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Feeling frustrated and helpless regarding my cat's constipation!
markiesgirl1 posted:
I have an almost 14 year old Tortie domestic short haired calico. She has always been a dry food eater. We tried and tried to get her to like wet food, but she just didn't like any of them. About a year ago, she had her first bout with constipation. That time, we were able to get her back to normal with tuna in oil and a hairball ointment. Now mind you, being a dry food eater, she has never really been an awesome pooper anyway, usually every other day and mostly unremarkable, but always consistent. She is totally indoor and an only cat, very spoiled as well! A few weeks ago, we noticed she had stopped going as much, and was acting kind of funny, like she might go outside the box, which she has NEVER done, although she didn't. We took her to the vet, they did blood and urine tests and they came out fine. She started going what seemed normally again, and then the same thing happened. They gave us some Lactulose to give her, which we did. We also began again the process of trying to find a wet food she likes, meanwhile giving her the tuna in oil, which we also began putting a bit of benefiber in. After not going for about 3-4 days, we took her back to the vet. They did an xray and found nothing too serious, but her colon was pretty full. It took 3 enemas before it all finally came out. There was on hard blockage and then the rest was softer because of the Lactulose. So, that was this past Tuesday when we brought her home. Since she got back home, we have been giving her a little bit of dry food, and we actually found a wet cat food she likes at the natural foods store. So, since she came home, she has been getting a little benefiber in her wet food, we are giving her the lactulose twice a day, she is getting little amounts of dry food, and we found a milk especially for cats that we give her occasionally. She still has not gone!!!!! I have no idea what to do from here. She seems ok, she doesn't seem to be in pain and she is eating, drinking and peeing normally, just no poop! We are leaving tomorrow to go somewhere overnight. When we get back on Sunday, if she hasn't gone, that will make 5 days and I have no idea how to proceed next. I would appreciate any comments, ideas, advice, whatever, I am at my wits end and don't know what the next step should be. Sorry this is so long, but I appreciate you reading to the end. We have no children, this is our almost 14 year old baby. Thanks so much in advance for any comments or help.
Sincerely, S. Valenti
Sincerely, S. Valenti
2 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Feeling frustrated and helpless regarding my cat's constipation!I have an almost 14 year old Tortie domestic short haired calico. She has always been a dry food eater. We tried and tried to get her to like wet food, but she just didn't like any of them. About a year ago, she had her first bout with constipation. That time, we were able to get her back to normal with tuna in oil and a hairball ointment. Now mind you, being a dry food eater, she has never really been an awesome pooper anyway, usually every other day and mostly unremarkable, but always consistent. She is totally indoor and an only cat, very spoiled as well! A few weeks ago, we noticed she had stopped going as much, and was acting kind of funny, like she might go outside the box, which she has NEVER done, although she didn't. We took her to the vet, they did blood and urine tests and they came out fine. She started going what seemed normally again, and then the same thing happened. They gave us some Lactulose to give her, which we did. We also began again the process of trying to find a wet food she likes, meanwhile giving her the tuna in oil, which we also began putting a bit of benefiber in. After not going for about 3-4 days, we took her back to the vet. They did an xray and found nothing too serious, but her colon was pretty full. It took 3 enemas before it all finally came out. There was on hard blockage and then the rest was softer because of the Lactulose. So, that was this past Tuesday when we brought her home. Since she got back home, we have been giving her a little bit of dry food, and we actually found a wet cat food she likes at the natural foods store. So, since she came home, she has been getting a little benefiber in her wet food, we are giving her the lactulose twice a day, she is getting little amounts of dry food, and we found a milk especially for cats that we give her occasionally. She still has not gone!!!!! I have no idea what to do from here. She seems ok, she doesn't seem to be in pain and she is eating, drinking and peeing normally, just no poop! We are leaving tomorrow to go somewhere overnight. When we get back on Sunday, if she hasn't gone, that will make 5 days and I have no idea how to proceed next. I would appreciate any comments, ideas, advice, whatever, I am at my wits end and don't know what the next step should be. Sorry this is so long, but I appreciate you reading to the end. We have no children, this is our almost 14 year old baby. Thanks so much in advance for any comments or help. <br />Sincerely, S. Valenti
The treatments your veterinarian has done so far sound correct. It's not unusual for a cat to go several days after an enema before having a bowel movement, since they're empty! But if she gets constipated again, ask you veterinarian about cisapride, an oral medication to improve your cat's intestinal motility. This, in conjunction with lactulose, often solves the problem. Keep in mind, it may take some adjusting of her medications to get this right.
Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP
The Cat Doctor
Board Certified in Feline Practice
Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP
The Cat Doctor
Board Certified in Feline Practice
Report This| Share this:Feeling frustrated and helpless regarding my cat's constipation!The treatments your veterinarian has done so far sound correct. It's not unusual for a cat to go several days after an enema before having a bowel movement, since they're empty! But if she gets constipated again, ask you veterinarian about cisapride, an oral medication to improve your cat's intestinal motility. This, in conjunction with lactulose, often solves the problem. Keep in mind, it may take some adjusting of her medications to get this right. <br /> <br />Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP<br />The Cat Doctor<br />Board Certified in Feline Practice
markiesgirl1 replied to Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP's response:
Hello there, thank you very much for your response! I am happy to report that she finally went and everything is fine for now. We plan to continue giving her the lactulose and giving her wet food and less dry, plus putting the benefiber in her food, as this seems to be a good combination for her. If she becomes constipated again, I will definitely ask my vet about the Cisapride. Thank you again, I appreciate your response! I am just so happy she finally went. Hopefully now that she has started going again and realized she can do it without pain, she will continue to go regularly again. Thanks again, have a great day! S. Valenti
Report This| Share this:Feeling frustrated and helpless regarding my cat's constipation!Hello there, thank you very much for your response! I am happy to report that she finally went and everything is fine for now. We plan to continue giving her the lactulose and giving her wet food and less dry, plus putting the benefiber in her food, as this seems to be a good combination for her. If she becomes constipated again, I will definitely ask my vet about the Cisapride. Thank you again, I appreciate your response! I am just so happy she finally went. Hopefully now that she has started going again and realized she can do it without pain, she will continue to go regularly again. Thanks again, have a great day! S. Valenti
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