

  Veterinarians often prescribe Tylosin for colitis.

• Recommended use antiprotozoal drugs – metronidazole, furazolidone.
• For microflora preservation – probiotics: linex, bactisubtil, vetom, lactobifid, lactoferon.
• Bloating and require the use of smecta.
• When - corticosteroids in the form of prednisolone.
• Chronic colitis treated with anti-inflammatory drugs - sulfazaline, azathioprine.

  The anti-inflammatory drug Sulfasalazine also has an effective effect on colitis in cats.

Feline constipation

A cat’s inability to go to the toilet normally is a serious problem for both the cat and the owner.

Long-term systematic constipation leads to serious disorders in the body and are called obstipation. This phenomenon is difficult and long to treat. There are few reasons leading to this phenomenon.

Most often this indicates. Obstruction may be due to the anatomical characteristics of the animal or acquired through external influences, such as the ingress of hair or other foreign objects.

The main symptoms are difficulty in defecation , feces are hard and dry. , refuses food. In some cases, nausea, depression, vomiting, and pain in the abdominal area may occur.

If you have constipation, you need to give your cat as much water as possible.

Help with constipation involves making sure your cat drinks plenty of fluids and putting your cat on a diet containing fiber. It is possible to use mild laxatives in the form of herbal infusions. In advanced and severe cases, cleansing enemas or surgical assistance are indicated.

Coronavirus enteritis

The disease is contagious and infectious in nature, causing complications in the form of.

Coronavirus enteritis is very dangerous for cats and can be fatal!

Caused by inflammatory processes in the small intestine.

• May leak asymptomatic – the cat is a carrier of the infection, infecting other animals.
• In a mild form – a slight malaise with mild symptoms.
• Severe form – the inflammatory process manifests itself not only in the thin section, but also affects most of the digestive system, accompanied by complications throughout the body.

In most cases it ends fatal. The causative factor is the Coronaviriadea virus. provokes a strain of this type of virus - FECV. The risk zone includes young individuals under two years of age and elderly representatives over twelve years of age.

Signs

A cat's refusal to eat should alert every owner.

Vivid symptoms of the disease are intestinal disorders: diarrhea, loss of appetite, and sometimes vomiting may be present.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment regimen for coronavirus enteritis.

They resort to maintenance therapy in the form of immunomodulators and temporary relief with antibiotic therapy. It is recommended to provide your pet with quality care and balanced feeding. In some cases, ascites fluid is removed, but there is a risk of the disease progressing to a dry stage.

Antibiotics can help with coronavirus enteritis, as well as caring for your pet.

Gastritis

Provoking factors

There are many reasons for the appearance of gastritis and they are all closely related to poor care and inattention to the pet. The appearance factors are as follows:

Each individual reason must be dealt with, otherwise it can lead to serious problems.

Symptoms

The nature of the symptoms depends on the form of the disease. There are two of them: chronic form and acute.

1. Chronic course characterized by decreased appetite, drowsiness, decreased cat activity, and aching abdominal pain. With this type of course, the symptoms last only a few days, then disappear.
2. Acute form manifests itself in sharp pain, stench from the oral cavity. A white coating is visible on the tongue, and the stomach is rumbling. Alternation and constipation are possible, with the remnants of undigested food coming out. Vomiting is present, often foamy, less often yellow. Emaciation, dull coat, pale or yellowish mucous membranes.

Treatment of acute form

The acute form is treated with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs and enveloping agents.

Severe course to relieve intoxication and replenish lost fluid. Antiemetics, antispasmodics and analgesics are prescribed. The use of sedatives is recommended. Along with this, a strict diet is indicated.

Cats and humans have an almost identical digestive system. Therefore, it is not surprising that diseases that are inherent to humans can often be found in pets. An incorrectly formulated diet and the genetic predisposition of a mustachioed pet to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract can lead to various pathologies. Colitis in cats is one of them. The article will describe in detail what the causes and symptoms of this disease are, what forms of colitis there are and how to treat it effectively.

