IBD post 1

lola likely has a condition called inflammatory bowel disease. i'm going to start using the blog to keep track of her condition, but i'll try to keep posting pictures every now and then. if you check this blog regularly, you may not want to read often anymore, because i'll be cataloging lola's bowel functions (ew) and diet (boring). (mini, btw, has become a totally independent cat. she doesn't like to be held for long and frequently walks away when i try to pet her).

lola is currently being switched to hill's z/d diet, which contains only hydrolyzed sources of animal protein. i have reservations about the food, because it contains brewers rice, BHA, and ethoxyquin; but, if i am right that lola is allergic to animal protein, this may go far in helping to stabilize her bowels before she can be switched back to a single source novel protein commercial diet.

after a couple days on z/d, lola actually had some semi-formed, very soft stools. friday night, however, she had a major dietary indiscretion -- the two mischiefmakers chewed through an old bag of science diet -- and has been back to having loose stools, albeit smaller in volume. she is generally having a BM two times per 24 hours, which is very different from her normal routine of once every 36 hours or so. i've been adding a sprinkling of pure psyllium fiber to her diet at morning and night.

my plan is to keep lola on z/d for 3-4 months, regardless of symtpoms. if she improves, i will try to switch her to natural balance venison and green pea, and then consider another premium brand that contains common animal protein. that may draw out her specific allergy. hopefully lola isn't allergic to grains or other carbs; that will make sorting her problem out severely complicated.