My kitten is constipated.

[mani]

 
Anything you can do to help the cat, you should

:Bathing

Etc

:Food

:Almond milk (cats like how it tastes)

@CowAndChicken3, I'm afraid bathing will not do any good at all, and food is pretty well a given.

However, just because cats like the taste of something doesn't mean it's good for them, and almond milk definitely isn't.

 
He's going to get a cat scan, so we can see if his pelvis is narrower than it should be. If it is, he'll probably be able to get surgery for it. If his pelvis is fine and he still won't poop, we'll know that his colon is dead.

He is young and he's thin, too. He weighs ~4 lbs. I'm not sure we have cisapride in Greece. I'm trying to find out what the active ingredient in it is, so I can see if we have anything similar to it. But even if we do, I'm not sure I'll be able to give him the right dose and even if I do manage it, I don't know how he'll cope with it.

I'm pretty sure that he'll do fine during the next surgery, if he has to have one. You wouldn't believe how well he's been coping. He's like a healthy, active kitten. It's why I keep trying. I'm just trying to follow his lead.

You are doing so much for this boy @Lisnya.. I think you're wonderful.

 

Sending

to you and your boy.

 

[fyllis]

Let me start by saying, What a beautiful kitten! Not to mention so strong and brave! Also, a huge Thank you! for being so attentive to his health and needs!

As they say, hind-sight is 20/20. The first thing that came to my mind was that he most likely developed the megacolon due to the pain medication he was on after his first surgery. Unfortunately, pain meds severely slow the peristalsis (wave-like muscle contractions that moves food to different processing stations in the digestive tract) in the bowels, which results in the stool sitting in the intestines longer than necessary and all the water is absorbed. The dry stool is difficult and often painful to pass, so it builds up in the rectal vault causing the smooth muscle in the colon to lose it's elasticity; therefore it will stretch and expand leaving a pocket for collection (as I described in another post somewhere - think of it as a balloon that has been blown up to capacity. After the air is released, the balloon is thin and stretched and resembles the loose, flabby skin hanging from my upper arms (I also noted this might not be a gret analogy, but it kinda gives an idea as to what happened). The result is a large, hardened stool that cannot be passed.

I was a geriatric nurse for over 20 years and this happens frequently in [human] patients, especially the elderly, following surgery. It is referred to as Opioid-Induced Constipation (OIC). This is possibly what happened with your kitten.

It is urgent to treat cats (or any pet or human) prophylactically following any surgery to prevent constipation and/or obstruction secondary to medication (including anesthesia). 

The water is now under the bridge and the good news is that pronosis following a colectomy is fair to good with proper management. I would surmise your vet will recommend either increased dietary fiber or a low residue diet (discuss options with your vet as they are very different approaches and it's usually trial an error to see which works best for your cat), stool softeners (with some type of lubrication), and something to promote colonic motility.

He will, no doubt, have diarrhea for the first week or so post-op, but in the long-run, he should produce softer stools, but most likely they will be more frequent with no significant difference in volume. But he will have to be closely monitored (and I suggest you keep a journal of his bowel movements - color, consistency, how many/how often, if there is blood or mucous, if he is straining or showing signs of pain, et cetra) because constipation can always recur.

You and your vet seem to be on top of things and 'Apollo' is in good hands. My Boys and I will keep you and 'Apollo' in our thoughts and prayers.

Keep us posted.

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[wanda doms]

Again, get Marelax from asap import it if you have to. Nufasa has exactly the same thing his Colin is dead. Marelax saved his life.what can you looose?

 

[skybunny17]

Hello. I had a older cat with mega colon and nothing worked except enemas. I ended up getting the subtotal colectomy done and she had diarrhea for the rest of her life until passing from renal failure at 18 years. The enemas were hard on her and the diarrhea made her bum bum sore but the outcome of the subtotal colectomy depends on each cat.

I recently took in three feral kittens currently 6 weeks old and the mama to get healthy and adopt out. One of the kittens has mega colon which is uncommon for that age. After two visits to regular vet and three emergency vet visits something actually worked. We did enemas and enulose to try and get the colon cleared but the doctor wanted try something new that some are doing. Eye drops. It is a prescription and for some reason works on cats with mega colon. It's called pilocarpine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution 2%. This poor kitten hadn't pooped on his own for a week only by enemas performed by doctors. After one drop in his food he had a soft bowel movement within the hour. Not sure what the long term holds for this little guy but it's a start. If nothing has worked to get bowel movements going ask your vet about these eye drops.

 

[jmarkitell]

I admire your persistence in taking care of this little guy, especially with all of the problems he has had in his short life. I wish you the best and pray that everything works out well, and the two of you share a great life together for decades to come...you both deserve it!

Jim 

 

 

[momofmaxwell]