In veterinary medicine, colitis is usually understood as an inflammatory process that occurs in the large intestine of a pet. The peculiarity of localization makes colitis in cats one of the most dangerous ailments associated with the digestive system. And this is no coincidence, because it is the large intestine that is responsible for the absorption of water and the fermentation of fiber. In it, digested food is transformed into a product of defecation.

The structure of the large intestine provides for the presence of a special mucous membrane, thanks to which feces can move without obstacles to the rectum for future emptying of the pet. In the case of an inflammatory process, the normal functioning of the large intestine becomes difficult, as a result, the formation of food gruel is difficult, and the absorption of water from it slows down. It is for this reason that the mustachioed pet begins to suffer from chronic diarrhea and constipation. Owners who do not pay due attention to the symptoms and subsequent treatment of colitis in cats are at risk of their animal developing ulcers and cancerous growths in the intestines in the future.

Types of disease

Experts identify three separate classification groups that allow you to determine the type of colitis. They are divided according to the origin, course of the disease and where the source of inflammation is localized. Let's look at each group in more detail.

By origin:

1. Viral. An infection enters the intestines, causing an inflammatory process.
2. Toxic. The animal eats poison or chemicals that cause poisoning.
3. Ulcerative. Due to the development of ulcers inside the digestive tract.
4. Ischemic. The pathology occurs against the background of inflammation of the pet's abdominal aorta.
5. Bacterial. Bacteria that enter the colon, such as salmonella or yersinia, provoke pathological reactions.

According to the location of the inflammatory focus:

1. Proctitis is an inflammatory process on the rectal mucosa.
2. Typhlitis - occurs due to irritation of the mucous membrane of the cecum.
3. Pancolitis is an extensive lesion of the entire large intestine of a pet.

According to statistics, acute or chronic pancolitis is the most common among cats, leading to constant diarrhea and general weakness.

Causes

Colitis in cats occurs due to many different causes, so it is not surprising that in most cases its exact etiology remains unclear. We list the most important of them:

Each of these factors can potentially cause the lining of the intestinal tract to become damaged. In this case, the affected areas will be filled with destroyed lymph and cells, and this contributes to the development of pathogenic microflora. Bacteria and microbes, releasing toxic waste products, further disrupt the digestive process. The colon tries to soften the inflammatory processes with the help of abundant mucous secretions, but this is not enough. Therefore, it is important to understand that at the first symptoms of colitis in a cat, you should immediately show it to a specialist.

Characteristic symptoms

Colonic diarrhea is the first sign of the onset of pathological processes. The owner may find unpleasant-smelling animal defecation products in the pet's litter box. They differ from ordinary stool in that they contain a lot of mucus and also contain blood. The bowel movements themselves are extremely irregular; the pet does it often, but in small portions. They are often accompanied by painful sensations, so the cat may meow loudly and pitifully.

An attentive owner can hear a loud rumbling sound in the pet’s stomach; in addition, it can be inflated like a ball. Sometimes the opposite signs occur - flatulence, the animal suffers from strong gases. With colitis, the cat's appetite remains the same, it does not lose weight, and at first glance it looks quite healthy. For initial diagnosis, at home, the owner can try to lightly palpate the belly of a mustachioed friend; if touching causes him pain, then you should start to worry.

All substances entering the intestines are poorly absorbed, the body tries to get rid of them, which leads to diarrhea. This creates a vicious circle when poorly digested food provokes diarrhea, which, in turn, interferes with complete digestion. In a particularly acute form, colitis can be expressed in vomiting, increased body temperature of the pet, and significant weight loss.

It is important to understand that treating colitis in cats requires promptness. A quick response from the owners and qualified assistance from a doctor will help reduce the healing time from colitis to one week. In its advanced form, this disease can no longer be treated with medication and leads to the death of the pet.

Diagnostics

All this will help to determine exactly what caused the inflammatory processes of the intestinal tract. Remember that a correct diagnosis is the key to a future full recovery.

