Re: Prednisone vs dexamethasone for IBD / need advise

[Nina]

Thanks Bonnie for the vet's email address.  Do you "pill" your Nina, or do you crush it and add to food?  My biggest problem is figuring out a way to treat her without having to handle her.  Neat trick!  If your cat will eat the Dex, than maybe mine will too.  I was hopeful when I read that some cats with IBD can have the Corticosteroids reduced and then discontinued, treating again only for flare ups.  Have you tried stopping them with Nina? BONNIE J KALMBACH wrote: Nina, My grey-buff tortie Nina was on Pred for IBD as well as asthma for about ten years. Then she had an allergic reaction to it and was switched to Dex. She gets half a pill every other day. I would try asking some other vets. Here is the email address of Dr. Sandi Sawchuk at the Wisconsin vet school: [EMAIL PROTECTED] It was on the Wisconsin Public Radio website; she's not on the radio anymore but maybe she'll still answer questions. Bonnie in Madsion, WI ----- Original Message ----- From: Nina <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wednesday, December 15, 2004 11:09 am Subject: Prednisone vs dexamethasone for IBD / need advise Hello Everyone, I've posted before about my "feral turned house cat" Gypsy. We suspect she has Inflammatory Bowel Disease, (fecal tests showed no parasites or Giardia). The only vet that she's seen is not my favorite. He's kind of old school and is pretty annoyed at me for being so involved in her treatment. Because Gypsy can't be pilled, or given shots, I have to have something compounded into a liquid to mix in her food. When I asked my vet which tasted better, Prednisone or Dexamethasone, he thought Dex might. When I called my compound pharmacy, they told me to go with the Pred instead. I guess I should have looked up dosage before I had my vet write the script for Pred, because Dex is recommended at .22 mg/kg/day initially and Pred at 2.2 mg/kg/day. It seems to me that getting a smaller dose of something down her might be easier than the larger dose, even if it tastes worse. I hate having to call the vet back and beg him to change his script. Do you think I should order the Pred and cross my fingers that she'll eat it? The poor little thing has been battling chronic diarrhea for so long, I just want to get her some relief before she dies from malnutrition. Thanks, Nina