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DIGESTIVE DISORDERS IN CATS - a 3-step plan to relief and health
| Step 1: Calm the digestive system and improve nutrient absorption. |
One of the hallmarks of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is an inflamed intestinal lining. This inflammation and the mucus it secretes reduce nutrient absorption. Addressing this problem is a two-part process:
- Reduce the inflammation with herbs and essential oils.
- Make the food easier to break down and assimilate by adding digestive enzymes.
 Formulated by one of the nation's top herbalists, Phytomucil offers soothing support with ingredients shown to reduce inflammation and excess mucus. In addition, Phytomucil can help relieve symptoms and assist in the recovery of gastritis, esophagitis, IBS, IBD, colitis, enteritis, bloating and other chronic digestive disorders.
 To further aid in the reduction of inflammation, Wild Salmon Oil provides n-3 fatty acids known for their anti-inflammatory properties. The synergy of these two supplements combines to provide maximum benefit.
Nutri-Vet Wild Salmon Oil comes from 100% wild salmon, not farmed sources. Wild salmon has higher levels of beneficial omega-3 and lower levels of saturated fats. In addition, farmed salmon have been found to contain significantly higher concentrations of PCBs, dioxin and other cancer causing contaminants than salmon caught in the wild.
 Some veterinarians believe that inflammatory bowel disease occurs when the pancreas is working harder than it should to produce enzymes. Giving your cat digestive enzymes made especially for cats allows the pancreas to work more efficiently. Digestive enzymes (missing from our cats' modern day commercial diet) are necessary to break down foods for proper digestion and nutrient absorption. Dr. Goodpet's Feline Digestive Enzymes are specially formulated to work with a cat's high protein diet.
 In clinical trials on humans, probiotics have shown great promise in treating IBD. The normal acid balance in the intestines can change when the pancreas is overactive, allowing harmful bacteria to flourish. This, in turn, can cause painful inflammation. Supplementing with a high quality probiotic replenishes the balance of healthy bacteria. A probiotic is also very important if your cat has been given an antibiotic medication, which kills off both harmful and beneficial bacteria in the gut, causing an imbalance and the potential for yeast overgrowth.
Gentle Digest is a human grade probiotic that promotes the growth of friendly bacteria in your cat's digestive tract. Unlike other products, Gentle Digest uses live microencapsulated spores which are resistant to gastric acids and therefore ensure delivery to the intestines. In addition, it is shelf stable and no refrigeration is required.
| Step 2: Dietary Changes - Is my cat allergic? |
Food allergies and food intolerance can cause gastric upset too. In fact, food allergies are thought to play a role in causing IBD. Vomiting is the most common symptom of a food allergy or intolerance in cats, but it can also be accompanied by some form of skin distress.
The supplements above will help restore your pet's digestive system and may reduce the severity of their allergic reactions to certain foods, but finding the source of the allergen or intolerance is also important. Visit our Allergy section for information on isolating food allergies and intolerances.
| Step 3: Stress Reduction - keeping kitty calm |
Stress affects your cat's hormonal balance and is a big factor in many disease conditions. The impact of stress on the intestinal system is significant. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is thought to be brought on primarily due to stress. Stress can also aggravate IBD and cause general gastro intestinal flare-ups.
 There is a great deal you can do to reduce the stress in your cat's environment, like maintaining a consistent routine, regular exercise, creating a safe retreat, etc.
With excitable, high-strung breeds or in certain unavoidable situations you may need a little extra support. A calming mist diffuser can help. Nutri-Vet Pet-Ease Natural Calming Mist for Dogs provides a natural calming scent that offers relief during times of high stress or even day-to-day living. It contains essential oils - not extracts - of herbs that serve as calming agents, mood elevators and personality modulators. The calming mist diffuser offers a natural solution that is non-toxic and non-addicting.
Getting to the root of your cat's digestive distress is crucial for long-term health. By implementing the 3-step plan to intestinal health today you give your cat the best advantage for the future.
Get all the vital supplements plus information on reducing stress and isolating allergies in the Essential Digestive Kit.
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