Constipation

[Sonia & Tom (GA)]

Tom is very constipated this morning. He tried in his litter and is now walking slowly, stopping every so often to squat and try again. He is trying so hard, he got nauseous and threw up his breakfast.
I know it's the food. Once in a while, I'll add a less expensive low carb brand to their diet and I had an inkling that he was getting constipated when he ate it and now I know for sure.

Anything I can do to help him right now? He won't let me, or the other cats near.

 

[KarenRamboConan]

Do you have any Miralax or Lactulose that you can mix in some food for him? And can you get him to drink? Constipation can dehydrate - and then the dehydration makes the constipation worse. Get liquids in him - even SubQs if you have them. Otherwise, tuna water, etc. And if no luck, you may have to call the vet and book him for an enema. And watch the BGs, too - especially if he threw up his brekkies.

If this is a recurring condition, you may need to start mixing a teeny bit of Miralax powder in his food on a regular basis.

Good luck!

 

[Sonia & Tom (GA)]

Thanks. I haven't learned to do subq yet, but I know that it is something that will eventually be needed.
I'll try to look for Miralx ( or Canadian equivalent). In the meantime, I have given him some pumpkin but he's not eating much. He did drink a bit.

I will most likely go see the vet this weekend, will try to set up an appointment. He is due for bloowork anyway.
DH is home this morning and will monitor.

 

[Gail & Houdini (GA)]

What a handsome guy you have there! I'm partial to the black ones

Houdini has a problem now and then and a pinch of Miralax seems to help a lot since he won't touch pumpkin.

A word of advice ....Don't wait too long to see the vet....Dr had to sedate one of mine and extract a hard poop....an enema is much cheaper!

 

[Lisa and Merlyn (GA)]

Miralax brand name I think another canadian couldnt find it, but did find Polyethylene glycol which is what Miralax is.

Basically I just went thru this with civie Carly, who had been a little bit constipated in the past but last Friday I got home from work and she was doing the same thing, but also laying on her side trying to poop and sqat outside the box and just straining. Puked a bunch..I knew the signs because of Merlyn. We went to the ER for enema, and she finally gave up the hard plug.. it took an enema, and a warm water enema and sub q fluids. Even then she still had hard stuff in there. I started the miralax 1/4 tsp, she wasnt eating much still. Monday after work finally there was a lot of poo in the box, some hard some normal..

So dont wait too long..and be sure its constipation and not trying to urinate.

Good luck with Tom and sending Go Poop vibes

 

[Sonia & Tom (GA)]

... be sure its constipation and not trying to urinate.

Good luck with Tom and sending Go Poop vibes

I followed him around all morning. He managed to poop very small and rock hard. Pretty sure it's not urination but I'll keep an eye.

Thanks for the poop vibes.

ETA: Appointment with vet for tonight. Will also do some bloodwork, its been almost a year (should have done it a few months back. Life gets in the way sometimes )

 

[JJ & Gwyn [GA]]

Ask them to run a kidney panel;. Lowered kidney function can cause varying degrees of dehydration; any degree of dehydration can cause constipation. The switch-over to canned food may have been coincidental. If kidney function is lower and constipation continues, you may want to talk with you vet about the benefits and risks of starting sub-Q fluids sooner than might otherwise be normal.

In a rush ATM, will be back later with more thoughts, just wanted to get in the suggestion for kidney values (BUN, creatinine, USG).

 

[Sonia & Tom (GA)]

Ask them to run a kidney panel;. Lowered kidney function can cause varying degrees of dehydration; any degree of dehydration can cause constipation. The switch-over to canned food may have been coincidental. If kidney function is lower and constipation continues, you may want to talk with you vet about the benefits and risks of starting sub-Q fluids sooner than might otherwise be normal.

In a rush ATM, will be back later with more thoughts, just wanted to get in the suggestion for kidney values (BUN, creatinine, USG).

Thanks. That is part of the reason why I want an full panel. His last one showed early CRI. Since then, he had a dental, we switched to low phosporus food and are adding water to his food as well. He is also almost 17 years old so I want to keep and eye on everything.
Vet and I already discussed the possibility of me starting to give him subQ fluids. We wanted to get another panel first, see where things are.

I'll keep you guys posted after our 6:40PM appointment.