Dear Doctor Dysphoric:

Dear Dr. Dysphoric--

My kitty was recently diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome but is now being successfully treated with prednisone. Just what is irritable bowel syndrome and can i possibly catch it? I'm irritable enough without having to worry about my bowels.


Dear Irritable--

Unfortunately, my network of highly trained consultants does not extend into the veterinary world. Your kitty will have to write in to his own kitty-blog for advice.

In humans, there are two syndromes that are often confused: InflamatoryBowel Disease (IBD), [which includes Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis], and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). IBD patients are usually quite ill. They often have bloody diarrhea, fever, severe crampy abdominal pain, and weight loss. IBS is a milder syndome, characterized by bloating, mild pain after eating, diarrhea alternating with constipation. They do not have fever or bloody stool. A colonoscopy is the definitive test to distinguish between the two diagnoses (pic above is a colonic biopsy which shows IBD).

In summary, to answer your questions: (1) your kitty probably has IBD, not IBS (2) if kitty really has IBS, not IBD, he may have a quack-vet (3) neither IBD nor IBS is contagious.
(4) prednisone will make kitty fat and put him at high risk for diabetes. Kitty may need diet.

--Dr. Dysphoric (and irritable too!)