Many things going on, currently constipation

[noise]

Agreeing with white shadow about the ultrasound prices and information. I think we paid (also on the (far) east coast) $275 for one in summer 2022. Our cat's was very worthwhile, particularly at that price.

Again, fingers crossed!

Ok, definitely going to call around, when I get to that, that sounds more reasonable. My vet doesn't do ultrasounds, so I think that's the part I got mixed up.

 

[lisahe]

Ok, definitely going to call around, when I get to that, that sounds more reasonable. My vet doesn't do ultrasounds, so I think that's the part I got mixed up.

It's so easy to get mixed up with this stuff! Our vet brought in an ultrasound vet once a week to do them at reasonable prices -- maybe there's a vet clinic near you that does something similar? (I'm hoping the new owner at the cat clinic will keep doing this!)

 

[noise]

SHE POOPED!!

Only a little with some strain, but there it is! I can't believe I'm so excited for poop.

I'll give her a bit more miralax for the straining, and continue watching her.

Thank you all for being so kind and helpful. I'm a bit of a hobby artist, so I'd like to offer each of you a pet portrait, if you like. Just send me a private conversation with a picture or two for reference, if there is a specific style you want, send that along, too, though I am more thinking composition, as I feel a bit weird doing others drawing styles.

It's so easy to get mixed up with this stuff! Our vet brought in an ultrasound vet once a week to do them at reasonable prices -- maybe there's a vet clinic near you that does something similar? (I'm hoping the new owner at the cat clinic will keep doing this!)

It's true, I think next time I will bring a notepad. Oh, that sounds like a nice thing to have. I've been googling around, but no calls just yet. I didn't want to get too ahead of myself.

 

[lisahe]

I'm very glad to hear it, N noise ! Yes, definitely continue watching her. How is she eating now? (Our cat with constipation has an appetite that goes up and down...)

And definitely take a notepad to vet appointments; I finally started doing that a year or so ago and it's been really helpful.

It's very, very kind of you to offer pet portraits!

 

[noise]

I'm very glad to hear it, N noise ! Yes, definitely continue watching her. How is she eating now? (Our cat with constipation has an appetite that goes up and down...)

And definitely take a notepad to vet appointments; I finally started doing that a year or so ago and it's been really helpful.

It's very, very kind of you to offer pet portraits!

She's still not fully interested, I've been assist feeding still. She sniffs, so I might just have to find the right thing? I am a bit worried as her stomach still feels hard, and her breathing is still strained, though within range at 26 breaths a minute, but she's purring again, so I'll take the little wins. Plus, I already asked to vet when I was cancelling my appointments, and they told me to keep an eye on it, too.

Alright, here's hoping I remember one next time.

It's no problem, I've been filling my time up as much as I can to try and avoid worrying too much, so it would still be helping me, too, honestly. Plus, art is pretty relaxing.

 

[lisahe]

Every cat is different but I can say that when Ireland's in a "slower" cycle, it helps to give her something smelly (she likes Iams and Sheba pate Perfect Portions) and put some dry food (which she loves) on top. In your cat's case, maybe she needs something even smellier than those?

Also, what is your cat's name? (Maybe I missed it?)

The 26 breaths a minute sounds pretty good -- I count breaths, too, since Ireland has asthma!

No matter what, I'm glad you cancelled tomorrow's appointment. Please just keep asking if you need or want help and ideas!

If you're looking for an exercise in shading, you could try drawing Ireland, who's the cat on the left in my avatar. Just message me if you'd like me to send you another photo where she's fully grown and her stripes have darkened a little more. (The avatar photo is from when she was about 10 months old and still a little pale.)

 

[noise]

I talked to my husband, he remembered the $8000 as being approx. full treatment, if she has cancer. Less confusing of a price that way I think.

Every cat is different but I can say that when Ireland's in a "slower" cycle, it helps to give her something smelly (she likes Iams and Sheba pate Perfect Portions) and put some dry food (which she loves) on top. In your cat's case, maybe she needs something even smellier than those?

Also, what is your cat's name? (Maybe I missed it?)

The 26 breaths a minute sounds pretty good -- I count breaths, too, since Ireland has asthma!

No matter what, I'm glad you cancelled tomorrow's appointment. Please just keep asking if you need or want help and ideas!

If you're looking for an exercise in shading, you could try drawing Ireland, who's the cat on the left in my avatar. Just message me if you'd like me to send you another photo where she's fully grown and her stripes have darkened a little more. (The avatar photo is from when she was about 10 months old and still a little pale.)

I've tried a couple of those. Might try tuna again, and find other smelly things, I'll add Iams to the list, not sure if I've ever seen Sheba Pate.

Oh, sorry! I don't think I ever mentioned it. It's Pipsqueak, usually Squeaky, or just Squeak.

Yeah, it makes me feel better to know, but she's like physically moving w/ every breath. Odd, since it got better, when she was taking the antibiotics, but just after finishing it became this way. I did mess up by adding more water, but they just got me to add .5mls, and then I missed a day, then 2 evenings after that towards the end, but yeah, just watching.