Treatment and prevention

The main therapeutic effect is carried out with the help of two things - medications and a diet individually formulated for the pet. In many ways, the injections and tablets prescribed will depend on the reasons that caused the onset of the disease.

Colitis can be treated using the following methods:

1. Taking probiotics, which will restore the full functioning of the intestines, for example, Linex or Lactobifida.
2. Complete deworming in several stages.
3. In case of severe diarrhea, the cat should be treated with coating drugs (Smecta).
4. Restoring the animal’s immunity (taking vitamins A, B, E).
5. If colitis is caused by an allergic reaction, then Prednisolone is perfect.
6. Bacterial colitis must be treated with antibiotics (Tylosin).
7. Follow the diet for 1-2 months. The diet should contain foods rich in fiber (bran), they improve the pet’s digestion.
8. Unfortunately, ulcerative colitis can only be eliminated through surgery.

If we talk about preventive measures that help avoid the appearance of colitis, then they are not so difficult to implement. These include:

1. Proper nutrition. When creating a diet, use high-quality food, include vegetables in your cat’s food, and avoid giving cheese, liver and lamb too often. Try not to change your regular menu without reason, this leads to intestinal disorders. Train your cat to eat only at home. Make sure your animal always has access to fresh water.
2. Lack of stress in your pet's life.
3. Have your cat checked regularly by a veterinarian.
4. Be sure to vaccinate your cat and give him timely deworming.

Content:

Intestinal inflammation occurs when the concentration of cells responsible for immune responses increases. The mechanism of occurrence of the pathology is unknown, since many factors are involved in its development. The contents of the infiltrate may contain lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils, and eosinophils. According to the nature of inflammation, fibrinous, hemorrhagic, edematous and necrotic enteritis are distinguished. By origin, the original, which arose due to poisoning, and the derivative, which is the result of a bacterial or viral infection, are noted. According to the reaction of the environment, acidosis is distinguished, causing fermentation processes, or alkalosis, accompanied by the development of putrefactive microflora.

Inflammation of the small intestine is called enteritis, the large intestine is called colitis, and the stomach is called gastritis. These types of pathologies are often combined in the form of gastroenterocolitis. All diseases of the cat's alimentary tract are manifested by digestive disorders.

Causes

Inflammatory processes in the digestive canal occur when exposed to the following factors:

• Non-contagious.
• Contagious.

Non-contagious

They arise as a result of congenital predisposition and the following dietary errors:

• Poor quality products.
• Feeding food that is unusual for a cat.
• Overfeeding.
• Water unsuitable for drinking.
• Traumatization from swallowed small fish bones.
• Ingestion of poisonous plants or chemicals into the alimentary tract.
• Eating mice poisoned during deratization.
• Drug toxicosis.
• Allergic intolerance to food ingredients.
• Intestinal volvulus.
• Hormonal disorders.
• Neoplasms.

Contagious

Occurs with helminthiasis, panleukopenia, coronavirus enteritis, inflammation of the cat’s intestines of bacterial etiology

Symptoms

The main signs of inflammation in different parts of the alimentary tract of unequal origin have similar manifestations:

• Diarrhea.
• Stomach ache.
• Lack of appetite.
• Hyperthermia.
• Undigested particles in poorly formed semi-liquid feces.
• The appearance of blood or mucus in the stool.
• Emaciation.
• Hypertrophy of intestinal lymph nodes.
• Cardiac failure.
• Dehydration. My eyes are sunken.

Diagnostics

Taking an anamnesis is important. The doctor needs detailed information about the age of the animal, when and with what the cat was vaccinated and dewormed. Information about the composition of the diet and the date of onset of the first pathological symptoms may be required. If a fellinologist has several animals, what is their health? Are all of them sick or just one?

The most characteristic signs of intestinal inflammation are blood or mucus in the feces, as well as diarrhea and vomiting over a significant period of time. When examining, pay attention to thinness, the intestines become thickened. Laboratory tests are not informative. As prescribed by the doctor, a biopsy, bacterial culture of feces, a test to detect protozoal infestation, and a test diet are performed.

