Checking on Lucy and Squallie

I’m here. Sorry I haven’t been here the last few days, I’m having computer problems so right now I’m limited to my phone.

Squallie was doing well until this morning, when it became very obvious that he is constipated again. It comes on so quickly, I don’t understand it! This is the worst episode so far, he is very uncomfortable, and I’m worried about a rupture because he is straining so much and producing mostly just blood. He has an appointment for 8:00 tomorrow morning. I am afraid...Once again, please keep I’m in your prayers. Thank you all. ❤️
 
Lots of hugs and prayers from us too Lucy!! :bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:

And some very special vines too!
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Squalliesmom said:
I’m here. Sorry I haven’t been here the last few days, I’m having computer problems so right now I’m limited to my phone.

Squallie was doing well until this morning, when it became very obvious that he is constipated again. It comes on so quickly, I don’t understand it! This is the worst episode so far, he is very uncomfortable, and I’m worried about a rupture because he is straining so much and producing mostly just blood. He has an appointment for 8:00 tomorrow morning. I am afraid...Once again, please keep I’m in your prayers. Thank you all. ❤️
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:bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Well, the news from the vet wasn’t good; he says the mass has definitely gotten bigger. He’s looking into putting him on budesonide but doesn’t really think it will do much. He does think the steroids have probably slowed the growth some, so that’s good.

He gave Squallie two different enemas, and sent me home with the knowledge and equipment to do them myself at home. Squallie did have a couple of poops, but he’s still straining so I think there’s more to come, and I think he needs another enema, so I guess I’m going to have to try out my new learning. Not really looking forward to this one!
 
Hi Lucy, I'm so glad that Squallie is back home with you.
Regarding the at home enema thing, I'm happy to know that the vet has given you the info, etc. to let you help him without having to keep taking him in. I don't have any experience with that so I can't weigh in with any tips or advice, just have a lot of towels at the ready I guess...:nailbiting:
I hope once he gets regular again he'll feel much better even though the vet said the mass has grown a bit.
Tons of vines and hugs :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
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Barbara & Uncle said:
Hi Lucy, I'm so glad that Squallie is back home with you.
Regarding the at home enema thing, I'm happy to know that the vet has given you the info, etc. to let you help him without having to keep taking him in. I don't have any experience with that so I can't weigh in with any tips or advice, just have a lot of towels at the ready I guess...:nailbiting:
I hope once he gets regular again, I hope he'll feel much better even though the vet said the mass has grown a bit.
Tons of vines and hugs :bighug::bighug::bighug:
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Thanks, Barbara. :bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Mandy & Rex said:
Tagging @Carol in Chicago for her expertise with home enemas. She helped me a lot with Rex.
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Please let me know how I can help Lucy. I'm glad he's home and the vet has given you some guidance on how to help. The best advice I have is to do this in a small room such as laundry or bathroom. I would recommend laying down plenty of pee pads to make clean up easy. I hope the vet discussed the specific solution recommended, amount, and frequency. In general, I avoid food for Rose at least 2 hours ahead, deliver the solution and wait about 1 hour until "all clear". It helps if you have another person to hold him, but if not, I have done this by myself using a harness to keep Rose upright and stationary.

I have been thinking of you all day, so please let me know if there is anything I can do. :bighug:
 
Carol in Chicago said:
Please let me know how I can help Lucy. I'm glad he's home and the vet has given you some guidance on how to help. The best advice I have is to do this in a small room such as laundry or bathroom. I would recommend laying down plenty of pee pads to make clean up easy. I hope the vet discussed the specific solution recommended, amount, and frequency. In general, I avoid food for Rose at least 2 hours ahead, deliver the solution and wait about 1 hour until "all clear". It helps if you have another person to hold him, but if not, I have done this by myself using a harness to keep Rose upright and stationary.

I have been thinking of you all day, so please let me know if there is anything I can do. :bighug:
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Thanks, Carol! That’s pretty much exactly what we did. I was terrified I’d hurt him. I never want to have to do it again! He cried - he didn’t cry at the vet’s. I was so afraid I was hurting him! It’s tricky to get the tubing past the mass in his colon, and the walls of his colon are damaged, so I was very leery of causing a perforation, even though his vet said I wouldn’t. It was scary and now I just want to cry. I hope he will be okay.
 
Ella & Rusty & Stu(GA) said:
(((Lucy))), I'm so sorry that the procedure didn't go perfectly, but I'm sure that Squallie knows that you're trying to help him. We are sending strong healing vines for your boy. He will be OK. Squallie is strong. He's a cat!

Lots of hugs for you,
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Thanks, Ella. I’m probably worrying over nothing but all my nerves are frayed to the max, and I’m exhausted. So I’m sure everything seems like a bigger issue to me than it really is; it’s easy to say that, but much harder to internalize it.
 
Oh, Lucy, the first time I did a enema on my Sug, I was terrified too. I use to put her in the tub to do them for easy mess clean up. It sounds like with Squallie, it's a bit trickier with the mass. I hope it won't be something you'll have to do often. :bighug:
 
Squalliesmom said:
Thanks, Carol! That’s pretty much exactly what we did. I was terrified I’d hurt him. I never want to have to do it again! He cried - he didn’t cry at the vet’s. I was so afraid I was hurting him! It’s tricky to get the tubing past the mass in his colon, and the walls of his colon are damaged, so I was very leery of causing a perforation, even though his vet said I wouldn’t. It was scary and now I just want to cry. I hope he will be okay.
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I totally understand. I'm just glad your vet invested the time to show / teach you how to help Squallie and also provide the reassurance that you won't hurt him. The mass and any colon damage are beyond my experience, but I hope the vet is right and you were able to see it won't hurt him.

My vet and I had to have a talk one time about how he can do things I can't. My animals see him as a doctor and just "let" him do stuff that I simply can't do. I'm family and none of my cats would want family poking and prodding in the way he does. I can only hope Squallie's cry was because he was uncomfortable with this type of procedure being done by his mom in his house. If you have to do it again, I'm sure it will be easier for both of you.

I hope you have the confidence in knowing you are helping him. He will understand this too - maybe you just need to tell him (again). I took this paragraph from felineconstipation.org because I have re-read and reflected on it many times. I hope it helps you:
Remember to talk with your cat. Show your cat what you plan to use and explain why and what you plan to do. Talk as from one adult to another, which this relationship is after all. Your cat is an intelligent being and while not every word will be understood, cats pick up on our intent and our intent informs our action. If we think, for instance, that taking a temperature or using a micro-enema requires us to 'shove something up a cat's ass,' that is exactly what we will do with predictably negative results. If, instead, we imagine using gentle steady pressure and visualize gliding in smoothly, that is more likely to happen because our movements will follow. It is far easier to work with a cooperative cat; take the time to elicit cooperation. Cooperation is the kinder and safer approach.
​
I was surprised to learn that very few people do this at home. From what my vet said it is very rare, so don't cry unless it is for stress relief. You should be congratulated on your new skills! :bighug: :cat: :bighug:
 
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