Reviews of Vitality Science Diarrhea protocol?

[dogmelissa]

http://www.vitalityscience.com/v/All...-treatment.asp

Looking for any reviews - positive or negative - for the "treatment resistant diarrrhea" protocol for cats. Obviously they only publish the glowing reviews on their site, and the money back guarantee is better than any options from the vet, but looking for anyone who's tried it & what you thought.

Not looking for advice on what to do, have been working with a vet for months on this issuue and am unwilling to try her antibiotic "pulse" treatment. Blood work and physical exam showed nothing: I believe it is drug-induced IBD from a year on clomipramine.

Any reviews of this protocol are appreciated.

Thanks,
Melissa

[Barkingdog]

http://itchmoforums.com/veterinary-a...-t13955.0.html


This is a link to another forum asking the same question. I hope it's OK to post the link if not please delete it.

[RUSTYcat]

I'm 'on the run' today, so I don't have time for a whole lot by way of 'considered opinion'....that said:

A quick read of what itchmo folks had to say (more importantly, knowing the reliability of most of those actual posters) helps me make the following conclusion: SNAKE OIL SCAM.

If you really want to know whether/not ANYTHING is effective and legit for IBD, join one or both of the IBD Yahoo groups and ask them. That's where you'll find the truly knowledgeable folks - after years and years online and after thousands of cats, those people know a thing-or-three! (perhaps you could consider posing your 'pulsing' question there...

The original group: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/FeIBD/

A second group: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/felineibd1/

I've done a little editing above because I was concerned that what I wrote might have diminished the value of your question and (what may well be) a very difficult period leading up to your posting it here.

Because of what I have experienced with these specialized online groups and what I have read of other (real) peoples' experiences, I'd really urge you to check them out. They're private, so you need to be a member to read what goes on in them - but joining's easy, and at first, you can just read and assess their discussions, then later, participate if it suits you. (word of advice: get new separate email addys to use with them - it will help you manage info flow)

........so much for 'being on the run!

[dogmelissa]

Thanks for the links. I've read pretty much everything I can find online about this company/these products and was looking to see if there was anyone who had actually tried them. It doesn't sound like a scam to me, they sell through Amazon even and though they don't have a lot of reviews there other than "shipped quick" the ones that actually have information about the products do rate them well.

I don't know for sure that she has IBD, and her vet isn't convinced her problems were triggered by the clomipramine, but I have had her for 12 years and I deal with her litter box daily and know when things changed.

The short answer is that rather than spending hundreds of dollars trying things with the vet, or watching her continue to suffer with this issue, I feel that I owe it to her to try this potential cure. I know that every animal is different, but was hoping to hear from someone who had actually used this product - I'm really curious if VS will *really* refund if it doesn't work, but have not found any reviews saying they requested a refund.

I'll give it a little longer to see if anyone else sees this thread.

Thanks,
Melissa

[RUSTYcat]

OK.
I've just done a search of TheCatSite forums. I first tried using Google Advanced Search....result was 3 identical references, someone asking your question but getting no reply. I then tried that site's own search (as a member, from within the site). That search shows 7 references to VS. Now, I don't have the time to track those down further, just know they are in there. I don't know if this link will work for you, feel free to try: http://www.thecatsite.com/newsearch?...&Search=SEARCH (if unworkable, you could join up and search)

TheCatForum has no references that I could find either courtesy Google nor from "inside the site" (translation: as a member).

No, you don't know for sure that she has IBD - but....you said " I believe it is drug-induced IBD"...........that feeling must have come from the fact that (at least some) of your cat's symptoms are similar to 'classic IBD' symptome: Yes or No?

IF you answer "Yes".......then why not take tour question about VS to a place(s) where there are known to be clusters of cat "owners" gathered for only one sole purpose: the management of 'classic IBD symptoms'????

I know I sound rhetorical with that question.......that said, ask yourself if my question/suggestion is logical, if it makes sense.

I know from my own personal struggles with one particular major health issue in a very cherished cat just how exasperating, how overwhelming, how depressing it can be. I have read other peoples' accounts of their struggles. From my own and from others', I also know that when no answers are forthcoming from established 'authorities', we have become extremely vulnerable to trying ANYTHING that even hints of a possible cure/resolution.

Unscrupulous merchants, swindlers and other 'snake oil salesmen' are on the prowl for those of us in those situations. IMO, that's where the old adage "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is" should kick in. Often, sadly, it does not.

Personally, I don't think that a product's appearance on Amazon is in any way an indication of its "legitimacy".

I know your post/question was not an attempt to get help for the symptoms you're trying to eradicate......that said, can I ask exactly what you're trying to treat? The two known side effects of clomipramine relating to intestional issues are, oddly, at opposite ends of the "problems with poop spectrum": reduced intestinal motility (constipation-like symptoms) and diarrhea. (If your Vet is suggesting a/b pulsing, that sounds like an attempt to deal with recurring diarrhea) If you'd rather not get into this, no problem.

Anyways, back to you, I'm out of ideas!