u/Sensitive_Ebb_3890

My 8-month-old male Ragdoll has had chronic diarrhea/soft stools and intermittent vomiting since he started eating on his own. He has also had poor weight gain.

So far we have tried:

* Royal Canin Gastrointestinal
* Hill’s Gastrointestinal Biome
* Hill’s z/d
* rabbit + sweet potato diet
* Purina EN Gastrointestinal – currently tolerated best and significantly reduced vomiting
* probiotics, EnteroZoo, fiber and other supportive treatments
* metronidazole (Metrovis) for 2 weeks
* Septrin for 8 days
* fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) – no improvement
* Medrol (methylprednisolone) – some improvement, but he worsened significantly after the dose was reduced

Tests for Giardia, Cryptosporidium and Tritrichomonas were negative. FCoV PCR was positive. Pancreatic tests are currently normal. Previous bloodwork showed eosinophilia. Ultrasound in July was normal, but the latest ultrasound shows mild duodenal thickening, increased intestinal motility and a mildly enlarged/reactive lymph node. The gallbladder wall is also mildly thickened.

He recently had a severe flare with watery diarrhea, repeated vomiting, lethargy and poor appetite. He is currently back on Metrovis and anti-nausea medication.

IBD/chronic inflammatory enteropathy is currently suspected, but we do not have a biopsy confirmation yet.

My main question: has anyone had experience switching from methylprednisolone (Medrol) to another corticosteroid, such as budesonide, in a young cat with suspected IBD? Did budesonide work better or have fewer side effects? Would you recommend discussing this with the vet before considering biopsy?

Any experiences with similar cases would be greatly appreciated. ❤️

Hi everyone,
I’m desperate for advice and experiences with chronic diarrhea/colitis in cats.
My male Ragdoll kitten is around 7 months old, and he has had diarrhea/very soft stool for practically 6 months — since he started eating independently after weaning.
His symptoms come and go. Sometimes his stool improves for a few days, but then the diarrhea returns. He has also had straining, mucus and occasional fresh blood. Recently, he has even had diarrhea around the apartment. His weight has also stopped increasing properly.
We have already tried and investigated a lot:
Royal Canin Gastrointestinal
Hill’s Gastrointestinal Biome
Hill’s z/d hydrolyzed food — he vomited whole pieces of food
Rabbit and sweet potato
Purina Pro Plan EN Gastrointestinal — current food
Probiotics
Fiber powder
B12 tablets
Metronidazole
Several parasite tests, including repeated Giardia PCR and Tritrichomonas PCR — negative
Coronavirus PCR was positive
Blood tests, including one very high WBC during an acute episode
Abdominal ultrasounds
Urine testing
He also has a bladder stone and mild kidney mineralization, although we don’t know if this is connected to his GI problems.
We recently went to a second veterinary clinic, which ordered a gastrointestinal panel. We are currently waiting for the results.
The biggest problem is that we still have no diagnosis, no proper long-term treatment plan and no medication for the suspected inflammation, while his condition is getting worse and his weight is not progressing.
I do not want to do biopsies at this stage.
What I would really like to know:
Has anyone had a kitten with diarrhea from weaning that was eventually diagnosed with colitis or IBD?
Can chronic colitis cause symptoms that improve and worsen like this?
What treatment helped your cat — prednisolone, other medication, B12, something else?
Is it possible to treat suspected inflammatory colitis without biopsies?
What should I ask my vet to check next?
I know nobody can diagnose him online. I’m just looking for experiences and advice because we feel completely stuck.
Thank you.