Treatment

A big cat requires "bed rest." She is placed in a warm, shaded place, isolated from other animals and children. You need to fast for 1…2 days and drink plenty of fluids. The treatment concept is developing in the following directions:

• Diet therapy.
• Drug treatment.

Diet therapy

Consists of conducting a food test. Some components are excluded from the diet, replacing them with others. The best option is to use hypoallergenic food. In this case, feeding is excluded, and previously prescribed medications are also canceled. The duration of treatment can be several months.

Drug treatment

Symptomatic therapy is practiced until a final diagnosis is made. It consists of stopping vomiting by parenteral administration of Cerucal, and rehydration designed to restore the loss of osmocompetent salts, as well as fluid.

Preventing diseases of the digestive tract consists of following these rules:

• Feeding with prepared food.
• Drinking daily changed, high-quality water.
• Removing spoiled or unusual foods from the cat’s diet.
• Maintaining a sense of proportion when treating yourself to treats.
• Seasonal arrest for the period of mass rodent control.

Preventive vaccinations and deworming of cats.

IBD is a common diagnosis in cats with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms. This guideline represents clinical change, not least because rational therapy relies on differential diagnosis, and current understanding of the underlying pathogenesis has, to date, hampered the development and development of specific therapy. Dietary manipulation and immunosuppressive therapy remain the mainstays of treatment, but treatment failure is not common. A logical clinical approach and there are a number of alternative and complementary treatment regimens that may be useful in refractory cases.

This article draws on data from human clinical trials, in vivo trials, prospective and retrospective studies in cats with naturally occurring IBD, and clinical experience to discuss testing and treatment choices for cats with idiopathic IBD.

IBD occurs in young, adult, and older cats of both sexes. It is generally accepted that the pathogenesis of IBD is based on loss of mucosal tolerance to intestinal antigens, such as commensal bacteria and food components.

Diagnosis of IBD

IBD is a common diagnosis in adult cats and was recently specifically defined by the WSAVA GI Standards Group. It is believed that the pathogenesis is based on a disorder of the gastrointestinal mucosal immunity (GI) with loss of its tolerance to intestinal antigens, such as commensal bacteria and food components. In addition to this hypothesis, there is evidence that large histocompatibility complex class 2 molecules, which are antigens to the immune system, are activated in the enterocytes of cats with IBD. In addition, the number of bacteria that adhere to the intestinal mucosa of cats with IBD correlates with several pathological features - abnormal duodenal architecture, infiltration of macrophages and T lymphocytes, activation of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-8, to the same extent as and clinical symptoms manifested in sick cats. Thus, the goal of IBD therapy is to reduce antigenic stimulation of the intestine and modulate its local immune response.

The first step in rational management of IBD is obtaining a differential diagnosis.

The WSAVA GI Standardization Group defines IBD GI symptoms lasting more than 3 weeks, incomplete response to a trial of diet and anthelmintics, histologic changes consistent with mucosal inflammation on biopsy, and clinical response to immunomodulatory therapy.

Gastrointestinal biopsy

A mucosal biopsy obtained from the stomach or duodenum during endoscopy is a relatively inexpensive and minimally invasive method than laparotomy or laparoscopy. Unfortunately, mucosal biopsies alone may miss lymphoma in cats, especially if only the intestines are involved and not the stomach. In addition, standard GI endoscopy does not allow examination of the jejunum and ileocecal junction. A full-thickness biopsy is obtained at exploratory laparotomy or laparoscopy and is ideal for diagnosing IBD and excluding lymphoma. However, the added cost, hospitalization time, and risk of potential complications can be inhibitory factors for many pet owners.

