Food change advice - potential IBD

[Brittany B]

Hi all,

Joey has had another bout of diarrhea recently and we are looking to make a change to his food to see if it makes a difference (currently eating Purina Pro Plan DM wet food pate).

Our vet is suggesting Royal Canin hydrolyzed protein but I’m concerned this won’t be great for Joey’s blood sugar. Understanding that we won’t be able to find a good that’s perfect at addressing both diabetes and IBD but want to do as best we can.

Based on my reading it sounds like we should try a novel protein food (something other than chicken). Wondering if you have run into this scenario and would appreciate suggestions.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

If a cat has a possible diagnosis of IBD, novel proteins are a good first step. You can only confirm a diagnosis with a biopsy.

Flavors such as venison, rabbit, lamb, or pork are typically novel proteins but it obviously depends on what you've been feeding Joey. I would also try to eliminate any gums (e.g., guar gum) or carrageenan. ZiwiPeak is a good choice although, it seems to be out of stock on Chewy and Amazon lately. Another alternative is a raw diet. You can often find ground lamb or pork at the grocery store or there may be specialty butchers in your area. Other raw diets are commercially available (e.g., Rawz). If you home prepare a raw diet, you can buy a pre-mix that contains all of the necessary supplements to make the diet nutritionally complete. Most of us use FoodFurLife's EZComplete.