Kelly, from what I know about any illness and treating it, there is a certain amount of time that it takes for the medications and food changes to have any effect. I am certainly not a vet. And I don't have any clear cut answers for you.

I hope you find one program/vet and stick with it long enough to see if indeed it is the correct one. Sometimes it takes months for problems to clear up. Diet is important but so is consistancy. Stress is also a factor with many illnesses.

Abys are famous for having problems with their bowels. It is a weakness they inherit and some breeders don't know it until it is too late. That is probably why your furry friend ended up at the shelter. My Abys Miley and Graemer had irritations from time to time and Miley still has it off and on. Not that it is the same as what Micah has....but it is a form of it, anyway.

I know you have Micah's health at the top of your list. Just be a bit careful to not accept every thing you read and lead with what your vet says as well as what works for you and your pet.

Having a special diet for one cat may work, but it has to be a diet that you will be able to fix without spending hours of your time and all of your money. Operations? Well, that is a choice everyone needs to make at some point, if presented with a problem when the vet suggests it. Each kitty can tolerate only so much messing with - and you can only afford so much money and stress as well, I should think.

Keep us posted. I wish you luck with your new vet. I am an advocate of raw diets by the way. Ti will not eat raw meat, but Miley and Juni love it.

Good luck....and give Micah a furry hug from all of us at Camp Vermont!

Sallyanne