5/18 Ella PMPS 428 +2 374 +3=374

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tpr

tpr

Member Since 2012
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=71184

Good morning everyone,

Ella ate her first breffis but it is confirmed that she is constipated. This has never happened to her before. As of late I've noticed that her poos are small and this morning she dug and then had a teeny tiny smidge come out. Then she walked around and a bit more came out and it seemed hard and dry. What can I do for her? From the pain of constipation effect her bg?
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344

I've heard of mixing pumpkin in for fiber but will that raise her bg? Is it the canned pumpkin for the grocery store?
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344

Yes, I think constipation can affect the BGs, some.
I use Miralax for J.D. occasionally. You want to use the plain Miralax, no extra strength or anything like that. You can start with 1/8 teaspoon mixed in with food twice a day, with extra water.
She will need extra water because the Miralax will draw water from the system to make the stools softer.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344

tpr said:
I've heard of mixing pumpkin in for fiber but will that raise her bg? Is it the canned pumpkin for the grocery store?
Click to expand...
I tried pumpkin once. It's not the pie filling kind of canned pumkin. You want just plain pumkin. I found mine in the organic section of the store.
You can try that, too.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344

Thanks Dyana. Is the plain pumpkin in canned form as well. I don't think I've ever heard of Miralax. Is constipation a symptom of diabetes?

edited to add: we don't have miralax in canada.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344

Add the ? to your first post and something about constipation, and someone will respond with an equivalent in Canada.

The plain pumkin is canned.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344 (constipation)

The Canadian brand equivalents to Miralax are Lax a Day and RestoraLax. I am not sure if both are still on the market. They are in the stomach remedy section at the drug store. They are powders that people mix into water. You can dissolve it in a bit of water and add to Ella's food. Buy a flavorless variety. The active ingredient in all of these is PEG3350. For cats you can use 1/8 tsp to 1/4 tsp once to twice daily. I think I read somewhere that Miralax is coming to Canada but I dont know if it here yet.

Canned pumpkin is fine. You want plain pumpkin with no flavoring added. Not pumpkin pie filling.

As Dyana said, adding water to the food is a good idea.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344 (constipation)

Restoralax is sold at Walmart.

Please visit http://www.felineconstipation.org - I learned so much from Pat and her site. Maverick needed to be cleared out at the vets - xrays and an enema.

There are lots of things you can try at home but this won't work on the hard poop that is blocking her right now. So you may need vet assistance to clear her out.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344 (constipation)

Thanks for all your responses:)

+2.5=481....I'm out the door to work. I can't believe how how she is:(
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (constipation)

If you don't see any improvement in the litterbox, I'd get Ella in to the vet. Constipation that's not clearing out needs a vet visit.

Constipation is not usually a side effect of FD. However, getting your cat on a better diet can cause constipation because more of the nutrients in the food are absorbed, there's less filler and less fiber (the stuff from grain). Adding water to Ella's food will help. Some cat's do need a bit of help at times, though. You may want to add a small amount of oil to Ella's food for now. It may help to make things a bit more slippery!
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (constipation)

Ella's food is blended with water so I think she's getting enough. However she hasn't been drinking from her bowl since the switch to wet. I left a message with the vet this morning. I don't think I've seen a good poo in at least 5 days. She usually has massive ones. Today I noticed some twisted up fur at the end of it.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (constipation)

Ive tried giving Rosy a tsp of plain unsalted butter to ease her hairball. Later that evening, she had very soft poo poo, must be the butter lubricated . This did bnot develope into a diahhrea or anything. Maybe you can try if it's the hairball causing constipation.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (constipation)

What ever you try now will not work on the poop that is blocking her. Constipation can have serious side effects like megacolon so please don't wait too long. The recommendations are for now going forward to help prevent constipation.

In Maverick's case it was the switch to wetfood that caused his constipation - very uncommon. Lots of vet visits, learning enemas and suppositories. Nothing worked for him - not pumpkin, restoralax and even high doses of a colon motility drug cisapride. With the help from Pat from the constipation site - she helped to figure out that Maverick's GI flora needed a different fiber source than what was available in canned food. Most cases of constipation are fairly straight forward.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (constipation)

so does this sound like an emergency situation? i'm still waiting to hear from the vet and to top it all off we're headed into a long weekend.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (constipation)

if you are heading into a long weekend, you may want to have the vet take a look.

