Question:  So if metronadizole (flagyl), steroids, and the highly processed prescription foods may harm my cat - how do I treat my cat's IBD???

Answer: 
  1. By using a fresh-food, anti-inflammatory diet your cat was built to metabolize
  2. By re-establishing a proper balance of healthy gut bacteria with the use of proper probiotics, and
  3. By using gentle healing therapies, such as B12 shots, enzymes, slippery elm bark powder and other approaches that support reducing inflammation and regulating the immune system.

Medicines have their place and their role, but they will not support your pet's best health long term. If they are needed, use them! But understand they are a tool in IBD management, not a treatment of the underlying causes. As we say, Start Here!


Medicines & Supplements by Function


Medicines & Supplements by Item & Function



Antacids
Antibiotics
Anti-Inflammatory
  • Saccharomyces Boulardii - Review of the Science - why it's not just for diarrhea, and why it should be considered an essential part of treatment and management of IBD. S. boulardii is a yeast that does not colonize the gut, but it has direct anti-inflammatory action, and supports healthy colonies of bacteria.
  • Curcumin in Treating GI Disease (IBD and Pancreatitis)
  • The Golden Paste - Unsafe for Cats?
  • Steroids - by Dr Karen Becker. Steroids can go a long way to improving the quality of life for your pet. The problem? Steroids treat the symptom, not the underlying problem. Dr. Karen Becker discusses the problems with steroids: "Traditional medicine for both people and animals is about treating symptoms with prescriptions – not treating the cause of those symptoms." "My greatest concern about overuse of steroids is that the underlying condition causing your pet’s symptoms, which is typically inflammation, is usually left untreated." We note that some kitties are in such bad shape, a course of steroids to reduce the inflammation while you transition to an anti-inflammatory diet and repopulate healthy gut bacteria is in order. Some may need a low dose for life depending on the severity of the disease, and steroids are an important tool in the management or treatment of cancer. But as Dr. Becker points out, steroids are associated with the development of diabetes and pancreatitis. So please make an informed choice.
  • Steroids: Budesonide. Budesonide is a steroid that works topically when taken orally (or inhaled). Yes, it has less side-effects than prednisolone because it does not work systemically (though when used long term, it can still produce the same side effects). However, because it works topically, it must come into contact with the inflammation to do its job: it cannot penetrate intestinal layers. This means it can only be used in cases of moderate-to-mild IBD. It is also important to note that it only works in certain parts of the intestines, basically limited to the lower small intestine and upper large intestine, as it isn't released until it reaches the terminal ilium.

B12 (Cobalamin) in IBD
Enzymes - The importance of enzymes
  • Raw or Cooked? Which Should I Feed and Why?
  • Digestive Enzymes  - (Use for pets) Featured in IVC Journal, Spring 2012
  • Enzyme Protocol for Treatment of Diarrhea. Article title "Giardia Natural Treatment Protocol" by Dr. Jean Hofve. "This protocol utilizes digestive enzymes on an empty stomach. With no food in the system, the digestive enzymes go to work on anything else that might be in the intestines–including parasites. Although it has not been tested with other protozoal parasites, it could theoretically work for Coccidia, Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidia, Neosporum, Tritrichomonas foetus, and similar protozoal parasites."
  • Controlling Inflammation with Enzymes - Lane Leonard, PhD, Ward Dean, MD, and Jim English. Nutrition Review April 2012. Enzymes play a critical role in inflammation and other immune system functions.

Probiotics in Cats

****NEW***** Fecal Microbiome Transplants - the ONLY species-specific "probiotic" (as that's really what it is) that has the ability to colonize and restore a healthy diversity of microbiota essential for health!
  • You can restore a healthy - cat-specific, colonizing - microbiome in your cat using a fecal microbiota pill, created by AnimalBiome. There is NO better probiotic, though this should NOT be given with antibiotics. AnimalBiome has Fecal Microbiota Transplant pills ("Gut Restoration" pills a.k.a. "FMT Pills," in our Facebook group, also referred to in the group as  "poobiotics" and "Poo pills"). For more information please see Healing Your Pet With A Microbiota Transplant

Probiotics for Cats - A Cornerstone in IBD Treatment - Why and Which Ones
Probiotics for Cats - Kefir, the powerhouse you make at home and can share with your cat!
S boulardii - Review of the Science
Jarrow S boulardii: why this brand (with MOS) is your best choice: The science of MOS

- On the Use of Human Probiotics in Cats:
- L-acidophilus in cats:  
- On L acidophilus and its role in B12 / Folate uptake:

Further Information

On the Importance of Proper Motility in Cats:
  • "Normal intestinal motility is a major defense mechanism against attachment of pathogenic bacteria in the small intestine, and subnormal intestinal motility has been associated with small intestinal dysbiosis." J.S. Suchdoloski 2011, Microbes and Gastrointestinal Health of Dogs and Cats, J. Anim. Sci. 2011. 89:1520–1530.

On Low B12 and Diarrhea: