Help with constipation?

[Bgould4079]

Hey everyone, my cat Lulu that I adopted recently is newly diagnosed diabetic and over the weekend had a severe bout of constipation. Long story short, I had to bring her to an emergency vet for a few days and she had a few enemas and passed it there. They said it was the largest poop they’d ever seen . They said the stool must have been developing in her before I even adopted her, which was last Wednesday. They told me there could be many reasons why she had this bout, but that their current guess was dehydration.

They got her back to passing normal and told me to use 1/4th teaspoon of miralax twice daily mixed in with her wet food to try to help her out. This has not worked, unfortunately, and so she has not passed since mid Monday. I am wondering if any of you have any advice for cats with constipation? I have a vet appointment tonight and hopefully will get some guidance from that, too.

The emergency vet also let me know that I should get her checked for something called “megacolon”. I am going to have my primary vet check her for that as well...but any advice or tips on how to better help this girl with her constipation would be so very helpful. Thank you!

 

[Katherine&Ruby]

Oh dear, poor poor kitty! So sorry to hear she is having so much trouble. I believe that @thebigfuzz has a cat with megacolon, so maybe she'd have some good advice for you. I gave my cat Miralax as well and it didn't work, and plus it's not a great long term option, so I now feed her ½ tsp of Weruva's Pureed Pumpkin twice a day along with a 2 x a day sprinkle from a capsule of S. Boulardii, a probiotic, and that seems to be keeping her much more regular. Lots of people here just buy the canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) from the supermarket for their cats but mine walks away from it.

Felineconstipation.org has been a great resource for many of us here whose kitties have trouble moving things along. Best of luck to you and your pretty kitty!

 

[Critter Mom]

I second the recommendation for felineconstipation.org.


Mogs
.

 

[thebigfuzz]

Hello!!!

Just got home from work. Yes, our Cosmo has megacolon.

Most Megacolon is idiopathic (unknown cause), but occasionally due to anatomy, congenital factors (like Manx syndrome) or other conditions. Essentially, the colon is or becomes very large and stretches out like an old elastic band. The colon muscles become weak and have a harder time contracting and moving stool...leading to constipation or blockage, if untreated.

Diabetes is the double whammy, in that many diabetic cats (at first while in higher numbers) tend towards dehydration as their bodies use the water to get rid of excess sugar in the blood stream. This can make the stool even harder and can become difficult to pass.

It is diagnosed at the vet via X-ray and the treatments vary. For many Megacolon caregivers, the take action point is 36 hrs without a #2. I have heard of kitties doing well with pumpkin or Miralax. Miralax requires extra water to be given or it can actually make things worse. Miralax draws water into the stool. If no extra water is given, it draws from normal hydration levels, which can make kitty more dehydrated, which hardens the stool again. Round and round. It also takes a few days for Miralax to work. Note that 1/8 tsp of miralax requires 2 tsps of water.

Other treatments can include some of the following as needed: sub q fluids, cisapride, lactulose, enemas and manual extractions. Psyllium fibre is also effective (and safe for diabetic cats). We feed Cosmo a special diet (Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Fibre Response), which is a lifesaver! But....not good for diabetics and regulating blood sugar due to the kibble. Many Megacolon caregivers swear by this food. We manage though Some conditions take priority over others with multiple condition cats. I also belong to a Megacolon support group on Facebook, which is helpful.

Cosmo is managed through special diet primarily, then sub q fluids, cisapride and lactulose as needed. We have done many at home enemas (cannot be the human kind from the drug store) We haven’t had an issue in some time yay! We don’t use Miralax...it never worked for us. Lactulose is better.

I hope it goes well! Let me know if you need anything! Praying for poop