Artie and his Issues

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Kat0121

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this was taken in September, on his new pillow/bed... a friend makes them..

the blue thing in the background, is his quilt/bed. It was originally mine from my old twin bed at my parents, then became my dad's.. I kept on to it; Artie inherited it.. 

I DID IT, AGAIN!!!   I DID THE SUB-Q'S !!!!  HAPPY DANCE....I got him when he was comfortably sunning himself in  y bedroom. . I warmed the fluids, He did not even flinch!! What a good boy he is...

except, I would feel better if he decides to eat something.. and did poops.. so far nothing at all to eat. I even opened up a can of Wild Calling Rabbit.. He was all over me for the food, but once he got it, nothing.. he did have his cerenia and pepcid, so he cannot be nauseous, unless he is 'backed up' again.....sigh....

gotta go on with my life.. have to jump in the shower...Artie only has the steroid to take this morning.. I can give him that later this morning..
He is just so handsome.  Look at that sweet face. 


He IS a good boy and you are a great mom. You are a great team. He loves and trusts you. He knows how much you love him and that you just want him to be well and happy. 

Here's hoping he has a good dinner and things work themselves out normally afterwards.  
 
 
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artiemom

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Well, Artie still has not eaten anything.  I did open up the can of Wild Calling, he wanted it, sniffed it and walked away..

He did pee, and tried to poop, but all that came out was gas..I think he is getting constipated again! sigh...

At 1pm, I put a call into the S Vet about this. I also asked about giving him 1cc of lactulose. If I do not hear from them by 3pm, then I am giving him the lactulose.. 

I think he is full of poop.. I am not wanting to take him in for an enema.. sigh... wanna bet that is what the S Vet will advise??? 

sigh... 

one more step backwards.....my poor baby is hiding in his tent quilt for a few hours.. 

sigh..

no, he does not seem to be interested in playing.. we have a ton of birds around her. He can look out at them anytime.. 

sigh
 

2Cats4everLoved

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Okay, so he's a little off today.  Let's not panic.  Will he let you gently massage his belly.  I used to pick Simon up and massage his belly in the direction of (well you know)  and I would take a q tip with veggie oil on it and gently rub it around his tiny bum hole.  It usually worked.

So sorry today is turning into a different kind of day.  These are the ups and downs we go through, but you need to stay positive and strong.

Artie will eat when ready.

xoxo  
 

tarasgirl06

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*PRAYERS* for Artie to stabilize and "doo" his best 
 without having to have veterinary assistance.  Massage is an excellent suggestion, one others I know use when their cats are in that state.  Maybe you'll have success trying that?
 

mrsgreenjeens

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  I used to pick Simon up and massage his belly in the direction of (well you know)  and I would take a q tip with veggie oil on it and gently rub it around his tiny bum hole.  It usually worked.
I'd do the same thing with Sven.  I'd literally rub his tummy so hard ti would lift his back legs off the floor while doing it.  And I'd use my knuckles while rubbing back towards his nether regions
He always seems to enjoy it.  I must dmit I never tried the Q-tip with vegie oil though.  Would probably work, or at least help.
 
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artiemom

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thanks for the 'push' to massage.. I never did it. Artie always hates to have his belly touched.. even with brushing.. I may do that.. and hope for the best.. wonder if there is a video on line about how to do that...

the not eating, even though he is taking the appetite stimulant is worrisome.. that means that he is full--full of poops and it is backing up...sigh...
 

tarasgirl06

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Not exactly sure about the video, but one of my online friends whose cat has been diagnosed with megacolon and who massages him for this can be visited at mycatgoma.com.  She's been on hiatus for some time and recently posted that they were going to be back soon.  You might try to access their archives, because she does talk about megacolon in them.  There may even be a video -- not sure, but worth a try, yes?  

Here we are; try this:

http://www.mycatgoma.com/p/megacolon.html 
 
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artiemom

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Not exactly sure about the video, but one of my online friends whose cat has been diagnosed with megacolon and who massages him for this can be visited at mycatgoma.com.  She's been on hiatus for some time and recently posted that they were going to be back soon.  You might try to access their archives, because she does talk about megacolon in them.  There may even be a video -- not sure, but worth a try, yes?  

Here we are; try this:

http://www.mycatgoma.com/p/megacolon.html 
thanks, I did look at it.. describes how to massage a cat.. I tried it. I think I feel his descending colon filled with poop, but, that could be a muscle or something.. I will delve into that site further.. thank you..

ughgghg!!

