? MED QUESTION 08/01/18 Squallie AMPS 81, +4/78, PMPS 92, +4/76

[Carol & Murphy (GA)]

Poor sweet Squallie. It must be very frustrating. Sending poopy vines and clean ultrasound wishes, Lucy

 

[Jill & Jade]

Good to hear he's somewhat better. Here's hoping the s**t hits the fan soon.

[/QUOTE
Poor Kitty!!

That video is very funny tho....

 

[Jill & Jade]

Jade used to get very constipated and it helped her if I rubbed her belly (moderate pressure) in a circular motion. Pushing it thru her intestines. Squallie sounds like he may be beyond that as far as comfort level. but maybe after he poops and you notice him not going for a day or two, that could help? Unless he's like my civvie and hates his belly rubbed....

 

[Squalliesmom]

Maybe not. But if you are really concerned - dissolve a bit of miralax in a bit of water and syringe it after he eats (I actually use an eye-dropper type med dispenser (vs. syringe type) - I feel I have better control. The syringes seem to shoot the whole lot at once but the eye-dropper type I can drizzle in a bit of time.

The "bulk" (fiber) may help move things along too.

Gizmo had the opposite with soft/loose poos after starting YA. And again with this new bag.

Are you giving anything for nausea?

Thanks! The vet gave him Cerenia, and I've given him Ondansetron, but he isn't acting like he's nauseated.

 

[Squalliesmom]

Hi, Lucy, I’m just catching up...Good that the poop is squishy but alas that it’s not moving along....and that Squallie giving you a hard time with assist feeding.

A couple of thoughts that are long shots but are gentle/gradual and might help with peristalsis....
1. Plain kefir can help soothe gi and, at least with Spunky lately, seems to help move things along. It’s probiotic properties can help, too.
2. ACV. Either a drop or two in his water dish (if he’s drinking water on his own)
or:
Dilute a few drops of ACV (apple cider vinegar) in water...enough water (start with say 1/8- 1/4 cup water add more water if needed) so that it barely smells of vinegar (my nose tells me that when the dilution barely whiffs of vinegar and smells more like sweet than vinegary, that’s a good mild dilution). Orally dose 1-2 cc 1-2x several hours apart. You want the ACV to be very dilute bc straight up is too acidic and can be irritating rather than soothing.
Or:
Add a drop or two of ACV and add to fud that has enough water added to it to be like a pudding or slurry texture.

Thanks, Sina. I will get some kefir today and give that a try. I already have the ACV. He never drinks much on his own (I have not seen him at the water fountain in years, literally!) but I have been syringing water. Somebody recommended SEB, too. That is something else I have on hand, so may give it a try. Right now I'm open to trying anything that I don't think will hurt!

 

[Squalliesmom]

I am sorry you are still having a problem. Whispy had a bout with a massive amount of hair in his system a couple of weeks ago -- vet was honestly concerned that we might have to do surgery after feeling it and looking at his xray. There just wasn't anything that we could do to get him to eat while he was plugged up. I think that they just inherently feel/know that they don't want to pack anything more in until they can empty out? Just a guess on my part.

That doesn't help, I know, but gosh I hope something moves soon. Chasing him around might not be a bad thing either, I do wonder if movement (I hesitate to call it "exercise" in a cat, but sure...) or exercise might help. Can you get him to chase around after a laser toy or something on a string?

Thanks, Sandi.
He's pretty lazy so his idea of playing with a toy is for me to swing it over him so he can raise one paw to bat at it, lol. However, he will run from me if he thinks I'm going to make him do something he doesn't want to do, which is just about all the time, now. I chase him back and forth from the LR to the BR; keeping him locked up in the BR is the only way I can tell for sure whether or not he poops.

 

[Squalliesmom]

Jade used to get very constipated and it helped her if I rubbed her belly (moderate pressure) in a circular motion. Pushing it thru her intestines. Squallie sounds like he may be beyond that as far as comfort level. but maybe after he poops and you notice him not going for a day or two, that could help? Unless he's like my civvie and hates his belly rubbed....

Thanks, Jill! .
Sometimes he likes his belly rubbed, and sometimes not...

 

[Squalliesmom]

Sending prayers , hugs and scritches , Lucy Maybe make this day simple , do only what he absolutely needs ...feed a few teaspoons , see if you can get him to move around , as Sandi suggested. I can’t help but imagine he is not just physically recovering but emotionally as well . Maybe play soft music , love on him so he will further relax . Praying that helps you too

 

[Squalliesmom]

My civvie, Allen, is chronically constipated. I give a bit of miralax in each meal. I've been giving 1.5ml lactulose twice a day. And he gets one cisapride each day. And if he doesn't go in 48 hours, I give him 2 drops of Pilocarpine. It's a drug for human eye conditions but when given orally to a cat it helps with motility.

Thanks, Judy.
I think my vet may have mentioned pilocarpine. I know he mentioned a drug that was used in humans, but in cats it aids in motility.

I have a chronically constipated civvie, too; he gets Miralax with every meal, and I've been giving it to Squallie in his meals, but he's not really eating much so I don't think it's doing him much good.

 

[Squalliesmom]

Thanks, Pamela!

 

[Squalliesmom]

Poor sweet Squallie. It must be very frustrating. Sending poopy vines and clean ultrasound wishes, Lucy

Thanks, Carol. Many (((hugs))) for you, and please give Murphy's adorable, furry little face a smooch for me!

 

[Jill & Jade]

Thanks, Jill! .
Sometimes he likes his belly rubbed, and sometimes not...

This method works in humans, too. It can be uncomfortable when you’re feeling packed in, but the idea is to apply pressure to help push the poop thru in the same direction as your intestineal tract. If you’ve ever had a colonic, it’s what the anestician does.

 

[Judy and Boomer]

Thanks, Judy.
I think my vet may have mentioned pilocarpine. I know he mentioned a drug that was used in humans, but in cats it aids in motility.

I have a chronically constipated civvie, too; he gets Miralax with every meal, and I've been giving it to Squallie in his meals, but he's not really eating much so I don't think it's doing him much good.

Yes, that is the problem we used to have with the miralax...if the cat doesn't eat much the cat doesn't benefit from it.
@Carol in Chicago just tagged me that she has started using the pilocarpine and it's helping.