? Bloating

Debra Pratt

Debra Pratt

Member Since 2020
Not sure what the cause of the bloating is at this time. But I had trouble with her not pooping a few days ago and then she pooped massively. Well we haven’t seen poop now again since Saturday night. When I spoke to the vet at that time they mentioned just giving miralax for constipation. Now today her stomach is bloated and she won’t let anyone touch her stomach. Vet isn’t sure what to say and can’t fit her in today. At this point I am breaking down as I can’t afford to bring her to an emergency vet if needed on top of any treatment needed. Idk what to do. Do I just try my luck giving her the miralax? I feel like I am failing her. Awaiting to hear back from the vet to see what they say. But has anyone gone through this before with their baby and if so what made it better?
 
Linking your previous post here just for continuity. I don't have experience here but did read through your previous post which had a lot of info from others.
 
I had a cat with this issue last year. An X-ray is typically recommended and also helpful to determine whether there is in fact stool stuck or if it is just gas. If there is a large amount of stool, they will typically give the cat an enema in the office. It worked pretty quickly and, in our situation, there was literally what looked like a cork made out of hair clumped together that was causing the issue.
Thankfully, it never happened again, but I am sharing the experience because the cause for bloating and pain can be a blockage, constipation, just gas (which can be very painful), or it can be due to a motility disorder in which case a drug like cisapride that was just mentioned in the last post may be necessary. Unfortunately, in order to properly diagnose and treat the problem, additional diagnostics may be needed.
 
Just to give you an example of what an X-ray is able to show. In this case—a lot of gas—I have marked all the gas bubbles & this was not a constipation issue. Again, only by determining the cause of the bloat and the pain, will there be an ability to not only figure out the best course of action right now, but also to be able to determine how best to try to prevent it moving forward. Sometimes it’s a process—not fun and frustrating :(.

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The vet just keeps telling me to give her more and more miralax and if nothing by Wednesday then she needs to and will see her. So I guess I try more miralax and prayer. Maybe I stopped the miralax too soon. I was unclear how long to give her the miralax and stopped once I had a couple poops I saw going good.
 
The vet can think you did give more mirilax-I must have gave given 8 teaspoons over 7 days and nothing ! I did pet enemas and warm water enemas-pumpkin-warm sits baths-natural moves (but I had ran out when it was already probably too far along)
Dre was not as much gas which could be if your kitty is on a high fiber diet or sometimes even psyllium can cause bloat.
Dre had to have 3 large enemas that he mixed with warm water and manually broke the stool up.

I don't know if cats can have gas x ---I know dogs can.
wondering if pepcid would help the discomfort?

He took a Xray before and after 2nd enema then the last he was cleaned out and we started cisapride hoping it works he just had 2nd dose. He also did BW which I would recommend.
 
You can give miralax 1/8 tsp every night, HOWEVER, if it's a blockage miralax, lactulose can do more harm. Simple xray can pick up stool if it's only that. I don't agree with vet giving more time to see if miralax works or not. If it's a blockage, time is of the essence. Is Bitsy vomiting, eating?

My civvie had blockage earlier this year. He stopped eating, wanted to but would not. 24 hrs later still not eating and started vomiting the water he drank. Went to ER they did xray but was to unclear because of all the gas. They redid xray first thing next morning and immediately took him into surgery. Post op they said to keep him shaved down (he is long hair), I just can't do that, he has a gorgeous silky tuxedo coat. And give hairball prevention. He won't touch hairball remedies. I got a slicker brush and try to keep brushing him (he'd rather play with brush). Occasionally I can get some remedy smeared on his toe, so far so good. I do add powdered egg yolk to his food which is suppose to help. Keeping all paws crossed.
 
Debra Pratt said:
The vet won’t even see her till we try more miralax and see how that works and see what the progress is on Wednesday.
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I am going to preface this by saying I actually like working with vets & trust my team, but it is equally important that they also trust me and that decisions are made together vs dictated to me. All I can say is to please follow your gut/instincts & your expertise when it comes to knowing how well or not well your cat is doing. If you think your cat needs to be seen and to get an X-ray & your vet won’t see your cat, take the cat to someone who will. At the end of the day, you are in control.
 
Ok so update! After a few more doses of miralax on the direction of the vet she produced a small nugget. Waiting on call from vet as that is all she produced. Yes she is eating and drinking like normal. And she is doing some playing. Though she is still bloated and not pooping like she should.
 
Thank you for the update! Rock hard nugget or soft nugget? That info can be helpful. Also, you can use a popsicle stick or something to see if it is all feces or is it a clump of hair in a small amount of feces. Definitely some poop CSI, but the info can be helpful when you talk to the vet. Also, did you happen to see her when she had the BM? Any straining? Again, just some more info that can be helpful.

