Dry Food: Is He Ready???

**christa** · 08-22-2006, 09:10 AM

Well, Brodie hasn't thrown up one time . . . not once . . . since July 31st!!!

We put him on preds & Hill's Z/D. We've tapered him down on the preds, he's not taking as much - like 5mg every other day. The doc said that if the preds work quickly, that will most likely tell us that he has IBD. And from everything I've read, it fits.

I am thinking about going ahead and trying him on the dry Z/D.

Do you think he's ready??? He hasn't had dry food in months. I hope he'll eat it! He's been spoiled to wet food for so long now!

And I worry because he hasn't been able to hold down dry food in over a year . . . of course, he was barely holding down wet food, before we went on the preds. And then again, he's never tried the dry z/d. The z/d is for this condition.

This is the longest I've ever seen him go without puking anything at all . . . hasn't even puked a hairball! It's been amazing!

Do you all think he's ready???

**catmandu** · 08-22-2006, 09:33 AM

I would try some sample packs from the Pet Food Store, just to make sure and that you dont ahve to buya whole bag.
You, that way can try different companies and different formulas.

**christa** · 08-22-2006, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by catmandu

I would try some sample packs from the Pet Food Store, just to make sure and that you dont ahve to buya whole bag.
You, that way can try different companies and different formulas.

Unfortunately, that's not an option. At this point, I do know that the only thing that he can keep down is Hills Z/D. The smallest bag they can get for me at the vet is a $40 bag

. . . so I am praying that he can eat it!!! If not, I will cry!

**kuhio98** · 08-22-2006, 10:43 AM

I'd go ahead and buy the bag. But only put a few crunchies in his bowl. If he eats them and keeps them down, give him another handful of crunchies the next day. As long as he's keeping it down, you can keep increasing it until it's back to his pre-puking quantity. If it doesn't work now, just put the bag away and try in another month or so.

**emily_the_spoiled** · 08-22-2006, 12:11 PM

Are you planning to remove him fully from the prednisone? If you are you might want to do that first and keep him on the wet food. If he can keep that down then switch him over to the dry food.

Good luck!

Tanner (one of my guys) has IBD but I decided to switch him over to a raw diet instead of the prescription food. (I have 7 cats and I would have had to change everyone over and that is $$$). But since he changed I hve found no more diarrhea or "puke piles"

So I understand your happiness.

**christa** · 08-22-2006, 04:12 PM

According to what I've read, cats with IBD can go off of the preds slowly & then only need it for flare-ups. I'm not really sure what to do. He has a re-check with the vet on Sept 5th. I might try a little on the preds & then see what she says to do then. I've got both wet & dry . . . I can't even get him to try the dry until next monday anyway. I had to have them order it.