Conference misery::feline

    
    Nick, you hit the nail on the head when you brought "patience" into the
    picture!  It took me months to get Bailey regulated.  Every cat is
    different so it is a matter of trying things one by one to see what
    works. Jan Cordes had great luck with the Lite, nothing worked for me
    except the W/D. I certainly agree that the dietary issues should be
    addressed first before moving ahead.  It is both tough on the feline
    and the owner.  When you starting changing the diet you don't know if
    the problems that you encounter are related to the colitis or just the 
    normal reaction to a change in diet.  Time and patience are the key.
    
    

    
    A salesperson from Fromm's was at the show this past weekend and we
    discussed alternatives to using Hill's Prescription Diet (R/D, C/D,
    W/D, etc.) for cost reasons alone.  He told me that Triumph produces
    a W/D equivalent and referred me to a store that carries it.  If the
    Bales' system can handle it and I can save some money I'll be a happy
    camper!
    
    

    So far so good!!!!  We switched over to Hill's W/D almost 2 weeks ago
    and haven't had a bad stool since...Sam is still on 1/4 tab sulfa in
    the am.  My wife called the Hill's 800 number.  Interestingly, we found
    out that the C/D is high in fiber and fat...whereas the W/D is fiber
    and virtually no fat.  Evidently that's the 'trick'!!!  
    
    What surprises me is that neither vet was keen on switching to W/D.  We
    did it on our own based upon the input in this notesfile.  Our vet in
    Spencer does carry the dry and ordered the wet for us...but again, it's
    not routine for him to prescribe it.  Both vets wanted us to stay on
    the C/D.
    
    So...We're going to leave things as they are for a while and taper off
    the sulfa.  
    
    Fingers still crossed!!
    
    				Thanks for your feedback,
    					NICK

    
    Nick, I glad to hear that things are working out!  I believe that 
    the high fiber, no fat is the key.  How long did the vet say to Keep
    giving Sam the sulfur?  I found that after regulating Bailey I could
    take him off of it and control the colitis by his diet.  If by chance
    he ate something that triggered his system and knocked him out of whack
    I'd put him back on the sulfur.  The other thing that I experienced
    from the W/D was dry skin.  You may want to supplement with mineral
    oil, egg yolks, etc. if you notice alot of flaking.
    
    
    
    

    
    	I know this is a fairly old note but....
    
    	About a month and a half ago I notice blood in Audrey's stool.
    	(she's a lynx point siamese....almost 2 years old)  I waited a few
    	days because she had been munching on a plant I had in the house 
    	(and have since removed) and figured that's what it was.  She was
    	lethargic a bit too.  Well within a couple of days, things seemed	
    	back to normal.  But then again, the blood appeared.  She was her
    	usual hyper self, eating and drinking normally etc so I called the
    	vet and brought in a sample to be tested for worms.  Negative. 
    	They told me to just keep an eye on her and if it didn't improve
    	in a week to call back.  It didn't.  So I brought her in two weeks
    	ago.  The vet palpated her and said she didn't feel anything out
    	of the ordinary.  Again, Audrey was her normal self other than
    	the bloody stool.  So, the vet gave me some medication, (didn't
    	even look at the name)telling me she thought it was colitis.
    	She said if it wasn't better in two weeks to call back as it may
    	be something else and they may have to run various tests.  She 
    	listed off a bunch of them, all of which I know will add up to
    	a lot of money.....which I can't afford on a secretary's salary.
    	Everything was looking up.....till this morning.  The blood is 
    	back.  Any suggestions before I call the vet back?  I really don't
    	want to bring her back in if there are some other things I can
    	try first!
    
    	Thanks!
    
    	JJ
    

    Try a food with a higher fiber content than the one you are using.
    Carrie has chronic colitis and I have her on Science Diet Lite 
    Maintenance.  The only time we have problems now is when she eats
    too much of Onyx's lower fiber food.
    
    Jan

    JJ,
    
    If the blood is bright red, that would indicate the irritation is at
    the surface, such as a ruptured blood vessel.  Brownish-black blood
    would be more likely to indicate an intestinal problem of sorts.
    
    Are you sure it is blood?  Sometimes colorings in the canned foods can
    affect the stool and make it look like blood, but it isn't.
    
