megacolon surgery, anyone had this?

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Noah & me (GA)

Noah & me (GA)

Member Since 2016
We got lucky again with Daniel. He normally takes PEG with some probiotic lactose free yogurt otherwise he gets really hard and dry poops and has gotten plugged up before. Everything he does is a big secret; eating, drinking, the litter box. If he hadn't been hiding in the closet this might have gone unnoticed for a few more days. He was really backed up with what had to be a kilo of poop.
His blood work and urine all came back fine and after much palpation and a few enemas it all came out.
My question is how is megacolon diagnosed and has anyone else had the surgery for it? Daniel is only 10 and otherwise in good health. We'll do what we have to do but not if it makes him miserable and takes years off his life. I think for now I'll increase his PEG slowly until we see diarrhea and then back off.
 
I only know of one cat who had that surgery Dickson, he was a severely overweight kitty (around 28 pounds) and while the surgery itself was a tremendous success he died from an infection in the following days.
 
I have no personal experience with it in any of my cats. I do know of one person whose cat had the surgery and it was successful. The cat did extremely well after surgery which well over a year ago. It was a new lease on life for him. I remember this well because a bunch of people I know donated to help pay for the surgery.

I would just be really careful about who did the surgery and make sure they've done lots before (I know you will already have thought of this.) You may have to travel to find a competent surgeon. My recommendation would be to join that Facebook Feline Megacolon Group. There's a food they swear by over there too... Fiber Response? comes to mind. I think that may be a Royal Canin food. As for diagnosis, I don't know what the official procedure is or how they determine that the nerves have been so damaged by the stretching of the colon that the stool can no longer move through there to the exit. This is about the extent of my limited knowledge on megacolon. Let me find the FB group name and get right back to you.
 
I have a cat who is very prone to constipation, and I also have to give him PEG daily or he gets backed up. He doesn't have megacolon, but has always had poor motility it seems, even as a young cat. I know people in similar situations have had good luck with Fiber Response, also if your cat will eat canned food, Hill's gastrointestinal Biome cat food apparently works wonders. My vet and her vet tech (both of them moms of chronically constipated cats) call it "Poop Magic" :cat:
I tried it for Wicket but he hates canned food and refused to try more than a bite here and there, so I can't personally vouch for it.
In the end I had to go back to his raw diet and give PEG + pumpkin daily, as well as "Smooth BM Gold" drops (you can find them on amazon). The drops really help trigger the BM when I can feel that his colon is full but he's still not going, without ever causing diarrhea.
 
If it’s a motility issue then Cisapride is prescribed for this problem. I would try Virginie’s recommendations first probably or just add in Cisapride as needed.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
I would just be really careful about who did the surgery and make sure they've done lots before...There's a food they swear by over there too, Fiber Response?
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No surgery yet but it would be done at the veterinary college our vet (and her dad) graduated from. It's not yet a VCA institution with their own exit for the highway so that's a relief but I was warned they like to be called "It's doctor actually". Sure thing Bob, so all of you have the same last name, Actually?
I confess not having diabetics in the home we still have kibble, Daniel and Sam won't touch wet food and it is Gastro Intestinal Fibre Response. Daniel has had more than a few nice soft poops but needs to gain some weight. We finally bought a baby scale. This thing where they lose a gram a day just goes unnoticed until six months goes by and they finally get an accurate weigh in at the clinic.
In another thread I mentioned my interaction with the lead tech who thinks kibble is fine for all cats including diabetics. Unlike most of the techs there she doesn't tremble in fear when I appear and her two years in Junior College have only taught her that she's right and everyone else is wrong. I get a lot of eye rolling and 'tsk tsk' attitude from her so she can cram that! I gave her the 'kibble doesn't resemble anything found in nature' argument and she looked at me like I came on a horse and buggy. She's the type I figured out 45 years ago, there won't be a second date. You know the type man or woman, religious differences. She thinks she's God and I'm just an ill informed heathen. Say, that's not cellulite on your thighs is it? I guess you're not so perfect after all. :blackeye:
Anyways, Daniel if fine for now and as affectionate as ever. No more hiding in the closet with a watermelon hanging half out of his behind.
Virginie said:
I also have to give him PEG daily or he gets backed up
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We call Daniel "Dairy Daniel". Much to mom's delight she's seen how Lewis hears the distinctive snap of a can of FF and comes running. Daniel hears the lid pop off cream cheese and magically appears at my feet. Luckily we can sneak his PEG into probiotic lactose free yogurt and he eats it all and is slowly coming around to wet food.
After all that has happened the last thing we need right now is another sick cat.
 
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