Oh, it never occurred it'd help to check breaths with asthma in cats.

Thank you, that's so sweet, I'm an anxious person, so you may not know what you're in for saying that haha

Oh, so cute! I'll send you a message.

 

[white shadow]

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Hey N noise - what's been happening in the litterbox?
.

 

[noise]

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Hey N noise - what's been happening in the litterbox?
.

Oh nothing today, I haven't been getting much into her, since I started adding more liquid. She only lets me do about a 10ml syringe at a time. So, I wonder if it is that. I might start upping the times (currently 4-5) I feed her again, and since her stomach is not as hard adding less water to get more in her again.

I've heard olive oil is good for constipation, anyone have experience with that? I don't want her on the miralax long since there was some kidney damage found way back at the beginning of all this.

 

[noise]

Oh nothing today, I haven't been getting much into her, since I started adding more liquid. She only lets me do about a 10ml syringe at a time. So, I wonder if it is that. I might start upping the times (currently 4-5) I feed her again, and since her stomach is not as hard adding less water to get more in her again.

I've heard olive oil is good for constipation, anyone have experience with that? I don't want her on the miralax long since there was some kidney damage found way back at the beginning of all this.

Oh, sorry for the double post, but I just remembered, she did two more usual size for her, but very short poops last night, but outside her litterbox.

 

[Fergusboy]

My kitty was VERY plugged up (entire colon stuffed with poop). The vet gave him enemas twice, 3 days apart, and I gave him lactulose at home. And it worked! He was all cleared up at his next checkup. He now gets 1/4 teaspoon Miralax and 1/2 tsp. of whole psyllium seed mixed with water into a little canned food. He gained weight and looks great. FYI: The vet can palpate his abdomen and feel whether your kitty is constipated, usually. My kitty also got an abdominal x ray. Good luck!

 

[noise]

Update, Squeak had some clear mucus run out of her nose this morning. Though, when I offer her food, she also licks her lips, so I don't know if that's affecting her sense of smell. With the labored breathing, I did check her gums, and they look the same colour.

No poop, that I've found, at least. I did add a bit of egg yolk, about 1/16 of a teaspoon, to her food this morning, in case of hairballs. I was having some myself anyway. Still peeing, thankfully.

She's, also, getting unsteady on her feet. Which is worrying me, a lot, tho I hope with more food again, she will do better.

I feel I might only get a few more days out of her, I'll keep trying so long as she's not in pain, but many things are just starting to add up, and as I look more and more into lung cancer, I do fear it is it.

My kitty was VERY plugged up (entire colon stuffed with poop). The vet gave him enemas twice, 3 days apart, and I gave him lactulose at home. And it worked! He was all cleared up at his next checkup. He now gets 1/4 teaspoon Miralax and 1/2 tsp. of whole psyllium seed mixed with water into a little canned food. He gained weight and looks great. FYI: The vet can palpate his abdomen and feel whether your kitty is constipated, usually. My kitty also got an abdominal x ray. Good luck!

I'm kind of sure things are moving, her stomach area was quite hard before, like I could feel it while petting her. I suppose, I could be wrong.

Thank you for the advice though. I'll check out lactulose, since from my quick search I don't see any warning about kidney damage. I haven't heard of psyllium seed at all, so I'll look around on those.

 

[lisahe]

How is Squeak doing today, N noise ?

I hope that maybe she's looking steadier. Maybe that was just a result of all the stress she's been through? Or maybe, as you fear, it's a sign of her (unknown but suspected) condition worsening.

What's most important is that you're looking out for her and making sure she's comfortable.

 

[noise]

How is Squeak doing today, N noise ?

I hope that maybe she's looking steadier. Maybe that was just a result of all the stress she's been through? Or maybe, as you fear, it's a sign of her (unknown but suspected) condition worsening.

What's most important is that you're looking out for her and making sure she's comfortable.

More wobbly. Still no poop yesterday, I suppose my celebration was too soon. Beyond the belly is hard now, too. Is that good? I'd think it means things have moved beyond the stomach. I only managed to get one 1/4tsp of MiraLax yesterday in due to thinking we were good, til I realized it might be better to continue it, after nothing else came. Gave another this morning.

Can I ask, even just for the future, is it odd that my vet wants x-rays for the enema? That just really adds to the costs. I have called around, and found other places to try, with cheaper prices, but still no luck convincing my husband, that this is it for what I want to try. He's afraid it is only the unknown condition, and putting her through more isn't going to do anything, all he wants is for her to eat to be the deciding factor. Family thinks about the same, though none of them are with her as much, nor felt her stomach even.

I'm sorry to be so up and down, but I cannot make up my mind, she has definitely deteriorated, but my brain won't stop telling me most of this is, because she has been constipated. There have been times she's nibbled at a treat, a churu, a couple of kibbles, but that's not enough for my husband, even though she's constipated. I suppose my stubbornness is making it hard for her, though. I may just have to give into my husband.

