Hugo's been diagnosed with probable IBD/Lymphoma.

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Elle D & Hugo

Elle D & Hugo

Member Since 2020
Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has had a lot of experience with a cat that has both IBD and diabetes? When Hugo had his ultrasound, they saw thickening of his intestine and he seems to still have bouts of vomiting. Our vet said that it was IBD/Lymphoma, and we can't afford the test to diagnose him for sure with which one right now. We already switched him over to the Ziwipeak Venison/Lamb/Rabbit, which both our cats seem to like, but it doesn't seem to be helping too much yet. What else should I be doing? I know probiotics/prebiotics should be good, but I don't really know which ones and how to give it to him. I think I should also get his B-12 tested? He doesn't seem to have diarrhea or constipation issues, it always been mostly vomiting up bile in the mornings before eating.

Any advice would be appreciated. I think the gut issues may have something to do with why his numbers are so bouncy. He's been on the insulin for about 6 months now and we still don't seem to have his numbers under control. He seems to also be developing neuropathy in his back legs, which breaks my heart. We just don't seem to know how to help him.
 
Elle D & Hugo said:
. I think I should also get his B-12 tested? He doesn't seem to have diarrhea or constipation issues, it always been mostly vomiting up bile in the mornings before eating.
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If he's throwing up bile that means his tummy is empty overnight or acid reflux. So you leave for our for him at night? If not, that could help. If you already do, then he could use an antacid (famotadine). You can add b12 methylcobalamin supplements to the food. It will help resolve the neuropathy along with regulated bg numbers.
 
Hi Here is the link https://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-vitamin-b-12-methylcobalamin-5000-mcg-100-capsules-6

Alot of members use this , I use it myself you can buy it on line from Vitacost
Vitamin B-12 Methylcobalamin -- 5000 mcg - 100 Capsules
It's 17.99 just be sure this is the one you buy
The only difference is the Zobaline has 200 mcgs of folic acid
So I buy the folic acid at the supermarket and crush it up and add it to the B-12
If you can't find the 200 mcg get the 400 mcg and cut it in half
The Vitacost brand is a capsule so just open it and pour the powder on the wet food
Has no taste, no need to crush it up
The Zobaline is 33.99 for 60 pills, too expensive
I saw a big improvement I'd say 3 months, could be sooner. One capsule a day


Vitamin B-12 Methylcobalamin -- 5000 mcg - 100 Capsules

  • SKU #: 835003001804
  • Shipping Weight: 0.23 lb
  • Servings: 100
 
Hi Elle,

I’m sorry about Hugo, but that’s exactly what I went through with Minnie until she had an endoscopy and biopsy this year that confirmed the IBD. Are you giving him anti nausea anti vomiting meds? That was key to keep Minnie eating well for almost 2 years prior to the diagnosis. She was on ondansetron, which is a human med because Cerenia didn’t work for her and I also wanted a med that she could take daily so she ate and I could give her the insulin. It worked like a charm. 30 minutes after she took it, she’d eat for me normally. You can also add an apetite stimulant, but the anti nausea is key because your cat won’t eat if it’s nauseated. It also helps with vomiting lot.

also, the b12 methyl mentioned above is great for neuropathy but for IBD you need the b12 solution that is injected. Hugo should be getting b12 shots once a week or at least twice a month. Cats with either condition will need the b12 shots so you can just ask your vet about it. I don’t think you need to test for that since b12 is water soluble and the excess gets peed out anyway. The b12 methyl will help him recover from the neuropathy once the diabetes is regulated. Minnie also has severe neuropathy and it’s totally recovered now.

I saw a nutritionist as well who put Minnie on a human probiotic made for colitis and IBD. It’s called Visbiome and it’s not cheap, but I only give her 1/3 a capsule a day so the bottle lasts for a few months. Here’s the link to the website:
https://www.visbiome.com/

What she’s on now that she’s been diagnosed is budesopine, which is a localized steroid for the GI tract, and it’s working wonders but I don’t think Hugo can go on it until he’s diagnosed via endoscopy and biopsy

good luck and let me know if you have more questions!
 
Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
Btw, the anti acid like omeprazol and Pepcid worked for Minnie for a few weeks, but then it didn’t do much, but you should discuss that with your vet. I’d try the feeding overnight as suggested. Maybe get a feeder with a timer?
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That’s because newer thinking is that acid really isn’t the issue and Pepcid doesn’t do much except in rare instances. Many still think it helps nausea. Better to not go too long between feedings. A snack before bed and in the afternoon can help.
 
Sorry for Hugo's diagnosis.:bighug:

He's throwing up because his intestines are narrowed, as a result of whichever you are dealing with, not acid. If you do end up on chemo, Pepcid is counterindicated. The cat's acid tummy is helpful to fight the bacteria in an immunocompromised cat.

Yes - get his B12 tested. Many IBD or small cell lymphoma kitties are low on B12 and have poor food absorption. It's cyanocobalamin you want (as Ale said) - not methyl B12, so the Vitacost won't help. Usually the B12 is given as shots.

As for a path forward - it's tricky if you can't get even an endoscopy. You can treat with novel proteins and see if that helps. Visbiome is a good probiotic. I get the small packets and each packet lasts about a week mixed with food. So the box lasts me about 8 months - making it reasonably cost effective. If a novel protein diet does not help, then you are likely dealing with SCL, which does not respond to a change in diet. Don't let the word lymphoma freak you out. :bighug: With a steroids and the right protocol of a low grade chemo, the vast majority of such kitties go into remission, some for several years. It's also a relatively slow moving disease. The issue is that treatment of SCL is different from IBD so it's best to know which you are dealing with.

