Comprehensive Gut Check for Cats
Calprotectin
The gut contains about 70% of the immune system, so it’s important. Inflammation is the immune system responding to something it does not like. Inflammation can often lead to redness and swelling that you can see but there are also immune reactions you can’t see that can cause damage. Many conditions that are common in cats are often related to intestinal inflammation.
Calprotectin is a sensitive marker of inflammation of the gut lining. Elevated levels can be responsive to an anti-inflammatory diet, anti-inflammatory supplements, or other treatments. If calprotectin stays high, it can identify more serious conditions. Levels can also be used to monitor treatments. Conditions such as obesity or diabetes can also be associated with higher levels.
- Normal: <10 ug/g. No inflammation was noted.
- Borderline: 10-100 ug/g may benefit from testing again in 3-6 months.
- High: >100 ug/g Inflammation has been noted. Retest in 3 months.
Inflammation Marker
Continue with current diet and lifestyle.
- Possible causes of increased inflammation include poor levels of healthy gut bacteria, toxin exposure, and reactions to diet or lifestyle. In very high levels it may be advisable to contact your veterinary care provider.
- Consider an anti-inflammatory or prescription pet food. Some research has noted that changing the type of protein in a pet’s diet, for example switching from chicken to salmon, or trying a pet food with hydrolyzed protein may help to reduce inflammation.
- Consider anti-inflammatory snacks (blueberries, alfalfa, apples (no seeds), carrots, pumpkin, red pepper), or anti-inflammatory targeted supplements such as fish oil.
- Consider probiotics to support healthy gut bacteria. Look for probiotics with a variety of healthy gut bacteria, referred to as multi-strain.
- Retest in 3 months to see if your pet has responded to changes.
Secretory IgA
Secretory IgA is the first line of immune defense at the gut lining. It is a marker of intestinal maturity in cats and an indicator of intestinal immune protection. Elevated levels may show an immune reaction to inflammation, parasites, or food sensitivities. Low levels of IgA may identify an inability to have an immune response and high levels show that your pet is reacting to something. High levels will return to normal if what they are responding to goes away. Low levels of IgA have been associated with autoimmunity, allergies, and skin conditions.
- Low: <10 ug/g. May have an impaired response, treat and retest in 3 months.
- Normal: 10- 300 ug/g. No excess or impaired immune response.
- Borderline: 301- 350 ug/g.
- High: >350 ug/g. Identifies a response to something, treat and retest in 3 months.
Immune Response
Continue with current diet and lifestyle.
- Consider a grain-free or hypoallergenic food.
- Consider a probiotic or prebiotic supplement to build good gut bacteria and support IgA response.
- Consider immune-supporting supplements such as Thorne Myco-Immune.
- Minimize anxiety and stress, and encourage activity.
- Retest in 3 months.
- Consider a grain-free or hypoallergenic food.
- Support with probiotics.
- Consider testing for parasites, gluten sensitivity, and Leaky Gut Syndrome with our Leaky Gut test.
- Retest in 3 months.
Zonulin
Zonulin is a protein that acts like a glue to keep intestinal cells bound together. Intestinal cells are supposed to be lined up and connected to each other. When Zonulin is high it means the cells aren’t tightly together. Doctors and veterinarians refer to it as Leaky Gut Syndrome. The picture below shows cells lined up together in a healthy gut and cells with spaces from a leaky gut. Leaky gut happens gradually over time. Zonulin can help identify the level of leaky gut. Leaky Gut Syndrome has been associated with inflammation, an imbalance of healthy gut bacteria, and is a risk factor for food allergies and food sensitivities, such as a reaction to gluten.
Possible related symptoms of a Leaky Gut Syndrome include:
- Digestive issues such as diarrhea, bloating, constipation, weight loss, changes in appetite, and gas.
- Skin issues such as dry skin, hair loss, redness, rashes, and scratching.
- Chewing, licking, or gnawing paws and paw pads.
Levels of Zonulin
- Normal: Zonulin levels of <6.6 ug/g are normal.
- Borderline: Zonulin levels of 6.5- 11 ug/g may benefit from testing again in 3-6 months.
- High: Zonulin levels of >11 ug/g are associated with Leaky Gut Syndrome. Rest in 3 months
Treatment Options
Continue with current diet and lifestyle.
- Probiotics have been shown to improve good gut bacteria and may improve Zonulin levels.
- Consider a less processed dog food, such as a prescription or human grade cat food. If the antigliadin IgA is also high, consider a gluten free food.
- Minimize anxiety and stress.
- Avoid unnecessary medications such as antibiotics or exposure to toxins.
- Check inflammation. Consider anti-inflammatory supporting snacks such as blueberries, alfalfa, apples (no seeds), carrots, pumpkin, red pepper), or anti-inflammatory supplements. Reducing inflammation may decrease Zonulin.
- Test level of fecal inflammation with IPL inflammation test.
- Check overall health as obesity and type 2 diabetes may lead to increased inflammation.
- Retest in 3 months.
Antigliadin IgA
Antigliadin IgA identifies an immune response to gluten and can let you know if your cat is eating gluten. Gliadin is a component of gluten. Your cat can only have a reaction to gluten if they are eating gluten. A reaction to gluten may be a contributing factor to Leaky Gut Syndrome, skin conditions, or other symptoms. Removing gluten can reduce Antigliadin IgA and Zonulin levels. Antigliadin IgA reactions are based on the level of gluten eaten. Fecal Antigliadin IgA testing is not used to diagnose gluten or wheat allergy, or celiac disease.
Levels of sIgA
- Normal: An antigliadin IgA level of <750 ug/g is considered normal.
- Borderline: An antigliadin IgA level of 750-900 ug/g may identify some reaction.
- High: An antigliadin IgA level of >900 ug/g is considered a strong reaction to gluten.
Intestinal Antibody Response to Gluten
Continue with current diet and lifestyle.
- Try a gluten-free cat food and note a change in symptoms. (wheat, rye, and barley all contain gluten)
- Retest in 3 months.