Thank you, I'm trying my best, and I'm thankful for the extra time with her, if nothing else.

 

[noise]

Of course, she has to prove me wrong, not hours after I post that. So, everything is still true, but she pooped again, they look wetter, but there was still strain, in and out of the litter box once.

 

[lisahe]

Well, she did poop, that's good. But I'm very sorry to hear she's more wobbly.

I'm stubborn like you, N noise , when a cat isn't feeling good. I sometimes, no often, have to back off so I don't stress the cat. But it's very hard to know what's too much and what's okay: sometimes it's that fifth or sixth attempt at feeding that actually works and then everything starts to improve. But sometimes it doesn't. And sometimes, yes, it's not right to put a cat through tests -- we faced that with a cat who was 15 or 16 and had multiple illnesses, the worst of which was almost certainly IBD that morphed into lymphoma but was never properly diagnosed because she was so frail. When nothing feels right, it's hard to know what's best to do. I'm very sorry you're in that position.

 

[white shadow]

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That's the best news I've heard all day

So, I will continue "coaching" to get her gut cleared out/unblocked.......until you change your mind.

OK, then, she's still straining, so that tells me that I would continue giving Miralax, twice a day.

The poop is "wetter"......more info is needed, though - can you take pictures ?

Yes, pictures! We don't mind, and it's the only way to know exactly what's going on with her.

So, N noise do you want to take pix of every poop from now on (and post them) ?
.

 

[lisahe]

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That's the best news I've heard all day

So, I will continue "coaching" to get her gut cleared out/unblocked.......until you change your mind.

OK, then, she's still straining, so that tells me that I would continue giving Miralax, twice a day.

The poop is "wetter"......more info is needed, though - can you take pictures ?

Yes, pictures! We don't mind, and it's the only way to know exactly what's going on with her.

So, N noise do you want to take pix of every poop from now on (and post them) ?
.

Agreeing with white shadow here about the "coaching." (I'll let them do the poop pix analysis, though, that's not exactly my forte!)

Also, when Ireland gets constipated she's weird and (as an example) often isn't quite sure where she wants to eat. But then if the combination of food and treats and dining room are all okay, she'll eat. She really tries my patience sometimes, particularly because sometimes she walks from room to room, unsure where to ask to eat. And I just follow her.

 

[noise]

Well, she did poop, that's good. But I'm very sorry to hear she's more wobbly.

I'm stubborn like you, N noise , when a cat isn't feeling good. I sometimes, no often, have to back off so I don't stress the cat. But it's very hard to know what's too much and what's okay: sometimes it's that fifth or sixth attempt at feeding that actually works and then everything starts to improve. But sometimes it doesn't. And sometimes, yes, it's not right to put a cat through tests -- we faced that with a cat who was 15 or 16 and had multiple illnesses, the worst of which was almost certainly IBD that morphed into lymphoma but was never properly diagnosed because she was so frail. When nothing feels right, it's hard to know what's best to do. I'm very sorry you're in that position.

I don't think I've gotten enough food in her what with being afraid of over filling her, and her disliking to continue more. Hopefully, with this poop, I can get more into her, I'll do food more often.

Well, at least, I'm not the only one. I try not to offer her food constantly, but she is usually such a brat, so I don't know how much is her being stubborn, just because she can. That must've been hard to go through with your cat. I can see how situations like that would make testing difficult. Thank you, that is exactly how it feels. You have a way with words.

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That's the best news I've heard all day

So, I will continue "coaching" to get her gut cleared out/unblocked.......until you change your mind.

OK, then, she's still straining, so that tells me that I would continue giving Miralax, twice a day.

The poop is "wetter"......more info is needed, though - can you take pictures ?

Yes, pictures! We don't mind, and it's the only way to know exactly what's going on with her.

So, N noise do you want to take pix of every poop from now on (and post them) ?
.

Sounds good! I'll keep the miralax up. I might up the amount of times I feed her as well, just as she's not into multiple syringes at once.

I certainly can! The last ones were more...firm than this, and definitely more dry. The uh...skin in this one looked more wet earlier.

 

[noise]

Oh! I opened up the litter locker to find these guys.

I don't know if they'll help, but I think these were the ones from the floor.
The left was the old, all the right is new.

Agreeing with white shadow here about the "coaching." (I'll let them do the poop pix analysis, though, that's not exactly my forte!)

Also, when Ireland gets constipated she's weird and (as an example) often isn't quite sure where she wants to eat. But then if the combination of food and treats and dining room are all okay, she'll eat. She really tries my patience sometimes, particularly because sometimes she walks from room to room, unsure where to ask to eat. And I just follow her.

Ireland sounds adorably frustrating, Squeak can be the same way. I've been splitting where the wet and dry food is, but maybe I'll try that with a couple different things.