Shadoe had to have her anal glands expressed a few times, and she DID NOT LIKE THAT, but afterward, she trotted around like a little pony, so happy that she felt better.

I was using restoralax after the first bout, then thought she was OK and stopped it. Sadly, she got bunched up again and we took her back for another flushing. After that 2nd time, it was 1/4tsp Restoralax in her meals every day.

Oliver's got some issues now, OTJ but has megacolon, so you want to be sure you 'keep things moving'.

Be sure to add PLENTY of water to her food, in addition to what she may drink from a bowl, as the powder draws moisture from the body and you may fix the constipation but have a dehydrated Ella.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (constipation)

Tamara

I agree that you probably need to have her checked if she has not pooed in a few days...did you say five?

I like to use a more natural remedy for prevention of constipation....I use slippery elm bark powder. It's very soothing to the intestines and should not raise BG. You have to buy the loose pure powder at a health food store.
You then mix 1 tsp of the powder with 1/2 cup pure water (spring water/bottled water) in a glass or porcelain pan and warm very gently over low heat. It will just slightly thicken. Store it in a glass jar ETA: in the frig. You can give her
5 mls bid orally with a syringe but if she gets any meds, give it one hour before or two hours after the meds. You may only need to give it once a day once she is doing well.

Hope she feels better soon. Gayle has a good suggestion to have the anal glands checked.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (constipation)

She has been pooping a little bit each day but it is no where near her normal amount. When I opened up her stoll this morning I saw lots of fur. My vet told me that it sounds like hairballs and suggested that I get tonic lax and use a 1/3 of the ube in the next 24 hours. She said I could also use 1/4 tsp of metamucil. She said that if she was still pooping a bit and there were no signs of vomitting that we should keep trying the tonic lax and could do so unitl the vet re-opened on Tuesday. However she said if there was vomit Ella would need to see a vet. I will see if the tonic lax will do anything for her (hairball remedy) and may consider taking her to the vet on Sat for an enema.

Thanks for taking the time to share your advice :smile:

edited to add: Ella doesn't seem to be drinking from the bowl since she's been on wet. I blend her food and add extra water so I think she's probably getting enough.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (constipation)

Do not assume she is getting enough water, especially if you are adding something that would help to soften stool.
If the stool is hard, giving something for it to slip out won't work; you need something that will make the stool softer and so, be able to push out without causing internal damage.... a rock is a rock. Watch for straining and blood. Watch for attempts, then leaving the box with no deposit.... that's a problem.

if it's been 5 days and all you are getting are hard little pebbles, it may be an idea to have the vet give a looksee. Ask the vet how fast you should see results because a week without a decent sized stool is worrisome.
Better now with the vet than the ER on a long weekend.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (constipation)

Just picked up laxatone from the vet which has the active ingredients of light mineral oil and petrolatum. I'm to use it over the next 36 hours. I was also told I could get metemucil so I picked up the plain sugarless kind. I also picked up restorlax. The metemucil has fibre but is not a stool softner so I was thinking of using the laxatone and restoral lax. Should I spread out the administration of them and is it ok to give around shot time?

Thanks so much!
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (constipation)

just a head's up -- the Laxatone that I remember giving to my civvies was sweet, so please check the rest of the ingredients and be prepared for a BG spike.

MJ
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

Hi MJ,

They only list the active ingredients which is the mineral oil and petrolatum. Wouldn't they have to list the sugar?
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

oh no!!!!

I found this information about laxatone on a blog...couldn't find it anywhere on the comapny website and I even used their ingredients search box for sugars. The company is closed now so I can't confirm. This was recommneded by my vet. She's already high...what should I do?
Laxatone: White Petrolatum USP, Light Mineral Oil NF, Corn Syrup, Malt Syrup, Soybean Oil, Cane Molasses, Water.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

it's not the tuna flavour kind and it only lists the active ingredients as the oils.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

:? Well, white petrolatum is just petroleum jelly - perhaps you can give her that if you have some. Or light mineral oil - not sure how readily available that would be at a drugstore.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

it's made by vetoquinol..if that helps
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