Ultrasound data

Abdominal ultrasound may be helpful in choosing a biopsy technique. Thickened wall or lymphadenopathy of the mesenteric bowel may not be a reliable indicator of most likely IBD and lymphoma, but aspiration biopsy of an enlarged or thickened area of ​​the bowel can be performed to rule out lymphoma. (The absence of a cytological picture of lymphoma does not exclude its presence) Loss of normal layering of the intestinal wall indicates neoplasia, the formation must be removed as quickly as possible, or a biopsy taken through the entire layer if the owners prefer chemotherapy. Gastric lymphoma may have a normal ultrasound appearance, but if the wall of the stomach or duodenum appears thickened or infiltrated, further gastroscopy may be required to confirm the diagnosis. Intestinal adenocarcinoma in cats presents with local thickening of the intestinal wall with mixed echogenicity and should be recommended for removal.

The image shows an abdominal ultrasonogram of a 12-year-old domestic cat with complaints of chronic vomiting progressing to hematemesis. The picture shows a locally thickened duodenum. Subsequent gastroscopy confirmed the diagnosis of T-cell lymphoma.

Serum folate and cobalamin concentrations

Serum folate and cobalamin concentrations can often be helpful in biopsy planning. Low folate levels are characteristic of malabsorption in the proximal small intestine. This sign alone, along with the thickened wall of the duodenum 12 on ultrasound, indicates that endoscopy of this area may be sufficient to obtain a biopsy sample. A decrease in serum cobalamin concentration indicates cobalamin malabsorption in the ileum due to either intestinal infiltration or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

fTLI and fPLI

Pancreatic insufficiency is rare in cats, but if polyphagia and weight loss are present in euthyroid and nondiabetic cats, trypsin immunoreactivity testing is recommended. If the indicator is normal, pancreatic insufficiency is excluded; in cats with low cobalamin levels, it is recommended to perform a biopsy through all layers of the duodenum, ileum and jejunum. Because pancreatitis may co-occur with IBD, pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity should also be tested as a screening test in cats with chronic GI symptoms, especially if the pancreas appears mottled on ultrasound or if abdominal discomfort is detected on physical examination.

When examining a biopsy, the pathologist should be asked to follow the standards established by the WSAVA GI Standards Group, which include assessment of cellular infiltrate, crypt distortion, villous blunting and fusion, and fibrosis.

Treatment without biopsy

In IBD, differential diagnosis is impossible without an intestinal biopsy. In some situations, however, a biopsy may not be possible, such as if the owners are financially strapped or if the cat has a contraindication to anesthesia, such as cardiomyopathy or weakness. Unfortunately, long-term clinical symptoms (more than 1 year) do not exclude lymphoma. If a provisional diagnosis of IBD is treated, it is important to ensure that owners do not choose chemotherapy for lymphoma if confirmed and understand that the diagnosis is not confirmed. Even if a biopsy is not possible, it is still recommended to perform an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, measuring the levels of pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity, folate and icoalamine.

Elimination diet therapy

Diet management is a critical first step in managing a cat with IBD. Although idiopathic IBD is defined in part by an incomplete response to a trial of diet therapy, some cats even with severe inflammatory histology may respond to diet alone. The new protein (elimination) diet is aimed at eliminating the release of proteins to which the immune system of the intestinal mucosa may have already been sensitized. Most commercial elimination diets contain new sources of protein, free of dairy, wheat and corn, highly digestible with moderate amounts of soluble fiber.

An elimination diet should always be considered the first-line treatment for chronic gastrointestinal disease in cats, as it is associated with a high response rate.

Dietary manipulation alone has been shown to be fairly effective in treating chronic gastrointestinal diseases in cats, and avoids the side effects associated with immunosuppressive therapy. In fact, more than 50% of cats with idiopathic GI symptoms responded very well to an elimination diet, either a homemade diet with a novel protein source or one of the many commercial diets (venison and rice).

The first recommendation is to try a diet for the first 4 to 6 weeks, which may surprise some doctors and owners. However, in the above-mentioned elimination diet study, all sensitive cats responded within the first 2 to 3 days, so it may be possible to use the diet for a shorter period of time until symptoms resolve and owners can maintain it (after 1 week, it can be changed).

