Kitty diagnosed with IBD - Need Advice on Food

[ThingsGottaChange]

After having a bunch of blood work done my vet says Duke has IBD. He wants to put him on Prednisone and Metronidazole and have him start eating Hill's Science Diet ID. I can deal with the pills, no problem. But, I'm not too crazy about Hill's brand food. I've read tons of info on cat food and Hill's doesn't get very good reviews. Not to mention that it's $32 for a 10# bag. I'm going to start him on the meds right away but need some advice on food. He does prefer canned. But also eats dry. I also have two other cats in good health so, I want to find something everyone can eat.

If anyone has a cat with IBD, can you please let me know what you are feeding them? I'm sure I'm going to have to pay a hefty price for the cat food but, I want it to be good quality. No, I'm not going to do home made. Don't have a car to get to the store when needed. I'm also on disability so want to watch the cost as best I can. I did run across this a bit ago. Any input on this would also be appreciated. http://www.proplan.com/dry-cat-food/sensitive-skin-stomach-formula/

Thanks so much for any help with this. Duke and I are eagerly looking forward to not living in the House of PoopAndPuke anymore. ;)

[david13]

1. I never did understand what could be so costly and special about

that food, and why a doctor would prescribe it like medicine, and then, suspiciously, they also sell it?
My cat is 20 and in good health but very selective with his food. Hopefully somebody who has some info on your exact situation will be able to help.
Good luck.
dc

[ThingsGottaChange]

4. Wow. Twenty years old.

That is amazing. Kudos to you for taking such good care of him. Normally my cats have lived to 16 and 17 years old. And that was on the crappy grocery store food!

[david13]

8. I just feed him grocery store food. But only very select ones.

But thanks for the kudos. I don't think it's me, I think it's his genetics. His companion cat died last year, about 18.
Here he is reading a forum post about cats.
dc
<a href="" target="_blank"><img src="" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[ceile]

2. I was in your shoes many years ago.

My Ambrose was on prednisone for over a year for IBD, and unfortunately, it rears it's ungly head whenever I try and change his food. He eats Science Diet W/D (not what you wanted to hear, I now)and has been for about 8 years now. He is also diabetic. I tried to change him to Innova EVO because I heard only wonderful things about it-well, it took several months of nothing but Science Diet wet mixed with pumpkin to get his bowels back in line. It was awful. I now a lot of people don't like Science Diet, but it's the only thing my boy can eat that won't upset his stomach.

[virgdem]

3. I have a great deal of experience with IBD...

two of my cats have had IBD and one cat had a case that was so severe that we had to put him down last October at 17.5 due to his wasting away from that awful disease. Another cat, who has since died, was diagnosed with IBD about a decade ago and my vet wanted to put her on a raw meat diet, which she promptly refused to eat. I asked for alternatives and he suggested Petguard cat food. We put Cleo on that food and her IBD vastly improved. My other cat, Sylvester, did well on it for several years, but his condition worsened with age and we made the decision to end his suffering last October. I would try Petguard and see how that works. I can only get it from a local health food store here in Virginia Beach, VA as it is not sold in any of the regular pet food stores (Petsmart, etc.). I suggest going to their site (www.petguard.com) to find out the locations in your area where it is sold (at the website, go to the contact us link and that will give additional information as to how and where to get Petguard). Good luck!!!

[ThingsGottaChange]

5. I decided on Wellness Core

Heard some very good thing from another DUer with an IBD cat and ordered some online yesterday. virgdem, I will bookmark Petguard's site in case the Wellness doesn't work out. Thank you. I sure hope it does. I don't know how much longer I can take being on Poop Alert. x(

[virgdem]

6. Whatever you use...

I hope it works for your cat. There are several good holistic/natural canned and dry alternatives and you just have to find what works for you and your kitty. I used Petguard because it was suggested by my vet, who is both a holistic and allopathic/standard vet. Please keep us posted on your kitty's progress on the Wellness. I have used Wellness canned with my cats, but not the dry and I'd be curious as to how your cat is doing on it.

[japple]

7. You can get lots of different products online. When my cat, Tiny (RIP),

was still alive, I bought Nature's Variety freeze-dried turkey medallions from these folks. Their prices were good and they frequently run specials. I live in a rural area with no pet stores within 50 miles, so it was more convenient for me to buy online.

http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/