Milo throwing up, arghhhhh

[jennielynn1970]

Jenn, how did the vet determine that Sophie had diverticulitis? I'm wondering if my cat Jimmy might have this instead of IBD? They never did any xrays and just ruled things out to come up with the IBD diagnosis. Are there tests for diverticulitis or is it a ruling other things out kind of thing too?
Does the food you give Sophie now have extra fiber?

I had taken her to the emergency vet, where she was diagnosed, and then the vet I had gone to in Bethlehem (before he left the practice... so hard to keep the vets we like!). She was throwing up repeatedly, and her poops has blood and mucus and puss in them. It was really gross. The vet at the regular office said many cat foods have all the additives and enriched products in them, and that to find something that had the least of that. He said many of the sensitive stomach foods made the stomach even more irritated (he did not recommend the Hill's Science Diet for sensitive stomachs). I did some researching at the one small pet store that carries the more expensive brands that had not been found in other pet shops (this has changed now too, it's been 8years, although there are still brands carried there that I can't find at PetSmart and Petco).

I talked with the owner of the small pet store and we looked at all the brands they had, and basically narrowed it down to the one with the most natural stuff on the ingredients list, none of the additives and all that. Back then it was California Natural Chicken and Rice. It did wonders for Sophie, and she began to gain weight back and look healthy. She does well on the Nutro now as well, but since I have some fatties here, I changed to weight management. I have since bought some regular and kitten food to supplement Sophie's diet because she is such a frail little cat. I put her in my spare room to let her relax and eat at her own pace and so she isn't bullied by the others for the food. She and Honeybun will both get upset if they feel intimidated while eating, and Honey has a tendency to throw everything up that he just ate if he gets upset.

I have tried other foods here and there, but no matter how gradually I had started them, Sophie still ended up with a reaction to them, so I just stick to what works.

[lorn]

My local pet store (vet tech) has also suggested the eagle pack duck and oatmeal, as the oatmeal is very soothing.

We have just switched the dogs too, to timber wolf.... So hoping they do well on that, Because Shrek has reallyyyyyyyyyyyyy stinky gas on the nutram..POOOOOEY.

[emily_the_spoiled]

One of my guys (Tanner) was diagnosed with IBD a couple of summers ago. IBD is the diagnosis that is given when nothing else really shows up. The only way it can be positively diagnosed is if the vet takes bioposies from the GI tract. That was how I found out about Tanner.

I eventually moved to making my own cat food so there are no dyes or preservatives in the food and he has been fine ever since then. (I buy a pre-mixed foundation from the web and then add the rest of the stuff)

[jennielynn1970]

Will have to keep your duck and oatmeal food on a stickie note and see if our stores have it. Sounds like a really good choice, since oatmeal is supposed to be soothing to stomachs (animal and human).

Good wishes to Milo, and the rest of your crew!