Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not only common among humans but also among animals particularly cats. Basically, the IBS that is experienced by people is the same type that cats also feel.

The Irritable Bowel Syndrome among cats is the same gastrointestinal disorder that is also felt by human. The large and/or small intestines are also affected. IBS in cats usually affects the contractions of the digestive tract resulting to irregular bowel movement. Aside from that, IBS also interferes with the normal distribution of food and waste material inside the cat’s body resulting to the accumulation of toxins and mucus in the cat’s intestines.

These accumulated toxins often obstruct the normal function of the digestive tract. In the process gas and stool are trapped causing bloating, constipation and distention. It is also surprising to note that the same IBS factors in human have been identified to cause the same effects among cats. Factors causing IBS such as stress, overuse of antibiotics, poor eating habits, bacterial, and viral infection, parasites and food allergies were found to affect cats as well.

Likewise, a blockage is also very common among cats since they love to chew as well as swallow objects. This too can trigger IBS symptoms.

Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Cats

It would be surprising to note that cats and humans exhibit the same Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. And here are some of them:

- Constipation among cats is just like in humans. It is also exhibited by hard, small, pebble-like stools, which make bowel movement very difficult.

- Diarrhea is a more frequent bowel movement wherein the stool is often soft and watery. Cats with IBS usually experience successive loose bowel movement alternating with constipation.

- Abdominal pain is also common among cats with IBS. The pain can range from mild to severe.

- The presence of mucus in the stool is also a common sign of IBS.

- Another symptom of IBS that may be observed in cats is vomiting and nausea.

- Gas pain or flatulence is also an indication of IBS in cats

- Bloating

- Intolerance to certain types of foods

- Anorexia which most of you may think is only common to us human but surprisingly is also exhibited by our feline friends.

Treating Your Cat’s Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Since Irritable Bowel Syndrome involves many factors, it is very important that you have your cats examined by a veterinarian. This way you will know what’s triggering IBS symptoms in your pet cats. In case you prefer to apply natural methods in controlling your pet’s IBS symptoms still it is better to consult first a veterinarian before applying any type of IBS treatment to your cat to avoid further complications.

A change in your cat’s diet is also a good way to control Irritable Bowel syndrome. However make sure that you consult a veterinarian or a nutritionist to provide your cat with a personalized diet and program.

Feeding your cat with the right type of food is still the best way to control your cat’s Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Cats like humans prefer different types of foods. There are some cats that like eating raw food while there are some that prefers home cooking or canned food.

It is very important that you try to experiment with foods that work for your cat. If you can keep a food journal in which you can jot down foods that your cat needs to avoid then so much the better. This will guide you on the proper food to give your cat and in turn keeps IBS symptoms in control.

By: Low Jeremy

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irritable bowel syndrome

There may be a new answer for a very common gastrointestinal disorder called irritable bowel syndrome.

The answer: an antibiotic.

A new study just released shows perhaps treating bacterial overgrowth of the intestines with an antibiotic might help.

Kim Williams has suffered tremendously from irritable bowel syndrome–a disease that doesn’t kill, it doesn’t cause life-changing disability–except for making one a slave to his or her bathroom.

“I’ve had days while having I.B.S. that I couldn’t go to work or I couldn’t go to school because i didn’t know if I could make it to my destination because I didn’t know if I could find a bathroom,” says Kim.

Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by abdominal pain and bloating associated with diarrhea, constipation, or these two alternating.

These patients often feel better after going to the bathroom.

Now, the actual cause of irritable bowel syndrome is still truly unknown.

It’s believed there is altered motility of the intestines, and that these patients are just much more sensitive to contractions.

But there is a relatively new concept out there…that bacterial overgrowth of the small intestines might contribute to the problem.

This new study looks at an antibiotic called rifaximin, which stays in the gut and does not get absorbed into the rest of the body’s systems.

After taking it three times a day for ten days, patients reported they felt better overall, and specifically, they reported less bloating.