An alternative to an elimination diet is hydrolyzed food. The goal of these diets (zd or DR) is to minimize the antigenicity of intact food proteins. A hydrolysate diet may be ideal as a “sacrificial diet” during the initial period of therapy, while glucocorticoids are used to avoid sensitization to any previously unused new protein sources. They can also be used as monotherapy in the treatment of IBD. Diarrhea or refusal to consume this diet can be a problem for some cats, and it is also more expensive than other elimination diets. There are still no studies comparing the effectiveness of hydrolysate diets versus diets with a novel protein source.

This image shows a colonoscopy of a cat with chronic colonic diarrhea and peripheral eosinophilia. The photo shows superficial ulcers and thickening. Histology of the mucosa showed severe ulcerative lymphocytic-plasmacytic colitis, the cat responded well to prednisolone in combination with a course of fonbendazole.

Response rates to diet therapy

• Concurrent dermatologic symptoms with chronic GI symptoms may indicate food allergy and increase the likelihood of response to an elimination diet.
• Eosinophilia is an unreliable indicator of response to an elimination diet alone, since it does not take into account the degree and type of mucosal lesions on biopsy.
• Immunoglobulin E testing against food allergens is not indicative of response to an elimination diet and should not be used. They are often false-positive/negative and in most cats IBD is not igE-mediated.

In cats with chronic GI symptoms and the presence of atopic dermatitis, such as this cat with pruritus, a higher likelihood of improvement in GI symptoms is associated with the use of an elimination diet alone.

Immunosuppressive therapy

In cats with a histological diagnosis of GI disease that do not respond to dietary changes, immunosuppressive therapy is the treatment of choice, although it is hoped that these drugs will be replaced by more specific drugs as the pathogenesis of IBD is better understood.

Prednisolone

Prednisolone is indicated for patients with severe or severe symptoms and a histological picture of lymphocytic-plasmacytic or eosinophilic inflammation. Prednisone is a precursor that is converted to the active form, prednisolone, after administration. This conversion (or perhaps the absorption of prednisone itself) is low in cats, so plasma prednisolone concentrations after prednisone administration are comparatively lower than after oral prednisone. Therefore, prednisolone is preferred for cats requiring glucocorticoid therapy, especially if they respond poorly to prednisone.

The initial recommended dose of prednisolone is anti-inflammatory to immunosuppressive (1 – 3 mg/kg/day). The dose is changed every 3 to 4 weeks to the minimum effective. Glucocorticoid therapy should be combined with a highly digestible diet, ideally novel or hydrolysed protein sources if possible. In cats with severe symptoms of malabsorption, treatment with subcutaneous injections of glucocorticoids early in therapy may improve response. This can be achieved by using dexamethasone, which is prescribed at 1/7 of the dose of prednisolone, which increases the effectiveness of dexamethasone. Dexamethasone has advantages in the treatment of cats with IBD, which often have underlying heart disease, because it does not cause bicarbonate (soda) retention.

Budesonide

Budesonide is an oral glucocorticoid approved for use in people with Crohn's disease. This drug undergoes extensive hepatic clearance (rapidly eliminated) in humans, resulting in lower systemic drug concentrations and a reduced incidence of side effects. The effect of the drug was studied in dogs, in which it caused polyuria and an increase in serum acid phosphatase, like prednisolone. However, it can still be absorbed in concentrations that can suppress adrenal function in dogs.

In our experience, budesonide is effective in some cats with IBD. The drug is supplied as 3 mg enteric capsules and must be refilled to achieve the recommended empirical dose of 0.5 - 0.75 mg/kg/animal per day. Since the extent of intestinal absorption of the drug in cats has not yet been studied, patients should be monitored for side effects of glucocorticoids, such as urinary tract infections and glycosuria.