I hope they agree to at least do an X-ray. Ultrasound may also be needed depending on what they see on X-Ray and what the bloodwork shows. The “bloating”’is still a concern because it while it can be due to constipation, there are other potential causes as well. Again, I really hope they do an
X-ray :)!!
 
They won’t see her unless she goes more than a week without pooping. I am beyond frustrated. They just said keep giving the miralax daily and all should be fine.
 
Is there another vet that you would feel comfortable going to for a 2nd opinion....and maybe even using after this experience? I have been fortunate in that I have never had a vet tell me my cat couldn’t be seen & typically, it is the opposite—vets are relieved by someone who wants to bring them in when things aren’t going well to make sure all is ok.
 
Debra Pratt said:
They won’t see her unless she goes more than a week without pooping. I am beyond frustrated. They just said keep giving the miralax daily and all should be fine.
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More than a week....... That's way to long for a cat not to go. Missing a day isn't a big deal, going on 2 days I start trying stuff. Of course preventing it is key but sometimes what worked all of a sudden doesn't.
 
I thought this would help explain more about the seriousness of constipation in cats and why it is important for it to addressed promptly:

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departm...information/feline-health-topics/constipation

“Diagnosing constipation is relatively straightforward. The procedure will typically include baseline blood tests, a blood chemistry analysis, urinalysis, and various tests to rule out a urinary tract infection. Also important is abdominal palpation, in which the veterinarian’s hands probe the abdominal area along the entire length of the colon to see if it is distended with fecal matter. Radiographs will be taken to confirm suspected constipation and show the extent to which the colon is dilated and whether a stricture appears to be present. In some instances, ultrasound imaging may also be used in order to rule out the presence of an obstructive tumor.”
 
Tomlin said:
Is there another vet that you would feel comfortable going to for a 2nd opinion....and maybe even using after this experience? I have been fortunate in that I have never had a vet tell me my cat couldn’t be seen & typically, it is the opposite—vets are relieved by someone who wants to bring them in when things aren’t going well to make sure all is ok.
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I got an appointment at another vet for this afternoon. I feel so bad like I am betraying my vet. But to keep being told call us back this day and we will fit her in if no real pooping action to keep being told to continue the same thing and call another day. It has now been close to two weeks and she has only pooped twice. And our current vet knows that. And I am in turmoil inside as I thought they were a good vet. But not now. So hopefully this vet will do something.
 
I hope it goes ok at the vet today! As a mama of a megacolon kitty, we are sensitive to poop problems :bighug:

With miralax, quite a bit of water must also be given so that kitty doesn’t become dehydrated from the medication drawing water towards it. If you look at the instructions, there is a miralax to water ratio (ie. humans are instructed to mix it in a certain amount of water and drink it). Miralax can also cause electrolyte imbalances (potassium)

For many, lactulose is more effective. Still requires extra fluids though.

Out take action number is 36 hrs without a BM before we start with cisapride, lactulose, fluids, enemas or a vet visit.
 
Debra Pratt said:
I got an appointment at another vet for this afternoon. I feel so bad like I am betraying my vet. But to keep being told call us back this day and we will fit her in if no real pooping action to keep being told to continue the same thing and call another day. It has now been close to two weeks and she has only pooped twice. And our current vet knows that. And I am in turmoil inside as I thought they were a good vet. But not now. So hopefully this vet will do something.
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It happens....sometimes we only learn how good or bad a physician or vet is when there is a health issue.

Never, ever feel bad for trusting your instincts and your knowledge of your own or your pets health/situation. At the end of the day, you are the one who lives with the consequences of action or inaction. Best to be safe and seek the 2nd opinion. The best physicians/vets welcome 2nd opinions and are not threatened or upset by them.

Please let us know how it goes. Definitely ask them to do the X-ray :).

Best and keep us posted :bighug:!!
 
Ok I got my Bitsy back. All went well with the enema. And she is completely evacuated. I may be changing vets permanently as I have to be able to trust the vet I am with to care for my cat when needed not give me the run around. She is having me give a Bitsy miralax twice a day and see if that helps if not then they will add cisapride.
 
This is such great news :bighug:! I am so happy Bitsy is back home & no longer full of feces :(. AND...bonus...you have a new vet :D who sounds like they are willing to work with you.

I hope the Miralax works and definitely speak with the vet further about trying to determine what is causing the issue in the first place. There could potentially be an issue with the diet or other cause & knowing that may help guide treatment better.
 
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