I could not get Neko properly diagnosed either. Diagnosis requires anaesthesia, which her heart could not take at that point. So the internal medicine vet consulted with the oncologist and we went with best guess which was SCL or severe IBD. She was already on a raw novel protein diet. What I've learned from a subsequent SCL kitty that was diagnosed (sigh!), Neko probably did have SCL. Her heart could not take prednisolone, so she went on budesonide which is a more locally acting steroid. The bonus was that it did not impact her blood sugar values. And if you are not going to get a biopsy or endocsopy, you absolutely can have him go on it now. You just shouldn't go on a steroid before biopsy or endoscopy, because it masks what is happening. Budesonide lowered Neko's GI inflammation by 35% so helped a lot. Her only symptoms before hand were the odd foamy vomit (she was also CKD), then sudden inappetence was what got me to take her into the vet.
 
Thank you to everyone for replying.

Did you get the Visbiome specifically for pets or just the regular?



Wendy&Neko said:
Sorry for Hugo's diagnosis.:bighug:

He's throwing up because his intestines are narrowed, as a result of whichever you are dealing with, not acid. If you do end up on chemo, Pepcid is counterindicated. The cat's acid tummy is helpful to fight the bacteria in an immunocompromised cat.

Yes - get his B12 tested. Many IBD or small cell lymphoma kitties are low on B12 and have poor food absorption. It's cyanocobalamin you want (as Ale said) - not methyl B12, so the Vitacost won't help. Usually the B12 is given as shots.

As for a path forward - it's tricky if you can't get even an endoscopy. You can treat with novel proteins and see if that helps. Visbiome is a good probiotic. I get the small packets and each packet lasts about a week mixed with food. So the box lasts me about 8 months - making it reasonably cost effective. If a novel protein diet does not help, then you are likely dealing with SCL, which does not respond to a change in diet. Don't let the word lymphoma freak you out. :bighug: With a steroids and the right protocol of a low grade chemo, the vast majority of such kitties go into remission, some for several years. It's also a relatively slow moving disease. The issue is that treatment of SCL is different from IBD so it's best to know which you are dealing with.

I could not get Neko properly diagnosed either. Diagnosis requires anaesthesia, which her heart could not take at that point. So the internal medicine vet consulted with the oncologist and we went with best guess which was SCL or severe IBD. She was already on a raw novel protein diet. What I've learned from a subsequent SCL kitty that was diagnosed (sigh!), Neko probably did have SCL. Her heart could not take prednisolone, so she went on budesonide which is a more locally acting steroid. The bonus was that it did not impact her blood sugar values. And if you are not going to get a biopsy or endocsopy, you absolutely can have him go on it now. You just shouldn't go on a steroid before biopsy or endoscopy, because it masks what is happening. Budesonide lowered Neko's GI inflammation by 35% so helped a lot. Her only symptoms before hand were the odd foamy vomit (she was also CKD), then sudden inappetence was what got me to take her into the vet.
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Elle D & Hugo said:
Thank you to everyone for replying.

Did you get the Visbiome specifically for pets or just the regular?
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I think the one for pets is sold to vets only. I use the capsules and it lasts me 4 months since I give her 1/3 a capsule a day, but it sounds like Wendy uses the packets and they both have to be refrigerated. Apparently the diference is in the amount. Each packet is equivalent of 4 capsules. Shipping is free regardless.

@Wendy&Neko how on earth do you manage to split up each packet into 12 doses? Or are you giving more than that each time...? :bookworm:
 
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Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
how on earth do you manage to split up each packet into 12 doses? Or are you giving more than that each time...?
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I have a set of tiny teaspoons - which came in handy when I was giving Neko her various meds (binder, potassium). The one called "Dash", filled half way, one per AM and PM meals, makes the packet last about a week. Dose at about 1/16th tsp daily, so each time I'm giving 1/32 tsp.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
I have a set of tiny teaspoons - which came in handy when I was giving Neko her various meds (binder, potassium). The one called "Dash", filled half way, one per AM and PM meals, makes the packet last about a week. Dose at about 1/16th tsp daily, so each time I'm giving 1/32 tsp.
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First, :eek::banghead::eek::banghead::eek::banghead:

Second, you’re giving more than me in the end. I only give it to Minnie once a day because it’s a struggle she’ll eat around it if I mix with the food. The only solution I’ve found is to mix it with a little baby food. Then she eats it all up. A packet would probably last me 12 days. I’ll look into a set of tiny spoons though. I wonder if Amazon carries them
 
Elle D & Hugo said:
I'm curious if any of you have used the slippery elm bark and George's aloe drink that they recommend? Did it make any difference? How did you use it?
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i did use that too at the beginning. I mixed it with the George’s aloe Vera juice and probiotics and made the gel. Honestly, I don’t know that it made much difference. The SEB has a strong smell and taste so it was a fight to get it in Minnie’s mouth and after a few months I gave up. I did and do continue to add the aloe Vera to her food because that’s tasteless
 
I did try the slippery elm bark, with George’s. Instead of extra water I added home made chicken stock which made it edible. I think it might have helped somewhat, but what really helped was getting the GI inflammation dealt with.

My main problem with SEB is that you can’t give any meds within two hours of it. Neko had so many conditions/meds, I was running out of time slots!
 
Wendy&Neko said:
I did try the slippery elm bark, with George’s. Instead of extra water I added home made chicken stock which made it edible. I think it might have helped somewhat, but what really helped was getting the GI inflammation dealt with.

My main problem with SEB is that you can’t give any meds within two hours of it. Neko had so many conditions/meds, I was running out of time slots!
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Omg same here! I’d do it right before bedtime and then I was running around after Minnie trying to get her to eat it all, I couldn’t fall asleep for an hour after with all the adrenaline :banghead::banghead::banghead:

PS - found the tiny spoons on Amazon. I love that they’re actually called that ha!
 
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