Introduction
The only test that can be used to accurately diagnose inflammatory bowel disease in cats is an intestinal biopsy. Additional tests may be used to exclude any other causes of the symptoms. The symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease in cats may mimic other types of illnesses such as hyperthyroidism or kidney disease. If a veterinarian suspects that inflammatory bowel disease may be causing the symptoms based on the cat’s history and physical exam, tests are performed to ensure that no other underlying medical condition is present.
Diagnosing Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Cats
Inflammatory bowel disease does not usually cause any type of abnormal values on blood tests or x-rays. If the results for these tests are normal, then inflammatory bowel disease is the primary suspect cause of the cat’s symptoms. A complete fecal test should also be performed to check for any parasites or protozoa that are contributing to vomiting and diarrhea symptoms.
To confirm a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease, an endoscopic exam and biopsy is needed. The endoscopic exam is performed when the cat is sedated, and the procedure uses a small camera on the end of a flexible wand in order to view the inside of the cat’s intestines. A small tool on the end of the endoscope wand may then be used to clip off a small piece of the intestine wall for microscopic examination. Intestines may sometimes look completely normal even though a cat is suffering from inflammatory bowel disease. This is why a microscopic exam of the tissue is sometimes needed to confirm the condition.
In some cases a veterinarian may choose to treat inflammatory bowel disease without an exam of the intestines if all other causes have been ruled out. If the cat’s condition begins to improve then it may be assumed that the cat probably had inflammatory bowel disease.