Gizmo and his continued digestion (constipation) issues (Please give your feedback)

Gizmo is acting off. I can't tell if he's constipated or maybe coming down with a UTI.

Last night he seemed uncomfortable. He was sitting very gingerly on his belly and seemed to be excessively grooming his backside, although I couldn't tell if he was paying more attention to irritation from a UTI or irritation from constipation, or which body part he was grooming since things down there are close together. 

Fearing it was constipation again I gave him an extra dose of Lactulose in addition to his normal routine (he gets 4ml twice daily mixed with food) at about 10pm and around 4:45am I heard him scratching in the box and saw that he had left a good size BM and peed quite a bit. so I am relieved that things are moving, so to speak. I am hopeful that if it was the early stages of constipation that I caught it early and the extra Lactulose will keep things moving. His vet said if we were to ever run into constipation issues again to increase his dosage as much as necessary until diarrhea and then back off only just enough to avoid diarrhea but still keep him moving. 

I'd be very surprised if it was a UTI because he has access to fresh water 24/7 with his water fountain and I mix at least 2teaspoons into his food at each feeding and in his life he has had only one minor UTI that cleared up with a short round of antibiotics years ago. 

I'm still very concerned because by the time I went to work this morning he still hadn't eaten and he normally chases me down as soon as I'm out of bed to feed him. Maybe he has an upset tummy and is taking it slow. 

Outside of him acting a bit odd last night and this morning he really isn't showing any other signs of distress. He was as affectionate as normal, purring and snuggling. He let me push all over his belly and his backside and most importantly, isn't squatting or attempting to go and not succeeding and isn't going outside the box.

Maybe I'm hyper sensitive.

He is on an all wet food (Wellness Brand) diet, has a water fountain, gets extra water mixed into food, is an indoor only, male neutered cat. Single cat household. 12 years old, 12.6 pounds. 

Given his history, it may be constipation that you caught early with the increased Lactulose. Hard to say. I would recommend keeping an eye on him for now. If he goes longer than 24 hours without eating though, I would recommend a vet visit.

I always feel like I need to apologize for being so reactive to even his smallest symptoms but this cat means the world to me and his health is of the utmost importance to me.  He relies on me for everything and I want to do my best by him. 

Have you ever had any luck with Slippery Elm Bark. I am interested because it won't add fiber to his diet but may lubricate his insides making things easier to slide out without having to add a medicine that causes his body to have a reaction to force it out. 

Also investigating carrageenan free foods. I love Wellness but I read recently that carrageenan can upset a cat with IBD and while he hasn't been diagnosed with that I want to stay away from anything that irritates bowels and digestion issues.

You should never apologize about caring too much! I think it's awesome that he gets such good care from you.

SEB has been used successfully to help with constipation. Here's a long thread with some other members' experiences.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/270597/slippery-elm-bark-wet-food-managing-constipation

Carrageenan is tough to avoid. Foods I know of off the top of my head that don't contain carrageenan and are still low in carbs are Nature's Variety Instinct, Hound & Gatos, Tiki Cat (certainly varieties only).

This thread includes info about slippery elm http://www.thecatsite.com/t/270597/slippery-elm-bark-wet-food-managing-constipation    It has really helped some kitties and not others, so much of what will work for a kitty is found out through trial and error.  I don't know if your kitty is on any medication but medicine shouldn't be given within 2 hours of the slipper elm.  It coats the digestive system and can affect absorption of medication.

Denice said:

 
 I don't know if your kitty is on any medication but medicine shouldn't be given within 2 hours of the slipper elm.  It coats the digestive system and can affect absorption of medication.

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Does Lactulose count as a medication? From what my doctor (his vet) has told me it's basically what they give babies who are constipated and really is just a sugar syrup.

You know I had really thought about whether Lactulose would be a medication or not.  Bumping this back up.  Maybe someone who knows will see it.  I know with Miralax it's given twice a day usually mixed in with food.  If lactulose is given that way it would be easy to space it out with the SEB.

So he pooped 6 hours after the extra dose of Laculose at 4am Tuesday am morning and then again Tuesday night so I don't think it's constipation, or if it was I caught it early. 

He didn't eat all day yesterday (his morning meal was still there when I got home) and I didn't add more for dinner but this morning his bowl is empty and he is yelling at me to feed him.

WEIRD CAT.

He's peeing regularly and without any discomfort so I think it was either the beginning of something that was irritating his belly or I am too obsessed with him and notice everything he does.

Thanks for always having super helpful and caring information, friends!

I'll keep ya posted if anything changes.