maroon discharge + gas + empty vomit...no answers

[Love4himies]

Sending some more for him today

[wynden]

I just got Edwyn home at last.

His regular doctor was out today, and the new doctor didn't want to let him come home. Even though Edwyn ate around 7pm last night, she was bothered that he hadn't eaten since. I was pretty sure it's because he was more comfortable during the night when most of the noise had died down. Anyway, she agreed to let me take him back.

When they finally brought him out to me, I had a lot to go over with the nurse and he wanted to go in the carrier. But when I sat down next to it he came out and got into my lap to demand luvs. It was easy to see that he was feeling much better today! He was a lot calmer and his happiness was written all over. He is active and was a lot more talkative than usual on the drive home.

As soon as we got home he made a bee-line for the food dish and devoured quite a bit! So I'm pretty sure it was just the stress of the strange environment that was holding him back before. They have him on an appetite stimulant.

The official diagnosis is Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Specifically "lymphoplasmacytic eosinophillic enteritis". Severity "mild to moderate". They have prescribed Prednisone, Metronidazole, Pepcid AC, and Mirtazapine. They want him to eat whatever he will eat for now, and then start on a special diet once his appetite is better.

I asked about the long term prognosis but the doctor didn't want to commit to anything. She only affirmed what I've already read, that it can create vulnerability to other complications, as can staying on the meds too long. I hope Edwyn responds well to the meds and can wean off them sooner than later.

He is in really good spirits right now, and I just want to keep him that way.

[Love4himies]

I am glad you have a diagnosis. IBD can be very tricky to keep at bay depending on how severe it is. Pred is never a good med to be on, whether human or cat, but it does work and the key is to get the inflammation in his colon down. Although I am an advocate that diet does not affect a true IBD diagnosis, you may want to consider a diet that is very easy for him to digest. I do think the healthiest diet, with the least "junk" is key.

I am glad you brought him home, if a pet doesn't need round the clock treatment, then they normally do better at home.

So I am assuming the maroon discharge was mucous and blood????

[catlover2]

Wynden, I'm glad you got a definitive diagnosis rather than it be something that has the vets scratching their heads about. I do hope he gets a rapid healing on the pred to get the inflammation under control, and then has a good recovery and you get him on a diet that will benefit him. Frankly, I was concerned that it might be a tumour with the blood in the stool. At least IBD is manageable, at least that's what I understand.

[hazelrunpack]

Our dog's IBD was also eosinophillic in nature, wynden. We were able to wean him off the pred and control the IBD by diet alone. As it was explained to us back in the 90s, Evan's intestine essentially would develop an allergy to whatever protein he ate...so we concentrated on single-protein foods and switched to a novel protein when he developed symptoms. Eventually he ended up on some of the hydrolized protein foods and once we found a mixture that had the proper amount of flavor to it, he did well on it. Not sure if they manage IBD the same in cats or not, though , but it often can be managed.

I hope he continues to improve and you can wean him off the pred quickly!