Not Peeing After General Anesthetic

[nepenthe]

My 16 yr old Bengal had some teeth removed this aft and came home at 4:30. Everything went well, except for the fact that he has been in and out of the litterbox several dozen times and doesn't seem to be able to pee. Am going to watch him tonight and if he still hasn't gone, take him in first thing in the am.

Meantime, I read that this is a side effect of surgery.

Has anyone ever had this happen before? Could it be the analgesic/opiates that cause this?

 

[ja9390]

Opiates can definitely cause this. The body has a harder time communicating with parts of the brain, and so you feel that you have to pee, you go to pee, and you can't. I personally do not take codeine for this reason. Makes my entire torso itch too. I would let your vet know and maybe she could switch him to a different pain med.

 

[nepenthe]

Opiates can definitely cause this. The body has a harder time communicating with parts of the brain, and so you feel that you have to pee, you go to pee, and you can't. I personally do not take codeine for this reason. Makes my entire torso itch too. I would let your vet know and maybe she could switch him to a different pain med.

I think that it's definitely opiate related. For the past week before his surgery he has been on antibiotics which have caused diarrhea the past few days. This am the vet said he had the runs there today too. But he was on codeine for pain the past few days and it didn't cause this.

For his surgery, they gave him Metacam which apparently is an analgesic too. Since he has been home now - 8 hrs, he has not gone #1 or #2. (and I know opiates can bung one up too for #2).

 

[Critter Mom]

Anaesthetics can most definitely cause constipation. It may be that your kitty is a bit dehydrated but be aware that Metacam can affect the kidneys (not trying to scare you, just to inform you). I suggest you make it a priority to speak with your vet today about your kitty not peeing.


Mogs
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[nepenthe]

Even last night at 11pm he didn't pee. Then woke up in the middle of the night to see two clumps in the litterbox, but wasn't sure which one of my two cats did it. This am though, I'd just finished cleaning the litterbox and a minute later I turned around to see him peeing, finally. I think 100% this was the analgesics what did this.

 

[Critter Mom]

Halleluiah!!!

Bet that was a long night.


Mogs
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[nepenthe]

Oh it was a long night for sure. He is peeing ok, but still almost 48 hrs later hasn't had a BM.

 

[BJM]

Opiate induced constipation is very likely. Plus, didn't he have to fast a bit before the procedure?

For info on the feline GI tract and interventions which might be used, see www.FelineConstipation.org

 

[ja9390]

Oh it was a long night for sure. He is peeing ok, but still almost 48 hrs later hasn't had a BM.

The most important thing is that he peed and he's able to pee. The no BM is 100% because of the opiates. They essentially paralyze your digestive system and really slow everything down. Once he's off of them, he'll be back to himself in a couple of days. When is his last dose?

 

[nepenthe]

The most important thing is that he peed and he's able to pee. The no BM is 100% because of the opiates. They essentially paralyze your digestive system and really slow everything down. Once he's off of them, he'll be back to himself in a couple of days. When is his last dose?

Oh, sorry for the delay - he had his teeth out, fasted for 12 hrs before on March 2. He didn't have a BM until that Saturday on March 5th. The funny thing is that all he had for analgesics is trans-dermal codeine and Metacam and Propofol during surgery.