Chronic Bleeding/Severe Colon Issues.

[PrettyKitty1]

Six days ago I found out my cat had chronic colon issues. The mucosa is pure blood; it doesn't even look like normal mucus. The colon is so bad and there's so much blood that when my cat evacuates, all this blood comes out because of the pushing. Feces were checked and it's all fine. Blood in the bladder wasn't found. Only blood inside the colon. Vet said we had three options: Chronic digestive disorders - he also mentioned Chron's Disease- Parasites - highly unlikely he said- and Cancer. He did a biopsy, took cell samples and sent it out to the lab. I have not received the results yet. In the meantime, my cat is on Antibiotics - Flagyl- prednisone and prescription food -Hill's Z/D-

Since the cat came back from the vet 6 days ago he doesn't look too good. He has lost weight, is depressed, has had diarrhea, and doesn’t play. Mind you, my cat used to play all the time. He hates the new food so I've been mixing it up with the one he likes. I have called the vet twice about his diarrhea, to which he replied that the prescribed food was precisely to avoid diarrhea and that he didn't think the meds were causing it. He found this very odd. Now, yesterday he did not evacuate AT ALL.  For a cat that hasn't been eating I understand. He has been pooing a lot and not eating, so there is that one day he hast to just stop evacuating since he isn't eating.  But it is still concerning. The vet wants me to keep him informed until the lab results are in.

What would happen if he had cancer in the colon? Would I have to put him to sleep? What can I do to make him like the food? He is drinking plenty of water; but my poor fella just isn't himself. I'm reaching the point of frustration already. According to your experience, what is my cat's problem?

Thanks in advance

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

I sincerely hope you receive positive biopsy results for your cat!

It is essential that your cat eat in order to heal.   Z/D is a hypoallergenic food, and your cat should only eat something hypoallergenic or a novel protein diet.  A novel protein is one that your cat has never eaten before.  Since there are quite a number of novel protein diets, there should be one that your cat finds palatable.  Ask your vet for another flavor.  If there are no other appropriate prescription diets available for your cat than you can buy the following flavors of human baby food for your cat to try:  Strained LAMB baby food (containing only lamb), and strained peas or sweet potato.  Mix the lamb with one of the vegetables and see if your cat finds this palatable.  If your cat won't even eat the baby food mixture, than request an appetite stimulant from your vet, such as Mirtazipine or Cyproheptidine.

Ask your vet if pepcid and sucralfate may also help your cat.

Colon cancer is very serious of course, but prognosis would depend upon whether or not the cancer is operable, and whether or not it has metastasized.  If your cat's symptoms are under control, even with colon cancer, he may have a good quality of life for a while.  

[PrettyKitty1]

Thank you so much! I'll go to the market to get the baby food. I usually feed him Science Diet ocean fish and he loves it, but the food isn't doing him any good.  So I need to keep him on hypoallergenic food? ok, I'll make sure from now on all he gets is this type of food. I wonder why it is so important for him to stay on this diet. I am not familiar with the benefits of this food. What can I do about his loose stool? What do you think is causing it?
I appreciate your advice and the quick response. I'm glad I got some tips.