Evsco Laxatone for Cats (4.25 oz) by Vetoquinol

Laxatone is a laxative and hair ball remedy. This product is used as a laxative in dogs and cats. It is used as a hair ball remedy in cats. Dosages for dogs and cats are given on the label. ACTIVE INGREDIENTS: White petrolatum, USP 214 mg/g, Light mineral oil, NF 34 mg/g. Other Ingredients: Corn syrup, malt syrup soya bean oil, cane molasses, water, gelatin by-products, sodium benzoate (preservative), iron peptonized, artificial flavor.

http://www.healthypets.com/laxatone4.html
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

the other website you posted required you to log in -- I was only able to view the MSDS for the product, which didn't list the ingredients

this is the image from the Healthy Pets site
healthypetscom_2207_244789213.gif
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

oh shoot MJ...that's the tube that I have. how come it doesn't mention the other ingredients? now what?

do i give the restoral lax or the metemucil?
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

back of tube:
healthypetscom_2207_244847953.gif


I've never used the other products, sorry. All I can suggest is that you give petroleum jelly or mineral oil if you have it.

MJ
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

my tube is different on the back. it only lists active ingredients
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

Well, all you can do is squeeze some out and see if it's brown and sticky. Maybe yours has no sugary syrups in it.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

hmmm...i'd like to return it if it does and won't be able to if the seal is broken. just dosed her with the new vial. pmps 428

I will go and see if the pet store has something equivalent to the laxatone without sugar. thanks for doing some research with me MJ :-D
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

looked on line at the pet smart and everything they have has malt in it too. i lifted up the peel and it's brown and sweet smelling. great :sad:
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

Most of the hairball remedies have some sweetener in them.

You can use regular Vasoline (petroleum jelly). Some cats like it. You can try smearing some on Ella's paw and see if she'll lick it off.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

Thanks Sienne, I might just have to go get some. Should I play it safe and just give her 1/8 as oppossed to the 1/4 restoral lax? I've never given anything like this before.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

This is what it says about the restoral lax the equivalnet to miralax. Are you sure I should be giving ella this if she might have impacted stool?

Both Lactulose and Miralax are dose-to-effect drugs with a normal stool as the goal. The intent is not to flush out the cat. If the cat has impacted stool, osmotic laxatives are not suitable until that situation is relieved. We do not want to create pressure behind a dam! In any event, osmotic laxatives do not 'catch up with' the stool already formed to act as stool softeners. They are better used to prevent trouble than to deal with a serious bout of constipation and are not suitable for impacted stool.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

Yeah, it sounds like Ella needs a stool softener. But I don't know if human-type stool softeners are OK for kitties.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella AMPS 344+2.5=481 (question about laxatives))

she just had another small poo, about 7 small/med balls. i've been adding more water to her food. the poop didn't have much hair in it this time but it was dry and hard. geez i don't know what to do. maybe metamucil is better? fiber?
 
Re: 5/18 Ella PMPS 428 (question about laxatives))

hi Tamara,
I have not visited your condo before, but a little bird mentioned you to me.
I believe you and I may be in the same neighborhood, and I hear you may be traveling soon, possibly may need a shooter :lol:
If you are interested, you can pm me if you like.
 
Re: 5/18 Ella PMPS 428 (question about laxatives))

That's very kind of you Ronnie:) We are prepared to take her but will think about your offer. I will contact you shortly :-D
 
I spoke to my vet's office and told them that the laxatone had syrup in it so they offered me a refund. Supposedly it's ok to give her restoralx so I administerd 1/8. I also went out to buy p-jelly and will see if I can get her to consume that. I'm glad that she pooped twice today even though it was dry and much smaller than usual. I'm adding more water to her food to help her pass the stool and keep her hydrated. Hugs to everyone who offered their support to us today :YMHUG:
 
Hi Tamara, I hope Ella gets some relief soon. I am wondering about the same thing with Daphne, but she goes everyday, same size as she had and same kind as when she was on dry food. I just don't think her stool should be so hard. I tried the Miralax, but Daphne didn't like all the water I mixed with it. I was just going to suggest Marje, she offered a recipe to me, but I forgot to ask her, and she beat me to it here, (Thanks Marje!), so I just wrote it down and I'm going to try that. I'll let you know how I make out with it.

Hope Ella will feel better soon.
 
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