Chloralbucil

Chloralbucil is an alkylating agent that binds DNA but is less effective than cyclophosphamide. It is effective in combination with prednisolone for nutritional small cell lymphoma in cats, and in cases of refractory IBD. Chloralbucil may be used as an adjunctive drug in the treatment of cats with IBD that respond poorly to diet and glucocorticoids, or in severe lymphocytic GI disease that is histologically very difficult to differentiate from small cell lymphoma. Doses – 2 mg/animal every 48 – 72 hours or 20 mg/m2 as a single dose every 14 days.

Chloralbucil is well tolerated by most cats. It does not cause hemorrhagic cystitis, and although leukopenia is possible, it is rare. It is necessary to conduct a complete blood count when administering the first three doses, when a dosage of 20 mg/m2 is used, and periodically thereafter (once every 2-3 months). One rather rare side effect of the drug, reversible myoclonus, was observed in a cat when the dosage frequency of the drug was not observed.

Cyclosporine

Cyclosporine is an effective immunosuppressant that suppresses T-cell function, namely the production of IL-2. The drug was tested in dogs with IBD, among which it was effective in patients with symptoms resistant to glucocorticoid treatment. Cyclosporine is often effective in cats with refractory IBD at doses of 5 mg/kg once or twice daily. Lack of appetite and vomiting are common side effects, but they disappear when the dose is reduced by 50%. Rarer side effects such as gingival lesions and secondary fungal infections occur in dogs and have not been described in cats, but activation of subclinical latent infections such as toxoplasmosis and herpesvirus is possible.

The comparative effectiveness of cyclosporine versus chloralbucil as second-line therapy in cats with IBD has not been studied.

Probiotics

Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that aim to maintain microbial balance and have a positive effect on overall health. These are non-pathogenic microorganisms, usually bacteria and sometimes yeast, that can adhere to and colonize the intestinal mucosa; they must be resistant to gastric juice and bile if administered orally. Examples include lactobacilli, bifidobacteria, and enterococcus.

Possible beneficial effects of probiotics include normalizing intestinal flora, inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria, and preventing the penetration of bacteria through the intestinal wall. These effects may be due to a decrease in intestinal pH (lactic and butyric acid) or the release of bactericides. Substances released by these bacteria may also have an anti-inflammatory effect.

There is some evidence of the effectiveness of probiotics in treating people with IBD, although the effect depends on the frequency and dose. Probiotics may reduce the incidence of antibiotic-dependent diarrhea in humans, and may have some effectiveness in maintaining remission in cases of ulcerative colitis. In dogs, they reduce the concentration of clostridia. Under the influence of Lactobacillus, the production of IL-10 and anti-inflammatory cytokines increases. However, in a study of 21 dogs with IBD, there was no benefit from using a probiotic cocktail over a hypoallergenic diet, and this issue needs to be explored more widely.

In a study on healthy cats, administration of lactobacilli reduced clostridia counts and plasma endotoxin concentrations in the short term. A commercial Purina probiotic with this effect caused diarrhea in some cats.

If IBD is indeed caused in part by decreased mucosal tolerance to bacterial flora, then parabiotics may have some benefit. Some commercial veterinary probiotics do not contain viable organisms as stated or are not as described and contain low levels of viable organisms as determined by studies. It is important to use products that contain live bacteria that have been proven to colonize the intestines of cats.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are non-digestible food components that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines. These components are often selectively fermentable short chain hydrocarbons such as beet and psyllium cellulose. Prebiotics are broken down into short chain fatty acids, such as butyric acid, to feed the colonies, which can often reduce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Butyric acid, which can also be administered orally, produces marked improvements in Crohn's disease at colonoscopy, histology, and mucosal cytokine levels in some patients.

There is evidence that the drug is ineffective in cats.

Cobalamin

Low serum cobalamin levels are often observed in cats with GI symptoms, especially those with low body condition scores, although one study from England suggests a low incidence of this phenomenon. Low cobalamin disrupts the normal function of enterocytes, which contributes to the already existing maladsorption in sick cats. It can be caused by malabsorption in the ileum or pancreatic dysfunction (pancreatitis or exocrine insufficiency - the release of bicarbonate in the 12 p.c. is impaired, which connects cobalamin to the binding factor with which it is absorbed in the body).

