Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Nutritional management of feline gastrointestinal diseases.
- Journal:
- Topics in companion animal medicine
- Year:
- 2008
- Authors:
- Zoran, Debra L
- Affiliation:
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Cats often face problems with their stomach and intestines, which can lead to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, not eating, or losing weight. There are many reasons why a cat might have gastrointestinal (GI) issues, and while medications can help, changing their diet is also very important for treatment. In some cases, switching to a special diet can completely solve the problem, especially if the cat has a food allergy. Even when the diet isn't the main issue, the right food can help manage conditions like inflammatory bowel disease or colitis. Overall, this article emphasizes that diet plays a crucial role in treating and managing GI diseases in 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: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19081554/