Oh your poor Bengal, and poor you as well as that is a lot to cope with.
I've had steroid injections for an auto-immune problem (not IBD) and there are quite serious side effects etc and doctors aren't keen on giving them too often as a result, and it would appear this is the same for vets. Have you discussed with your vet the issues you are having once the injection has worn off and has he said what the side effects would be for your Bengal if the frequency was increased? I did find this when I googled feline IBD as I was wondering if there was another steroid that could help:
"Treating IBD
If an underlying cause can be identified then obviously the signs will usually resolve. For example, in the case of a dietary allergy a long-term change to the diet may be all the treatment that is required.
Cases of idiopathic IBD will need to be controlled rather than cured, and there are several approaches that can be used, alone or in combination: •While low allergy diets will assist cases that are allergic to a specific foodstuff, cats with idiopathic IBD will often benefit from a highly digestible diet with increased soluble fibre and supplemented with certain essential fatty acids. Pre-prepared veterinary diets are available to meet that need.
•Prednisolone is a corticosteroid drug that is most commonly used to control this condition. In many cases it is extremely effective, and the dose can be adjusted over time to provide the minimum amount required to control the symptoms. In some instances more potent anti-inflammatory drugs need to be used, but the risk of side-effects is higher.
•Antibiotics are not generally used to treat this condition, but metronidazole is an antibiotic that is not only active against some of the single-celled organisms that can cause diarrhoea, but also seems to have a direct anti-inflammatory effect within the bowel, so in some cases it may be useful.
•Many cats that are unable to absorb nutrients from their bowel properly become deficient in vitamin B12, and if given by injection it often aids recovery.
IBD can be a frustrating problem because diagnosis is not always easy and treatment usually involves control rather than cure. But it’s not all bad news — most cases are eminently manageable and the long-term outlook for most cats with this condition is good." I know that I responded better to one type of steroid injection than another so it may be worth discussing a change to a more powerful steroid injection if you feel that the side effects are worth the risk.
I don't know the lay out of your home of course and I'm sure you've already considered it anyway, but would a change of location with the litter box help, so you are able to deal with cleaning him up before he goes into the rest of the house? That is of course assuming you are home at the time or would you be able to restrict his access to the rest of the house whilst you are out?
I really hope you find a solution for all of you and wish I could help more, I really hope there is someone else on the forum who has more knowledge with this matter. Let us know how you get on.
_________________ Clare Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013) Hampshire, UK
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