Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Nutritional management of gastrointestinal diseases in cats
By Zoran, Debra L·Published in Topics in companion animal medicine·2008·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Nutritional management of feline gastrointestinal diseases.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A cat with gastrointestinal issues, such as vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite, often needs careful dietary management to help improve their condition. These symptoms are common reasons for cat owners to visit the vet. Depending on the specific GI problem, like inflammatory bowel disease or food allergies, a vet may recommend a special diet that is easier to digest or higher in fiber. In some cases, changing the cat's diet can lead to significant improvement or even a complete resolution of symptoms. It's important for cat owners to work with their veterinarian to find the right dietary approach for their pet's health.
People also search for: cat vomiting treatment · cat diarrhea diet · cat weight loss causes · inflammatory bowel disease diet for cats
Abstract
Diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are a common problem in cats, and the clinical signs associated with these diseases, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, or weight loss, are some of the most common presenting complaints for cats taken to veterinary clinics in the United States. There are many causes for GI disease in cats, and an equally diverse number of pharmacologic approaches for management of GI disease; however, management of any GI disease is not complete without the concurrent addition of appropriate dietary therapy. This therapy may be completely curative in some instances (eg, dietary allergy), but even in cases where diet is not the cause of the GI problem, appropriate dietary therapy is essential to the long-term management of GI disease. Whether that is a highly digestible diet to improve digestion of foods by a diseased GI tract (eg, inflammatory bowel disease or lymphoma) or a high-fiber diet to improve colonic function in cats with colitis, the role of diet in management of disorders of the GI tract cannot be ignored. This article will review the current state of understanding of the role of diet in the management of GI diseases in cats and will offer the reader an overview of diet management strategies in cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19081554/