Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Cats: A Holistic Approach

Can IBD be treated holistically?

Holistic treatment options start with diet — usually a homemade one. However, raw meat diets are risky in IBD cats, because the inflamed gut lining impairs the body's defenses against the foreign bacteria that we know are in virtually all meat. There are two ways around this:

1. Lightly cook the meat when first introducing a homemade diet. As the gut heals, cook the meat less and less until you can feed it raw, if desired.
2. Do a very gradual introduction, starting with mixing a tiny amount of raw meat in with the cat's regular food. Ratchet up slowly until the cat is fully converted (if that's your preferred endpoint).

Feeding in timed meals, rather than leaving food out all the time, also allows the gut to rest and heal between meals. It is not natural for a cat to eat constantly, as many dry-food munchers do.

Eliminating dry food from the diet is sometimes all it takes in milder cases of IBD.

The most comprehensive holistic modalities for treatment of IBD are homeopathy, homotoxicology, acupuncture, NAET, and herbal medicine — although other therapies may be beneficial in any particular case. To find a practitioner near you, see the directory by state at ahvma.org.

Digestive Supplements

Adding digestive supplements will help the cat digest food and repopulate some of the “good” natural bacteria.

Probiotics

Probiotics (beneficial or “friendly” bacteria) are gaining acceptance for the prevention and treatment of IBD in humans, and research suggests similar uses in animals. They are thought to work by out-competing pathogenic bacteria, helping heal the gut lining, and modulating the immune system's activity. They also have anti-inflammatory properties. Choose a probiotic supplement with several strains of bacteria, as different strains have different effects.

Digestive Enzymes

Digestive enzymes can also be very helpful for IBD. An insufficiency of natural digestive enzymes, which are produced in the pancreas, can both cause and mimic IBD. Animal studies suggest that digestive enzymes can help reduce colon inflammation.

Since food allergies are usually involved in IBD, assisting the gut in breaking down potentially allergenic proteins may also have a positive effect. In addition, because IBD is often accompanied by liver and/or pancreas inflammation, providing digestive enzymes reduces the “workload” on the pancreas and helps relieve symptoms.

Proteolytic enzymes from fruits such as pineapple and papaya are especially important. A good plant- or yeast-based combination of protease, lipase, amylase, and cellulase is ideal.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics, such as inulin, are special types of soluble/fermentable fiber that maintain a healthy gut environment and nourish intestinal lining cells.

Soothing Herbs

For temporary relief, the herbs slippery elm and marshmallow root, which are very safe and non-toxic, can help soothe the gut lining and reduce discomfort and diarrhea. About ⅛ to ¼ tsp. of powdered herb, mixed with a little cool water, can be added to each meal. Alternatively, you can use an herbal liquid that combines both.

Can IBD be prevented?

Clearly, it would be best to prevent this disease from ever getting a foothold. A diet of fresh, whole, unprocessed foods is the least likely to result in food allergies and other digestive issues.

Changing diets — using a variety of brands, flavors, and forms such as canned, commercial raw, or homemade — at least every 3–4 months, to a food with different protein and carbohydrate sources, may prevent your cat from becoming allergic or intolerant to a single food in the first place. If you're feeding canned food, once your cat gets used to it you can change flavors with every meal if you like.

Always make any diet switch, including the introduction of supplements, gradually, to avoid rejection or tummy upset.

A Note on Vaccines

Holistic veterinarians have long believed that vaccines can make the immune system abnormally sensitive or over-reactive, increasing the likelihood of developing IBD or other immune-mediated diseases. There is increasing evidence from scientific studies that this is so. Not every cat needs every vaccine — be sure to discuss your cat's disease risk and optimal vaccine program with your veterinarian.

Vaccines are intended for use in healthy animals only. If your cat already has IBD or other chronic illness, talk to your veterinarian about submitting an exemption from legally required vaccinations.