I hope you can help. Our 6 year old neutered cat has been vomiting 1-2 times per week for about a year now. Due to chronic ear infections he was diagnosed with a food allergy as a kitten and eats Royal Canin’s Lamb and Green Pea formula, which took care of the ear infections. Over the past 5 years, could he have developed a new allergy to the Lamb and Green Pea food and could the new symptom be the vomiting instead of ear infections? Our vet did mention IBD. Could the IBD be a reaction to the food? I am nervous to switch his food because of his previous allergy. He has none of the other symptoms of IBD and seems to feel fine except when he vomits. Would it be worth trying the Gastriplex before switching foods and if you do recommend switching foods, what should I try? We suspect that chicken and any dairy products are the reason for his previous allergic reactions.
Any help you could offer would be appreciated.
Hello,
Thank you for your inquiry to Holistic Pet Info. Since your cat’s ear infections have already been diagnosed as a food allergy that would likely include the vomiting. I realize you are hesitant to change the diet but the diet he is on is the right idea but not the best/healthiest available. Royal Canin does contain novel proteins and carbohydrates but the protein should better represented in the ingredients. Two of the first three ingredients should be a whole protein and not a by-product.
I highly recommend switching to canned food, many cats decrease or stop vomiting when taken off dry diets. I have great success when making this simple switch from dry to canned with many of my feline clients. Offering no grain diets also often eliminate vomiting. Wellness Core, EVO, Natural Balance and ZiwiPeak are a few excellent diets that contain high quality whole proteins with no or low grain ingredients.
Gastriplex would be great to start before switching diets and even continue long term. The probiotics help with inflammation and keep the healthy bacteria in balance during stress and illness. Best of luck.
Sincerely,
Colleen Smith DVM, CVA
Followup Question
Thanks for the advice. We switched him to Natural Balance Duck and Green Pea. We have been giving him more wet than we used to, but still a little dry also. He has not vomited in over a week, but now his stools seem to be loose and more frequent (2 times per day instead of 1). Is this because he is getting used to the food, because he is getting more wet, or does this signal a problem also? We have been sprinkling the Gastriplex on his wet food every day also. Would this be making the problem better or worse?
Thank you.
Response
Hello,
Since the primary issue was vomiting and it seems to have significantly decreased that is a very good outcome so far. It will take his gastrointestinal tract some time to get used to the new food. The fact you are offering the Gastriplex should help the GI settle down sooner. You may also try adding a teaspoon of pumpkin to his diet, it is a fantastic natural way to include fiber and balance the intestinal health.
The recovery of the GI will take some time, especially since the vomiting was going on for a year. Time and the higher quality diet should make a big difference in his quality of life. As with humans, diet is the foundation to good health.
Sincerely,
Colleen Smith DVM, CVA
Note: View all of our Digestive Aids for Pets, including probiotics and digestive enzymes.