Cats, Hemp Oil, and IBS
A bad stomach is tough to handle. Think about when you’re not feeling well. More than likely, you would rather just sit around or lie in bed instead of getting up to do something.
Now, think about your cat. Some cats are prone to irritable bowel syndrome. Their stomach is ‘twisting and turning; churning.’
Cats who have IBS have a gastrointestinal system (GI system) that becomes irritated and inflamed on a regular basis (just like people with IBS).
There are special inflammatory cells responsible for grabbing onto the walls of the GI tract. This causes your cat’s GI tract to thicken hence no longer permitting their body to absorb food properly.
Usually, this is most common in senior cats, but it can be seen in young cats as well.
What’s the Cause of IBS in Cats?
The cause of IBS is not truly known. Scientists do have evidence which makes them think IBS could be caused by genetics, environmental factors like diet, and/or abnormal interactions between the GI system and the Immune system.
All The Terms: IBS in Cats
There are different kinds of IBS dependent upon what type of inflammatory cells are holding on to your cat’s GI tract.
- If your cat’s stomach is inflamed, your veterinarian will likely refer to this as gastritis.
- If her small intestine is inflamed, your veterinarian will likely refer to this as enteritis.
- If her large intestine is inflamed, your veterinarian will likely refer to this as colitis.
What are the Signs of IBS in Cats?
Common signs of IBS in cats include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Blood in the stool
- Decreased appetite
- Lethargic behavior
Hemp Oil and IBS
Now, you’re probably thinking, “how can hemp oil possibly help with this?”
What was the key word in IBS? Inflammation! And guess what we talked about before as an effect of hemp oil? A decrease inflammation. And, a decrease in pain.
Hemp oil can help by decreasing levels of inflammation and pain hence increasing your cat’s quality of life. Also, as we talked about in other articles, hemp oil decreases feelings of nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and weight loss. All of those are part of IBS.
If your cat has IBS, grab a bottle of hemp oil and see if it helps her.
You may be surprised. Keep in mind, it may not work right away, it’s not magic. But, over a few weeks, you should notice some improvement. And, as always, don’t forget to talk to your holistic veterinarian regarding your specific case.