But some experts say this is not a perfect answer by any means.

“The three main symptoms that define irritable bowel syndrome are abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea, and patients who read about this study should understand that none of those three symptoms improved in this report with taking this antibiotic,” says Dr. Charles Gerson, a gastroenterologist at Mt. Sinai Medical Center.

Dr. Gerson believes you have to treat I.B.S. with perhaps medication but also by addressing the psychological component.

“The end point of the study was only ten weeks after the beginning. And I.B.S. is a long term chronic illness and you have to see what these patients are lie in a year,” states Dr. Gerson.

True.

Yet, this study showed the antibiotic’s beneficial effects remained for ten weeks, after only ten days of therapy–implying there is something beneficial occurring.

Kim has gotten relief from a different medication; in her mind, just getting better whatever it takes is the goal.

“I’ve done wonderfully I’ve had no side effects. I feel great now,” says Kim.

Dr. Gerson does express concern over taking an antibiotic for this, that bacteria might develop resistance to it and then it will lose effectiveness.

This is potentially a problem, but the good news is, this is not an antibiotic that is used for systemic illness. It is used for other conditions, such as traveler’s diarrhea, and Crohn’s disease.

By: Empowered Doctor

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome is not only common among humans but also among animals particularly cats. Basically, the IBS that is experienced by people is the same type that cats also feel.

The Irritable Bowel Syndrome among cats is the same gastrointestinal disorder that is also felt by human. The large and/or small intestines are also affected. IBS in cats usually affects the contractions of the digestive tract resulting to irregular bowel movement. Aside from that, IBS also interferes with the normal distribution of food and waste material inside the cat’s body resulting to the accumulation of toxins and mucus in the cat’s intestines.

These accumulated toxins often obstruct the normal function of the digestive tract. In the process gas and stool are trapped causing bloating, constipation and distention. It is also surprising to note that the same IBS factors in human have been identified to cause the same effects among cats. Factors causing IBS such as stress, overuse of antibiotics, poor eating habits, bacterial, and viral infection, parasites and food allergies were found to affect cats as well.

Likewise, a blockage is also very common among cats since they love to chew as well as swallow objects. This too can trigger IBS symptoms.

Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Cats

It would be surprising to note that cats and humans exhibit the same Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms. And here are some of them:

- Constipation among cats is just like in humans. It is also exhibited by hard, small, pebble-like stools, which make bowel movement very difficult.

- Diarrhea is a more frequent bowel movement wherein the stool is often soft and watery. Cats with IBS usually experience successive loose bowel movement alternating with constipation.

- Abdominal pain is also common among cats with IBS. The pain can range from mild to severe.

- The presence of mucus in the stool is also a common sign of IBS.

- Another symptom of IBS that may be observed in cats is vomiting and nausea.

- Gas pain or flatulence is also an indication of IBS in cats

- Bloating

- Intolerance to certain types of foods

- Anorexia which most of you may think is only common to us human but surprisingly is also exhibited by our feline friends.

Treating Your Cat’s Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Since Irritable Bowel Syndrome involves many factors, it is very important that you have your cats examined by a veterinarian. This way you will know what’s triggering IBS symptoms in your pet cats. In case you prefer to apply natural methods in controlling your pet’s IBS symptoms still it is better to consult first a veterinarian before applying any type of IBS treatment to your cat to avoid further complications.

A change in your cat’s diet is also a good way to control Irritable Bowel syndrome. However make sure that you consult a veterinarian or a nutritionist to provide your cat with a personalized diet and program.

Feeding your cat with the right type of food is still the best way to control your cat’s Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Cats like humans prefer different types of foods. There are some cats that like eating raw food while there are some that prefers home cooking or canned food.

It is very important that you try to experiment with foods that work for your cat. If you can keep a food journal in which you can jot down foods that your cat needs to avoid then so much the better. This will guide you on the proper food to give your cat and in turn keeps IBS symptoms in control.

By: Low Jeremy

About the Author:

Create a video blog