IBS, Diabetes 16yr old

[Moonbelly]

Hello.

Food question.

Background:
my cat has pretty severe IBS, he has to have prednisone daily in his ear or he will vomit very badly and won’t keep any food down. This prednisone medication has caused diabetes recently in him, after about 6-8mo of daily prednisone use and we are sorting out what his insulin dose is with his veterinarian. I have to rent the machine and do his glucose test this weekend. He just started insulin almost 3wks ago.

Yesterday he just showed signs of his legs drooping, and he is drinking more water so I know his insulin needs adjusting.

because of the severe IBS we have him on the wet and dry food Z/D prescription brand, but he really hates it. He acts very hungry also because of the diabetes but there is nothing I can do. The vet has no other recommendations.

Is there anything I can put on her radar!!?? I am super bummed for him. I feel overwhelmed like he isn’t doing great but all I can do are the insulin shots and make his life cozy. He doesn’t like a raw food diet either.

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

Welcome. There are a few IBS cat caregivers here. I'm sure they will chime in before too long

Ziwipeak has some single and novel proteins, I believe.

@Wendy&Neko
will know more.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Cat's don't get IBS, it's IBD you usually see. And hopefully what you are giving is prednisolone, not prednisole. Prednisolone is what cats should get. Though you might want to talk to your vet about trying budesonide instead. It's a steroid, but locally acting on the GI system. For many kitties (including my Neko) it does not impact the blood sugar values.

Z/D is awful stuff, smells bad, I agree with your kitty's tastes! There are lots more options you can feed. What you want to give is a novel protein diet and a good probiotic. The IBD Kitties website talks a lot about diet. There are canned novel proteins if he doesn't like raw. Ziwipeak is one brand, so are Nature's Variety Instinct, Koha, Raws, might be more.Visbiome is a probiotic especially made for IBD. However, don't change his food until you are home testing. Going to a low carb novel protein (which Z/D most definitely is not!), will reduce the amount of insulin he needs.

I have to rent the machine and do his glucose test this weekend.

No need to rent a machine. Blood glucose meters for humans work just fine and are much cheaper with more easily available test strips. Look for one with a small blood drop requirement and cheaper test strips cost - that's what you'll go through the most.