Feline inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a non-diagnostic syndrome caused by a series of gastrointestinal disorders associated with chronic inflammation of the stomach, small intestine, and/or colon. It is also one of the main culprits of weight loss in older cats. The cat's pancreatic duct is connected to the common bile duct and then enters the duodenum. Due to this anatomical structure, inflammation of the hepatobiliary system, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract can affect each other and cause inflammation. Many scholars believe that inflammation of the pancreas or biliary tract is mostly related to retrograde infection of the small intestine, and chronic intestinal inflammation and chronic vomiting caused by feline inflammatory bowel disease are considered to be the main causes of trisomitis.

1. Cause

IBD is defined as a primary syndrome. The current popular hypothesis is that feline IBD is similar to human and canine IBD, both of which are caused by local gastrointestinal mucosal immune dysfunction, accompanied by intolerance to commensal flora and/or food antigens, eventually leading to chronic gastrointestinal disease. Tract inflammation. Some scholars also believe that IBD is a disease related to genetic factors. Animals with this genetic predisposition will have gastrointestinal mucosal dysfunction during their development. The intestinal immune system is often exposed to many antigens, such as beneficial food antigens, indigenous intestinal flora, and various accompanying enteric pathogens. The intestinal immune system must be able to recognize harmful and beneficial antigens and mount an appropriate immune response. However, it is not easy to distinguish between food sensitivities and IBD, which has led to the diagnosis of some clinical cases in which the two conditions overlap. If the above theory is true, then the therapeutic goal of IBD should be to reduce antigen stimulation in the gastrointestinal tract and suppress the local immune response of the gastrointestinal immune system to different antigens.

2. Diagnosis

Mainly include clinical symptoms (such as fever, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, jaundice, dehydration and lethargy, etc.), hematology (elevation of ALT, ALKP, Tbil, leukocytosis and left nuclear shift), pancreatic specific lipase ( fPL), ultrasound (abnormal echo, enlargement of liver, gallbladder, pancreas, etc.), biopsy or histopathological examination (the main method for diagnosis, but there are fewer examinations due to secondary damage).

3. Treatment

1. Immunosuppressive drug treatment:

Prednisolone: ​​Used in patients with moderate or severe IBD, especially those with lymphocyte or eosinophil infiltration type IBD. Anti-inflammatory immunosuppressant dose: 1-3 mg/kg orally, once a day; reduce the dose once symptoms subside; reduce the dose every 3-4 weeks.

Dexamethasone: Subcutaneous injection can be used for cats with extreme malabsorption disease or those who have difficulty taking oral medications. In addition, for congestionAlso useful in cats with chronic heart failure. Usage: 0.1-0.4 mg/kg subcutaneous injection, starting once a day and eventually changing to once every 48-72 hours.

Budesonide: A new type of glucocorticoid that is cleared through liver metabolism and has theoretically fewer side effects than prednisolone. Its effectiveness in the treatment of feline IBD is still unclear, but many cats treated with the drug have their condition effectively controlled. At present, veterinarians usually use prednisolone in the early stage to control the clinical symptoms of sick animals, then stop prednisolone and start using budesonide. 1mg/cat, once a day (need to mix before use); high dose (2-3mg/cat) can be used for symptom control; especially effective for cats with diabetes and Burmese cats.

Chlorambucil: It is an alkylating agent that can be used for cats that are ineffective in prednisolone treatment. When used at high doses, tolerance may easily develop, and daily complete blood count checks should be performed while taking the drug. Usage: 2 mg/cat, orally, once every 48-72 hours.

Cyclophosphamide: Another alkylating agent sometimes used in cats with moderate IBD. 50mg/cat, orally, once every 3 weeks. Cyclosporine: Some clinicians use this drug to treat refractory cases of IBD, especially those that have failed to respond to high-dose prednisolone.

　2. Diet control

Effective in patients with mild and moderate IBD, especially those with mild cellular inflammatory infiltration (effective in 60% of patients).

Give high-protein, easily digestible commercial food.

Metronidazole 5-10 mg/kg orally, twice a day (or 15 mg/kg orally once a day).

Cobalamin 250ug is injected intramuscularly once a week for six weeks, or twice a week for three months, or injected once a month for six months