Macrocytosis is an unreliable indicator of cobalamin deficiency in cats, but has been described. Serum cobalamin should be measured in all cats with confirmed IBD and small bowel diarrhea. Prescribed at a dose of 250 mcg once a week. Treatment results in weight gain, increased appetite, and cessation of vomiting and/or diarrhea in affected cats. Treatment is carried out for 6 weeks until the cause of maladsorption is eliminated.

Metronidazole

Metranidazole is a drug with good antiprotozoal and excellent antianaerobic activity, which is surprisingly effective even alone or in combination with glucocorticoids in the treatment of IBD in cats. It may also have immunomodulatory effects, although these have not been reported at therapeutic dosages.

In cats with IBD, metronidazole is dosed empirically at 15 mg/kg/day. High doses (greater than 58 mg/kg/day) are associated with neurotoxicity in cats, with symptoms ranging from blunted pain sensation to brainstem necrosis. Metronidazole is unpalatable and often causes a decrease in appetite in cats. Metronidazole benzoate is better tolerated in cats, which may be due to both a more pleasant taste and lower plasma concentrations of the drug, which have been studied in humans. Since metronidazole benzoate contains about 60% metronidazole by weight, it should be dosed at 25 mg/kg/day, this dosage is only valid for GI symptoms. Neurotoxicity occurs at a dose of 200 mg/kg/day. In any case, if a cat does not tolerate metronidazole well, benzoate is the drug of choice.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Another option for additional therapy. It increases the production of leukotrienes, which cause the attraction of neutrophils and pro-inflammatory reactions. Some of them can prevent cytokine-induced intestinal permeability disorders. Effective for increasing the period of remission in Crohn's disease.

Starting doses are the same as in humans. Available in the preparation FIZOL. Doses are selected individually and titrated, since these acids are tasteless and often provoke diarrhea.

Failed therapy – checklist

Dietary aspects

• the diet should be selected individually for each cat, homemade diets are more preferable for the period of diagnosis, balanced diets are better for long-term use;
• sometimes you have to try several diets;
• the weekly diet should be adequately based on clinical response data in cats with IBD.

Glucocorticoids

• It is better to use prednisolone than prednisone;
• use budezonite if you are concerned about side effects;
• titrate the dose to the desired effect so as not to cause glucosuria;
• Will prednisolone be absorbed? It is worth considering the use of subcutaneous dexamethasone in cases of severe absorption.

Concomitant gastrointestinal diseases

Diabetes

• Prolonged weight loss has been associated with new-onset diabetes - diabetes may occur during long-term use of glucocorticoids; ask owners to periodically check glucosuria using test strips.

Hyperthyroidism

• Is prolonged weight loss associated with newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism?

Pancreatitis

• diagnosed using ultrasound and IPL;
• Cats with anorexia are treated with subcutaneous fluids and analgesics.

Cholangeohepatitis

• often accompanies IBD in cats;
• diagnosed using an alkaline phosphatase test, ultrasound of the abdomen and liver biopsy;
• bile culture, treatment of infection;
• start treatment with ursodiol

Key points

Idiopathic IBD is defined by the wsava classification as: duration of symptoms greater than 3 weeks, incomplete response to dietary and anthelmintic challenges, histologic mucosal inflammation, and response to immunomodulatory therapy.

Abdominal ultrasound, fPLT, folate, and cobalamin are useful additional tests in cats with chronic GI symptoms. Determination of serum Ig-E to food proteins does not affect the response to an exclusion diet and is not indicated.

Superficial endoscopy may miss lymphoma

Diet and glucocorticoids are the mainstay of therapy for IBD, but chloralbucil, metronidazole, probiotics, soluble fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids may be useful in complementary or alternative therapy.

Translation
Nazarova E.N.