If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Question - Sensitivity to Diet Change?
Hi Folks,
Last August, our 9 year old male DSH had a large bladder stone. Fortunately we discovered it early enough. He was cathetherised for a couple of days, and treated with drugs. Once he was back at home, our veterinarian had us switch him from his premium dry food to Science Diet s/d. In a couple of months the crystals had dissolved. At this point, we began feeding him mostly canned food, to provide more moisture. As some may remember from my postings at the time, our tabby's health went gradually downhill. He started eating less and losing weight. He was diagnosed with pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel disease in November. Despite treatment with various steroids and finally, stomach tube feedings, he passed away in December. One of my relatives who is very into cats claims that the abrupt change of foods (premium dry to s/d) is probably responsible for his downturn in health. She says that our veterinarian should have had us make the transition very gradually over weeks, instead of all at once. I have trouble accepting this as being the cause of pancreatitis and IB, although it seems like good advice overall. We needed the food change in order to dissolve his crystals without surgery, which our veterinarian said could cause complications. Even as his health declined, our veterinarian insisted that his condition could be treated. I've often wondered if something else was at fault, because he did not appear to respond to the steroids in any way, oral or injected. It seems to me that cats living in the wild eat a variety of different foods and manage to survive - although I understand that they can live significantly longer indoors. So my question is, can an abrupt change a cat's diet cause serious health problems? Could diseases like our cat's result? Thanks. -dreq |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Question - Sensitivity to Diet Change?
Derek Mark Edding wrote:
Hi Folks, Last August, our 9 year old male DSH had a large bladder stone. Fortunately we discovered it early enough. He was cathetherised for a couple of days, and treated with drugs. Once he was back at home, our veterinarian had us switch him from his premium dry food to Science Diet s/d. In a couple of months the crystals had dissolved. At this point, we began feeding him mostly canned food, to provide more moisture. As some may remember from my postings at the time, our tabby's health went gradually downhill. He started eating less and losing weight. He was diagnosed with pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel disease in November. Despite treatment with various steroids and finally, stomach tube feedings, he passed away in December. One of my relatives who is very into cats claims that the abrupt change of foods (premium dry to s/d) is probably responsible for his downturn in health. She says that our veterinarian should have had us make the transition very gradually over weeks, instead of all at once. I have trouble accepting this as being the cause of pancreatitis and IB, although it seems like good advice overall. We needed the food change in order to dissolve his crystals without surgery, which our veterinarian said could cause complications. Even as his health declined, our veterinarian insisted that his condition could be treated. I've often wondered if something else was at fault, because he did not appear to respond to the steroids in any way, oral or injected. It seems to me that cats living in the wild eat a variety of different foods and manage to survive - although I understand that they can live significantly longer indoors. So my question is, can an abrupt change a cat's diet cause serious health problems? Could diseases like our cat's result? Thanks. -dreq A quick change of diet may cause some short term digestive tract issues, but certainly not disease. Increased moisture ingestion is good for felines. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Question - Sensitivity to Diet Change?
Derek Mark Edding wrote: I have trouble accepting this as being the cause of pancreatitis and IB, although it seems like good advice overall. We needed the food change in order to dissolve his crystals without surgery, which our veterinarian said could cause complications. Could diseases like our cat's result? I do not believe that your cat's pancreatitis and IBD would be caused by an abrubt food change. Yes, a slow change is best, but a quick change would most likely only result in a stomach upset for a few days, not these diseases. In fact, a canned food is better overall for the health of a cat. It's quite possible your cat had these diseases before switching foods, so I would not attribute them to the quick food change, and especially to a canned food. Sorry to hear about your cat |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Diet question re half a cup | ShirleyB | Cat anecdotes | 4 | August 24th 05 12:29 PM |
Low Protien Diet Question | Nik | Cat health & behaviour | 4 | August 9th 05 06:39 PM |
Science Diet C/D versus Waltham Royal Canin SO | Mrschief44 | Cat health & behaviour | 1 | December 20th 04 12:31 AM |
Diet question | Bobcat | Cat anecdotes | 4 | February 19th 04 02:10 PM |
Diet question | Bobcat | Cat community | 6 | February 19th 04 02:10 PM |