Hello everyone, I'm Jo and I have a beautiful girl called Ashe, who is 4 years old domestic short hair.
I joined this site to get some advises and comforts because dealing with feline constipation is so difficult
Ashe started to have this constipation since November this year. She was fine before.. no major change in her diet. I used to give her Applaws dry and wet food but switched to fancy feast due to costs (I'm not too rich just a student. So sad) and then to Whiskas wet food.
Her first episode of constipation was when I was feeding her applaws and fancy feast cans. She couldn't just defecate... She urinates fine, plays fine, eats very well but just no poo. I had no idea about her being constipated just thought that she isn't going that regularly. However, as constipation progresses she strains to poo and when she does, the poo is very dense and small.
So I took her to the vet and the Dr had to give enema (under anesthesia). It was successful and she seemed fine for couple of weeks.
BUT recently... it came back...I took her to the vet and Dr tried with overnight stay and fluids + Miralax? or something like that...
It didn't work for poor baby ( I was so emotional and sad at the fact Dr suggested another enema. I was definitely worried about the cost (approx. $500 each enema in Australia). Altogether I spent around $1000. BUT I was more worried about my cat having to go through that again...
There was no choice but to do second enema, and this was done last wednesday. I asked if she had any problem with other organs and the Dr said they were fine according to blood tests and few others. So I'm pretty sure she's otherwise healthy. Anyway when it was done, Ashe was given medication to take (lactulose 2ml 2 times per day) and had to change the diet into Royal canin gastrointestinal wet food and diabetic dry food. Apparently my vet don't have gastro dry food so they suggested diabetic one. She DOES NOT HAVE DIABETES but apparently it is high in fiber which will help stimulate bowl movement. So I just agreed and bought them.
What stresses me the most is that she DID NOT POO YET. I'm so frustrated, worried, and I don't know how to describe it anymore... Is it normal for cat not to defecate after enema? I called the vet and they just said give a couple more days because her bowl was completely emptied out so it needs time until the next one. Dr told me she needs to exercise as well (because she wasn't really moving much at home) so I tried to get her exercise but she just won't. Most likely she is stressed after another enema and overnight in the vet ((( I'm scared about possibility of another fecal impact.
I'm also waiting on cisapride (about $160 dollars) to be compounded and provided to my vet. Would this drug help...? I really hope it does. Another thing I'm worried is that the Dr was telling me that Ashe may develop megacolon and may need a surgery if cisapride does not work... Can megacolon be developed this quickly? Considering constipation only happened twice. I'm really scared... if I have no other choice but to go with surgery, my parents would probably won't let me keep her with me anymore. I'm so sad. I really really hate to become an irresponsible owner of my baby.
I love her so much but I don't know what I can do in this situation... I'm just hoping to avoid surgery...
I joined this site to get some advises and comforts because dealing with feline constipation is so difficult
Ashe started to have this constipation since November this year. She was fine before.. no major change in her diet. I used to give her Applaws dry and wet food but switched to fancy feast due to costs (I'm not too rich just a student. So sad) and then to Whiskas wet food.
Her first episode of constipation was when I was feeding her applaws and fancy feast cans. She couldn't just defecate... She urinates fine, plays fine, eats very well but just no poo. I had no idea about her being constipated just thought that she isn't going that regularly. However, as constipation progresses she strains to poo and when she does, the poo is very dense and small.
So I took her to the vet and the Dr had to give enema (under anesthesia). It was successful and she seemed fine for couple of weeks.
BUT recently... it came back...I took her to the vet and Dr tried with overnight stay and fluids + Miralax? or something like that...
It didn't work for poor baby ( I was so emotional and sad at the fact Dr suggested another enema. I was definitely worried about the cost (approx. $500 each enema in Australia). Altogether I spent around $1000. BUT I was more worried about my cat having to go through that again...
There was no choice but to do second enema, and this was done last wednesday. I asked if she had any problem with other organs and the Dr said they were fine according to blood tests and few others. So I'm pretty sure she's otherwise healthy. Anyway when it was done, Ashe was given medication to take (lactulose 2ml 2 times per day) and had to change the diet into Royal canin gastrointestinal wet food and diabetic dry food. Apparently my vet don't have gastro dry food so they suggested diabetic one. She DOES NOT HAVE DIABETES but apparently it is high in fiber which will help stimulate bowl movement. So I just agreed and bought them.
What stresses me the most is that she DID NOT POO YET. I'm so frustrated, worried, and I don't know how to describe it anymore... Is it normal for cat not to defecate after enema? I called the vet and they just said give a couple more days because her bowl was completely emptied out so it needs time until the next one. Dr told me she needs to exercise as well (because she wasn't really moving much at home) so I tried to get her exercise but she just won't. Most likely she is stressed after another enema and overnight in the vet ((( I'm scared about possibility of another fecal impact.
I'm also waiting on cisapride (about $160 dollars) to be compounded and provided to my vet. Would this drug help...? I really hope it does. Another thing I'm worried is that the Dr was telling me that Ashe may develop megacolon and may need a surgery if cisapride does not work... Can megacolon be developed this quickly? Considering constipation only happened twice. I'm really scared... if I have no other choice but to go with surgery, my parents would probably won't let me keep her with me anymore. I'm so sad. I really really hate to become an irresponsible owner of my baby.
I love her so much but I don't know what I can do in this situation... I'm just hoping to avoid surgery...