    Keep us posted!  And in regards to costs, can you work out a payment
    plan with your vet if things get tough?   Although it might not be
    hospital policy, some vets will make exceptions for their better
    customers.
    
    Good luck,
    Roberta
    
    

    He/she could be straining while having a bowel movement, hence
    irritating the colon and causing ruptured vessels.  Get him/her on 
    a high fiber quality cat food, and see if that helps....... 

    
    
    	Roberta
    
    	Oh, it's definitely blood.....bright red.  Which is another
    	reason why I ruled out worms.
    
    	I'll try switching her to a different food.  Looks like the 
    	eating habits will have to change for everyone!
    
    	Can someone suggest a high fiber food that isn't too expensive?
    	I've used Triumph in the past and they liked that well enough..
    	do they have one?
    
    	Thanks everyone!
    
    	Judy
    

    Here in Calif. I pay $13.49 for a 10 pound bag of Science Diet
    Lite Maint.  Is that considered a reasonable price where you
    are?  Carrie does very well on it.  Don't have any problems
    with anyone refusing to eat it either.  Even Onyx, whose supposed
    to be on regular Maint. eats it.  
    
    Jan

    JJ..kitty prayers for your baby.  Do you see her straining at
    all when she goes in the litter?  Is the stool hard or soft?
    If it is hard...you could possible add some minerail oil to the
    food.                                                              
    
    Wow Jan..in Mass I pay about 15.65 for a 10 pound bag of Science
    Diet light.  I have seen some stores carry it for 18.00!!
    
    
    
    

    
    
    	No, her stool is very soft which is why I don't understand
    	how she could be 'straining' herself.....
    

    JJ,
    
    Rolf (my Aby) regularly has blood in his (very soft) stools. He just
    has a very sensitive tummy. It is usually as a result of him eating too
    much - he is a bit of a porker! We just add a teaspoon of powdered
    kaolin to his food and watch him for a few days to make sure he doesn't
    scoff Pookie or Florences food (not easy ;-) .
    
    Sometimes we add the kaolin for a couple of days, gradually reducing
    the amount. Also we only feed him rabbit Whiskas - nothing else.
    
    Hope this helps,
    
    Lisa.

    
    
    	What's kaolin?
    
    	I was talking to Audrey's Auntie Mary  =)  yesterday and she says
    	it happens to one of hers (Honey?) and it's because of furballs.
    	So she suggested I pick up some Femalt and put her on SD Lite
    	and see what happens.  I want to make sure she's ok before I make
    	my decision to get another kitten.  =)
    
    	Thanks for all the advice folks!
    
    	JJ
    

    JJ,
    
    Kaolin is a very fine powdered clay. It is used in human medicines to
    settle the stomach - perhaps it's only available here in the UK? We
    bought a huge bag of it from the chemists - much cheaper than buying it
    by the teaspoon at the vet ;-)
    
    Lisa.
    

    
    
    	Hmmmm, never heard of it?  Anyone else?  Maybe at a health
    	food store or something?
    
    	The past couple of days her stool has looked ok, but I know
    	it'll reappear again.....that's the cycle it seems to be taking.
    
    	JJ
    

	I think Kaolin is the same stuff that you find here in Kaopectate -
	just a different name.  Hi Lisa! :^}

    
    
    	Hee.  I don't think Audrey would appreciate me giving her
    	Kaopectate......
    

    People get colitis too.  Here are some tips I can share with you that
    help me so maybe....they will help your poor kitties.
    
    1.  Only eat soft food during an actual colitis attack.  Those of
        you who feed dry food may want to add water and soften it up
        a bit.
    
    2.  Sprinkle some acidofilous (sp?) on the food.  It comes in  
        capsules that can be broken.  I give this to my birds to 
        help keep all the natural flora and fauna in line as well
        as use it for myself.
    
    3.  Kaopectate!! Poor babies!  Try some metamucil on their food
        Its much easier on the system and will bind things up to 
        their normal consistency.
    
    4.  Yogurt with real cultures helps.  Kitties should like it!
    
    Hope this helps and good luck with your kitties.
    
    Jeanne
    
    P.S.  almost forgot, reduce stress as much as possible.