Can I vent again! at the S Vet.. ok.. left a message for the Tech line at 1pm. It is faster to get a response instead of just leaving a voice mail with the vet. I waited until 3pm--no return call.. so I called again.. This time the secretary made sure they called me back asap. Fifteen minutes later the phone rang. This tech is kind of 'not so swift'.. she had gotten part of my message messed up with last week; so this week I had left a specific message with a 'as per your instructions of last week', and left dates with what occurred. I was ready.. 

She said the S Vet wants Artie to begin lactulose 0.5 cc twice a day, in addition to the 1.4 tsp of miralax twice a day..I should see something in a day or 2.. if not, call again..

I am not saying that the S Vet or her staff do not know what they are doing, but it is so painful for me to deal with them.. and Artie has had all his specialist care there. For me to take him somewhere else and start all over again, is too much for both of us.. so I am just going to have to learn how to deal with the S Vet.. I am sure she feels the same about me.. we will have to somehow, come to some kind of working agreement. It will happen.. I have faith.. if I keep bugging her, it will have to happen..

and I have to remember to be more concise and deliberate when I deal with them...lesson learned...
 

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Ok, for one .... breath .... relax ... and put your trust in the Lord. I'm sure I'm not the only one praying for you and Artie. Just focus on that and don't allow all this other stuff to steal your peace.
 

2Cats4everLoved

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thanks for the 'push' to massage.. I never did it. Artie always hates to have his belly touched.. even with brushing.. I may do that.. and hope for the best.. wonder if there is a video on line about how to do that...

the not eating, even though he is taking the appetite stimulant is worrisome.. that means that he is full--full of poops and it is backing up...sigh...
I actually used to pick Simon up in my arms so his front paws were hanging over my left shoulder with his face obviously looking back and I'd hold him with my left arm, then I'd take my right hand and go underneath and feel for the lump, mind you Simon had a very long thin body do any lump I'd feel right away.  I'd only do it a few strokes at a time then I'd repeat after a while so he wouldn't get stressed.

His constipation was so severe at times, he'd actually come to me and try to poop and push, letting me know he was in trouble.  

Now if any neighbors ever saw me doing that they may think I was subjecting my boy to an all together "different" kind of massage, lol but it helped.  I got the veggie oil tip from a cat person I know, or use the warm water paper towel affect to stimulate his little bum.

Best of luck.  xoxox
 

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Yes, massaging the belly is a great idea. As a massage therapist, I should've thought to mention that earlier.
Yes, you want to go clockwise. The first few strokes, I would just start going straight down his left side & across & down, to move any gas out of the way first, so when you start going clockwise, right side, across where our belly button would be, then down his left side, & across & out, so to speak. this way anything further in has the space to work on down & out. ;)
If he has a lot of gas, it might be a little uncomfortable for him at first, so you may have to use a lighter touch, but as you do it more, & if he will let you, a firmer pressure should work well.
 

angels mommy

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I actually used to pick Simon up in my arms so his front paws were hanging over my left shoulder with his face obviously looking back and I'd hold him with my left arm, then I'd take my right hand and go underneath and feel for the lump, mind you Simon had a very long thin body do any lump I'd feel right away.  I'd only do it a few strokes at a time then I'd repeat after a while so he wouldn't get stressed.

His constipation was so severe at times, he'd actually come to me and try to poop and push, letting me know he was in trouble.  

Now if any neighbors ever saw me doing that they may think I was subjecting my boy to an all together "different" kind of massage, lol but it helped.  I got the veggie oil tip from a cat person I know, or use the warm water paper towel affect to stimulate his little bum.

Best of luck.  xoxox

I'm sure the veggie oil helped his little hiney feel better too. [emoji]128077[/emoji]
 
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Mamanyt1953

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Let us know if the massaging and veggie oil help!  I remember a thread long ago about a cat with paralysis who had to be manually evacuated.  Or maybe it was on My Cat From Hell.  
 

2Cats4everLoved

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I also put olive oil in Chestnuts food when she was constipated, I found after a while that the pumpkin fiber was too binding and had the opposite affect.

I'm not sure you remember Simon's thread, but, finding new tricks was a daily task.  Just when we'd get a rhythm down, he'd change his habit.

I also tried to keep him engaged, even though he was sick and laying on the bed, I'd take his flashlight or string and try and play, even if it got his attention for only a minute or so, I felt it was important to mentally stimulate him.

Getting sleep is tough, I know all to well as many here do, but TRY...

And again, let us worry for you.  Even if it's just for one night to get sleep.

You'll figure it all out.

xoxo Hope
 
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