Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi there. I've emailed you in the past in regards to my cat, Sola who was diagnosed recently with moderate lymphoplasmacytic IBD. He is on budesonide (1ml/day) and gets ultrasounds every other month to monitor his condition.

I'm emailing because Sola recently started to have very hard, dark stools and constipation from time to time. Our vet recommended we add fibercon to his diet and I've been doing so for about 3 weeks, but he is still having hard, dark stools. I've read that this could indicate melena. What would you recommend I do?

I just reread all your previous postings on Sola. I think you are correct about the blood in the stool, as he is often anemic on a CBC. Have your vet do a test for occult blood in the stool. I suggest you take Sola off of all prepared foods, especially dry. Avoid any foods with grains, carbohydrates or vegetables; cats are obligate carnivores and need meat, not plants. Fish is OK. You might try feeding only meat, poultry or fish, along with colostrum, as his diet to help with intestinal healing.

Thanks for your advice. Sola is going in for another abdominal ultrasound 2 weeks from today so I'll ask for an occult test. Isn't that the test that is run on dogs to see if they have heartworm?

His last CBC (in September) showed that his WBC was 6 and RBC was 6.37 which both are WNL according to the range I was given.

I've tried homemade diets (raw, cooked, etc.) and Sola won't eat them. He is currently eating grain-free Wellness canned turkey and I've been adding benefiber, pumpkin and olive oil to his diet at the advice of my vet.

Does this all sound okay to be giving him?