It can be scary for a cat parent when your pet isn’t going to the bathroom the same way they always have. Do they just have an upset stomach? Or is this something more serious? Unfortunately, two of the most common causes of upset stomach in cats, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and intestinal lymphoma, have nearly identical symptoms. In today's post, our Clearlake vets will help you learn how to differentiate between IBD and intestinal lymphoma in your cat.
What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?
Inflammatory Bowel Disease, also called IBD, happens when your cat’s gastrointestinal (GI) tract becomes chronically irritated and inflamed. It can cause your cat to be gassy, have abdominal pain or gurgling sounds in their stomach, and a lack of energy. In more advanced cases, IBD will make a cat vomit, have diarrhea, and lose weight and/or their appetite.
While it is hard to definitively diagnose IBD, tests such as fecal exams and blood work can be used to rule out other diseases with similar symptoms. Ultimately, the best way to confirm an IBD diagnosis is with an intestinal biopsy.
What is Intestinal Lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a systemic cancer that affects the lymphocytes of the cat's immune system. Lymphocytes travel through your cat's body in the blood and lymphatic vessels.
Intestinal lymphoma is the most common form of lymphoma in cats. This cancer is found in the GI tract and is most often seen in cats over 9 years of age. A cat with intestinal lymphoma will often experience diarrhea, weight loss, and vomiting.
In cats with large-cell intestinal lymphoma, these symptoms can come on very rapidly, in a matter of just days or weeks. Cats with the small-cell version of the disease will show a much slower onset of symptoms.
Can IBD in cats turn into intestinal lymphoma?
It is believed that inflammatory bowel disease in cats can sometimes progress to intestinal lymphoma. While more studies are needed, the existing studies suggest that the altered microbial communities in a cat's intestines, as a result of long-term inflammatory bowel disease, weaken the cat's immunity and can lead to lymphoma.
How can I tell the difference between IBD and Intestinal Lymphoma in my cat?
While the symptoms of both illnesses are nearly identical, the biggest difference between IBD and intestinal lymphoma in cats will be the frequency of symptoms.
IBD typically runs in cycles. A cat will get worse, then feel better, then get worse, and so on. With intestinal lymphoma, however, the cat will progressively get worse, without any “better” stage.
How can the vet diagnose which one my cat has?
The only sure way to diagnose a cat with either IBD or intestinal lymphoma would be to take a biopsy of the intestinal tract. Under a microscope, a veterinarian will be able to tell if existing cells are inflamed, or if cancer cells are present.
The next best method would be an ultrasound, which can measure the thickness of the stomach and intestinal linings, as well as evaluate the size of the lymph nodes around the intestines.
What are my cat's treatment options?
Diet changes will probably be recommended first, to see if something in your cat's diet is aggravating their intestines. Prebiotics (substances that promote certain bacterial populations) and probiotics (bacterial strains to promote GI health) may help balance your cat's GI bacteria and reduce your cat's symptoms of IBD.
Then, the doctor may try a medication called metronidazole, which has antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and antiprotozoal properties. Corticosteroids, potent anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressing agents, may be recommended if diet changes or metronidazole prove ineffective for your kitty. Additionally, the vet will probably also treat your cat for intestinal parasites, just to be sure.
However, if your cat is diagnosed with intestinal lymphoma, chemotherapy may be necessary. Our vets are able to treat cancers; however, if your pet requires a treatment that goes beyond the scope of our veterinarians, we will refer you to a veterinary oncology specialist in the Clearlake area.
What is my pet's prognosis?
For many cat's with inflammatory bowel disease, the prognosis is good. Although there is no cure for IBD in cats, symptoms can often be managed, allowing your cat to live comfortably for many years.
Most cases of intestinal lymphoma are low-grade lymphoma. With treatment, approximately 70% of cats will go into remission, and be symptom-free for two to three years. High-grade intestinal lymphoma, however, does not respond as well to treatment, with only 25-50% of cats achieving remission. For those that do go into remission, it typically only lasts two to nine months before they become ill again.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.