Dr. Dan Christian specializes in small animal medicine, with special interests in behavior and nutrition. He has been instrumental in establishing animal behavior residencies for veterinarians at leading veterinary schools and developing innovative programs with veterinary organizations in the United States. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, and the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association. During his professional career, Dr. Christian earned the American Association of Feline Practitioners Award. He has also appeared as a guest on television and radio pet health programs nationwide, and to has authored numerous articles for pet health magazines.

Q: My cat has had a bout of colitis. My vet had him on prednisone for about a week, which makes me nervous, because I hear it can have side effects. So far it has not returned, and I am hoping it was a one-time problem. I am supplementing his food with some enzymes and acidophilus (the active culture in yogurt). Do you have any suggestions about diet to help with this condition? He is a picky eater. I feed him a premium dry cat food and some canned food. Some days he will only eat about one third of a cup of dry food. He weighs about nine pounds.

A: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or colitis, can be a relatively persistent and sometimes chronic problem in cats, with some cats affected off and on throughout their lives. It will usually be detected by the owner when the cat has loose stools or flecks of blood appear on the stool. At times, cats may run a fever and may not have an appetite for several days. There are several causes of the condition, including parasites, immune system irregularities, and diet.

After making sure there are no parasites in the cat's intestinal tract, prednisone, a corticosteroid, is often used by veterinarians to help reduce the inflammation in the intestinal tract. Nervousness is a side effect that may last for only a few days until the dose is regulated. If your cat's side effects persist, your veterinarian may want to consider another corticosteroid that your cat can better tolerate.

Feeding diets with high protein and low carbohydrates is often recommended, so check the label on the food you are giving your cat, or consult with your veterinarian or pet food manufacturers. Canned or pouch cat foods are often helpful for cats with this condition, because dry foods are all made with grain products that help bind the food.

If the condition persists for any length of time, be sure to check with your veterinarian for additional tests or treatments, as this can turn into a more severe condition if left unattended.