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- Jul 6, 2016
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Hey all! Because I recently adopted two kittens, I've been googling my questions and often found myself on these extremely helpful forums. So I decided to go ahead and make an account just to ask you guys all sorts of stuff because I adore you all and your willingness to help. Be prepared; this will be a bit long, because I want to give you all the information that I can. Also be prepared for lots of poop talk. Lots and lots of it. I'm sorry for the TMI.
The most recent addition to my household, Doctor Scott, is a four week old female Manx with absolutely no tail at all. Because of her lack of tail, she's got some nerve damage that's caused for her to be bladder and bowel incontinent -- Manx Syndrome. Her hind legs are almost entirely useless, but not paralyzed. She's slowly learning how to use them. So I guess you could consider her particular brand of Manx Syndrome severe, but not severe enough to warrant euthanasia, as her vet was very quick to tell us that putting her down was entirely unnecessary and that with the right, loving home, she could live a wonderful quality of life. I intend to give that to her.
When we first got her this last Friday, it was from our vet. Someone from a local rescue had brought in a litter of kittens that they'd found under the house, and all of them had found homes except for Scottie. So while I had my precious Commander Shepard (an orphaned stray we found at four weeks, currently about nine weeks old) there for her first round of vaccines, we were introduced to Scottie. We have experience taking care of special needs animals -- particularly incontinent ones who couldn't use their hind legs -- so we took her home. At first, we were worried because she wouldn't poop. Our vet was closed over the weekend and the Fourth, so we had to wait until yesterday to take her in. When they did the fecal exam -- apparently it prompted her to poop up a massive storm. Like, it was just a never ending supply of poop that I couldn't stop laughing about (I was so relieved) and smelled so bad and we had to keep cleaning it up while the vet explained that Manx Syndrome comes with bowel problems like constipation. Fortunately, she had no worms -- another bit of good news from yesterday. We stayed behind for another hour while she kept relieving herself, cleaning up after her and all, before taking her home. Her appointment was at nine in the morning, and she kept pooping until four. She didn't poop again until this morning.
And now she won't stop. Her poor butt is so sore and raw from the constant pooping that it's started bleeding -- but only when I help her by massaging by her tail. (The triangle method, I think it's called.) It helps push the poop out, but it also prompts the blood to start coming, so I have to do it sparingly so as to not hurt her. She MAY not feel it, because of the nerve damage Manx Syndrome brings, but at the same time, she might. I'd rather not risk it. As far as I can see, she doesn't have a prolapse. And the blood is definitely bright red and accumulates at the surface, so it's not internal.
From Friday to Monday, she was drinking formula. We switched her over to wet food Monday night, after noticing that she was biting the syringe. We had put olive oil in the formula and pumpkin in the wet food to try to get her to go -- and now I'm worried that we might have gone a bit overboard. Her poop has a solid consistency, looks decent in color, and doesn't smell overly foul. (I mean, it's doo doo. It's gonna smell bad, but you know, it's not that bad.) I emailed my vet and asked them for advice, but I figured I'd ask you guys for advice too.
She's playing, eating normally, sleeping normally, and all that. She doesn't act like she's ill or in any pain. It's just that all this poop is worrying me. She should have expelled it all yesterday, I would think. My mother wants to take her back to the vet on Friday if this keeps up. Until then, we're going to try pedialyte to keep her hydrated, and once she gives us a break in the poop, we're gonna put some Neosporin on her butt to keep it from getting too infected. Is she still just emptying out her bowels from the past week? I had no clue that it was backed up so much, or that she was so capable of holding that much doodie. Is there anything else I can do to alleviate any discomfort she might be in? Our vet, when she looked at her yesterday, said she seemed to be in great health and aside from the bowel problems, was healthy as a horse. She's even gained weight, the little trooper.
If there's anything you can offer in the way of advise, I would appreciate it. I've been spending all day in the bathroom so that the babywipes and trash can is nearby so I can keep her clean. I'm tired, she's pooped out (pun intended), and we'd appreciate a normal schedule again. Thank you so much!
The most recent addition to my household, Doctor Scott, is a four week old female Manx with absolutely no tail at all. Because of her lack of tail, she's got some nerve damage that's caused for her to be bladder and bowel incontinent -- Manx Syndrome. Her hind legs are almost entirely useless, but not paralyzed. She's slowly learning how to use them. So I guess you could consider her particular brand of Manx Syndrome severe, but not severe enough to warrant euthanasia, as her vet was very quick to tell us that putting her down was entirely unnecessary and that with the right, loving home, she could live a wonderful quality of life. I intend to give that to her.
When we first got her this last Friday, it was from our vet. Someone from a local rescue had brought in a litter of kittens that they'd found under the house, and all of them had found homes except for Scottie. So while I had my precious Commander Shepard (an orphaned stray we found at four weeks, currently about nine weeks old) there for her first round of vaccines, we were introduced to Scottie. We have experience taking care of special needs animals -- particularly incontinent ones who couldn't use their hind legs -- so we took her home. At first, we were worried because she wouldn't poop. Our vet was closed over the weekend and the Fourth, so we had to wait until yesterday to take her in. When they did the fecal exam -- apparently it prompted her to poop up a massive storm. Like, it was just a never ending supply of poop that I couldn't stop laughing about (I was so relieved) and smelled so bad and we had to keep cleaning it up while the vet explained that Manx Syndrome comes with bowel problems like constipation. Fortunately, she had no worms -- another bit of good news from yesterday. We stayed behind for another hour while she kept relieving herself, cleaning up after her and all, before taking her home. Her appointment was at nine in the morning, and she kept pooping until four. She didn't poop again until this morning.
And now she won't stop. Her poor butt is so sore and raw from the constant pooping that it's started bleeding -- but only when I help her by massaging by her tail. (The triangle method, I think it's called.) It helps push the poop out, but it also prompts the blood to start coming, so I have to do it sparingly so as to not hurt her. She MAY not feel it, because of the nerve damage Manx Syndrome brings, but at the same time, she might. I'd rather not risk it. As far as I can see, she doesn't have a prolapse. And the blood is definitely bright red and accumulates at the surface, so it's not internal.
From Friday to Monday, she was drinking formula. We switched her over to wet food Monday night, after noticing that she was biting the syringe. We had put olive oil in the formula and pumpkin in the wet food to try to get her to go -- and now I'm worried that we might have gone a bit overboard. Her poop has a solid consistency, looks decent in color, and doesn't smell overly foul. (I mean, it's doo doo. It's gonna smell bad, but you know, it's not that bad.) I emailed my vet and asked them for advice, but I figured I'd ask you guys for advice too.
She's playing, eating normally, sleeping normally, and all that. She doesn't act like she's ill or in any pain. It's just that all this poop is worrying me. She should have expelled it all yesterday, I would think. My mother wants to take her back to the vet on Friday if this keeps up. Until then, we're going to try pedialyte to keep her hydrated, and once she gives us a break in the poop, we're gonna put some Neosporin on her butt to keep it from getting too infected. Is she still just emptying out her bowels from the past week? I had no clue that it was backed up so much, or that she was so capable of holding that much doodie. Is there anything else I can do to alleviate any discomfort she might be in? Our vet, when she looked at her yesterday, said she seemed to be in great health and aside from the bowel problems, was healthy as a horse. She's even gained weight, the little trooper.
If there's anything you can offer in the way of advise, I would appreciate it. I've been spending all day in the bathroom so that the babywipes and trash can is nearby so I can keep her clean. I'm tired, she's pooped out (pun intended), and we'd appreciate a normal schedule again. Thank you so much!
