Having problems with my cat - not a dinner friendly thread

[legs]

Hi all,

This is kinda a distasteful thread.
Basically my cat is having problems again having a bowel movement.

There is a long story to this.
Over 10 years ago he was hit by a car and fractured his back vertebra.
He pulled through that ok. Jump ahead 6 years ago year 2000.
He was getting backed up and could not go to the bathroom.
Every two weeks I was taking him to the vet to get an enema. After spending around $1000 I was advised he needed surgery to have his colon removed. I was told that the success rate was not very good for cats to have this done so I got the syringe and gave him the enemas myself. But he did not get any better. So I paid around $2000 and he had his surgery. He pulled through and has been fine until three weeks ago. He has had one trip to the vet for another enema. He was very week after not eating for a little over a week. But gradually got his strength back. Now he is backed up again.

He is an old cat. Heâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s almost 15 years old. He has long black hair, which complicates the problem with hairballs.

Besides giving him enemas, can I give him a laxative like Ex-Lax?
Is this safe for cats?
If not what do you suggest?
My current vet loves to see me coming through the door with my old cat.
Donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t know if I trust him all the way since he is making money off of me.

What other types of stool softeners can I give my cat that would help?

I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t think he can take another surgery. I have had him since I was in college when he was just a kitten. Found him out in the woods, someone dumped him. He could fit in my hand he was so small.
Needless to say I am pretty attached to him and donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t want to give up on him.

I am currently also giving him a lactulose syrup twice a day but its not really helping.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[momof3rugratz]

Have you tried pumpkin or yougurt... Please do not give the exlax.... Also how about a hairball remedy...

 

[jamiekitty]

I have the same problem BUT not as serve (((HUGS))) What I have been given was a hairball remedy.. now its only been three days but I think he pooed a lil (i have three cats so its hard to tell).

But may be also get a second opinion just to make sure this vet isnt tryin to scam you... better to be safe!

My thoughts are with you

 

[momof3rugratz]

How long have you had this vet... Was the surgery done by this vet... Was there a reason for it...

 

[stephanietx]

Pumpkin and ask your vet for a stool softener like Lactulose. My older cat has an inactive colon and she takes Lactulose 2x a day and I give her about 1 tablespoon of pumpkin as well. You can give your cat more if he'll eat it. (I have another cat who would eat the whole can if I gave it to her!) The Lactulose should also help some with the hairball problem. Also, try to increase his drinking.

Here's some advise I got from a friend, although I've not tried it myself, so I'd get some further input before attempting this.

"Constipation can lead to Mega Colon. Having a mega colon can be fatal for kitties, so let's get him on a regular 1/2 tsp in his wet food daily of psyllium fiber. One brand I buy that is better than Metamucil is Konsyl. If you can't find it, use Metamucil unflavored. DO NOT use a human type enema, it can also be fatal as it will upset his metabolism. You can use an enema from your vet to get things moving, or prepare a small one that is warm water and a little soap. Look at Anitra Frazier's book The Natural Cat as well, is has wonderful enema solutions, very natural. Good luck!"

Kathy Moll, Dallas, Texas Visit www.mastiff.org and bless the beasts and those who help them.

If you try it, let me know how it works!

Stephanie

 

[hissy]

Since the lactulose doesn't work, I would go to other forms of fiber. Organic catnip, loose just put a pinch on the floor. cooked green beans mashed with butter, canned pumpkin, or canned yams, all good sources of fiber. Buy a pet fountain to encourage more water intake.

 

[legs]

I have been giving him a hairball remedy and the food he eats is Science Diet Hairball remedy for senior cats.

Thanks for the heads up on NOT giving him ex-lax.
And if I give him an enema it will be warm water with a little soap.
I will also go get some pumpkin and see if he will eat that.
He drinks a lot of water already. I also have been putting 7 drops of this stuff called Pet Essences "Life Force Zest" and Skin Irraitation. His hair started falling off on his right leg. Now its growing back.
I will also get a stool softener from the vet when they open Tuesday. I'll get the other stuff tomorrow. I gave him a big ribbon of the hairball remedy when I got home tonight so hopefully that will help over night.

This vet is a newer one. The older vet I was using has moved.
The surgery was done by a clinic that was recommended by my old vet.
This was 6 years ago. reason this was done was because nothing was helping him back then no matter how much stool softener and Metamucil was mixed in with the food. I tried this for almost 3 months along with the enemas and the surgery was what I thought to be a last resort...which did work out up until now.
The vet and myself think him being hit and crushed by a car 10 years ago made the opening smaller back there when it healed back up.

Thanks for the replies! I will keep checking in.

 

[meower]

I am wondering if your kitty has the beginning of kidney disease and is not able to drink enough water to keep hydrated and keep his stool soft enough. I would test your kitty for kidney disease and see it he is hydrated enough or needs subq fluids.
As my cat's kidney disease progressed, she would get constipated when she wasn't getting enough subq fluids. The fact that your kitty is drinking a lot of water already may be a sign of kidney disease.
My vet in the past has recommended milk for constipation. I have never seen anyone recommend this for a cat's constipation on this website so maybe there is a problem with it. It seemed to work for my cats though.

 

[yosemite]

Originally Posted by Meower

I am wondering if your kitty has the beginning of kidney disease and is not able to drink enough water to keep hydrated and keep his stool soft enough. I would test your kitty for kidney disease and see it he is hydrated enough or needs subq fluids.
As my cat's kidney disease progressed, she would get constipated when she wasn't getting enough subq fluids. The fact that your kitty is drinking a lot of water already may be a sign of kidney disease.
My vet in the past has recommended milk for constipation. I have never seen anyone recommend this for a cat's constipation on this website so maybe there is a problem with it. It seemed to work for my cats though.

It probably worked for you because most cats are lactose intolerant and cow's milk would give them diarrhea.

 

[plebayo]

You could try feeding your cat z/d it's a hydrolized hypo allergenic food and it's so broken down that it makes soft stools. My cat had diarrhea and so did my friends dog while on it. My cat got diarrhea everytime. So it's worth a shot if you've got good odor control in the litter box. Feeding both the dry and wet caused the same effect.

 

[legs]

Just an update on my cat "Cole". He seems to be back to normal now.
He had to take another trip to the vet. He did not eat for 3 days and was not
drinking water. I was going out of town last weekend and was gonna take him with me but though that would be stupid and harder on him. Called the vet and let him know whats up. Took him back to him for the weekend and he gave him IV's and another enema. I have changed his diet. He eats W/D and I/D and is begging for food all the time now. Has his strength back and is playing around. Seems to be ok.