Hi i belong to the megacolon site @ yahoo and we often see kitties with rear pelvic injuries.I wish the best for your kitty during recovery.If the pelvic area is narrowed after surgery over time you may have trouble again.We have seen this before.Miralax is only a brand name.The real name of it is peg3350.The key being the 3350.Peg's come in all kinds of numbers.In your computer in greece Google peg3350.There are hunderds of names.lactulose is also an alternative & used highly in constipation & MC but is syringed but available all over the world.I work with people overseas /foreign countries helping kitties with Mc that cannot find meds.For you to understand what happens to a pelvis that is say narrower than normal as poo passes through the anal opening the opening is kinda restricted so some stool is held back in the colon.Over a long time of this happening the colon stretches,damaging the colon wall nerves which actually move the stool down til there is no motility anymore.The bowel becomes one be flaccid sack of skin.It basically fills up with stool.This may not be a problem for you in the future but if it is this is why I am telling you this.As you won't know nor your vet until basically time will tell.After your baby heals if you notice straining or dry stools which requires observation obviously this is when you would want to find miralax or really peg 3350.In the UK it is called macrogol 3350.You can also buy macrogol there.Here's the problem.This is a human stool softener.It comes in chocloate,banana,etc.Macrogol all by itself without the 3350 after it has added electrolytes that are NOT suitable for cats.When looking up ingredients all you want is peg 3350 on the label.Nothing else.Feel free to email me if you need any more info.Sending healing vibes your way to the little one.MC is manageable with the right meds.But it won't be called miralax.Some countries I've dealt with order it from Amazon.Cisapride is also used sometimes when the nerves need stimulation.It would NOT go by that name in your country either.It goes by many.Many countries do not have it available nor let you ship it in.The longer the stool stays in the bowel the bowel removes water making it dry.Miralax helps retain water in the stool & cisapride helps with transit if transit is a problem.Extra water added to canned meat being crucial for any stool softener.HTH Honey & Hugs to the babe.Maxwell's Mom.Afters surgery & I'm sure your vet told you this the stool has to stay really soft for the stitches inside.Not the outer ones.Hopefully he has suggested a softener for you to use that is safe for cats.Not all human stool softeners are safe.Lactulose is usually what vets carry.Any questions don't hesitate.

 

[momofmaxwell]

Hi SkyBunny.I am from the MC group @ yahoo & curious about these eye drops.What country are you from? I have not googled this product yet but am interested.Hoping your babe keeps pooping.I tnr ferals & have 68 in two colonies.Gotta love those ferals.C

 

[fyllis]

Pilocarpine is generally used to reduce glaucoma in humans. It is also used to treat dry mouth symptoms due to chemotherapy in cancer patients by greatly increasing saliva. In order to produce saliva, the patient would have to be well hydrated. So, this (in my opinion) seems senseless as dry mouth is not the symptom being treated here and the cat should be well hydrated anyway - either by drinking water, getting increased water/fluids in it's food, or by I.V.

The only use (that I am aware of) for cats is as an emetic to induce vomiting if the cat ingested a poisonous plant or other substance where vomiting is safe, and it is NOT the first drug of choice for that because it has been known to cause seizures in rodents and small animals, so I would be wary of giving it to my cat! Even in humans, the dosage given is fairly small.

 

[momofmaxwell]

Hy Fyllis.What emetic are you talking about? metoclopromide is an antiemetic.And yes i agree it crosses the blood ,brain barrier & side effects are huge.Bad drug IMO.In foreign countries a lot of times this is all that is available.Even for nausea it is the craps.There are many better meds for nausea but some of these countries are back in the stoneage.I have not googled anything about the eye drops.Honestly never heard of it.But am open to all input when it comes to poop.Hydration is huge for pooping.You can't expect a good Bm from a prune cat.My boy was on subq fluids.LRS nightly for 6 yrs.Know all about it.Hugs C

 

[fyllis]

 
Hy Fyllis.What emetic are you talking about? metoclopromide is an antiemetic.And yes i agree it crosses the blood ,brain barrier & side effects are huge.Bad drug IMO.In foreign countries a lot of times this is all that is available.Even for nausea it is the craps.There are many better meds for nausea but some of these countries are back in the stoneage.I have not googled anything about the eye drops.Honestly never heard of it.But am open to all input when it comes to poop.Hydration is huge for pooping.You can't expect a good Bm from a prune cat.My boy was on subq fluids.LRS nightly for 6 yrs.Know all about it.Hugs C

Metoclopramide increases muscle contractions in the upper digestive tract. This speeds up the rate at which the stomach empties into the intestines. So it is used more to treat esophogeal reflux. It can also be used to treat or prevent nausea and vomiting.

Xylazine is the emetic agent of choice for inducing emesis (vomiting)in cats.  

Pilocarpine, as I said, is used for treating glaucoma. And it is used by chemo patients to treat dry mouth because one of the side effects is increased saliva. Other side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, bradycardia and hypotension. While generally safe and effective when prescribed by a veterinarian, pilocarpine can potentially cause side effects in some animals. It is NOT approved for use in animals by the FDA!

Regardless, ONLY your VET can prescribe any of these medications! NEVER self-medicate  your pet and NEVER administer 'human' drugs to your pet unless they are prescribed by your VET! 

Dosages so widely vary that a wrong dosage could potentially kill your pet!  

 

[momofmaxwell]

Hi Fyllis.So Xylazine is in these eye drops? Why are we talking about an emetic? Did some kitty eat something & now needs to vomit it up?.Did i miss something?.Actually in a nutshell reglan & I know my Internist agrees shouldn't even be on the market.So many better meds out there.I agree never to give anything human to your cat without your vets approval and dosing instructions.Cisapride being a way more tolerated med for any reflux.,mega esophagus or motility issue in the gut.Still not sure why we are talking about something to promote vomiting.But that's ok we're on the same page.We love babes & would never give anything without vet's approval to our babies.I never would.Nor would you either right Fyllis?As for needing to vomit i would take my cat to the Er if i couldn't see what it had possibly choked on.I deal with specialists not vets.Went through way too many of them who thought they were God.They weren't.Then we could get on the conversation about Convenia.Hmm We won't go there today... Hugs C.Were these eye drops not prescribed by a vet? Thus the reason for these groups to bring attention to the bad things that are out  there & make people aware.Anyone that doesn't know about xylazine which goes by another 100 or so names all over the world can go to drugs.com & type it in.HTH C.States right at the top may only be available for veterinary use.Safe???As I read it is a sedative.

 

[momofmaxwell]

Hi Sky Bunny.

I have read about people having subtotals done on their babes only to have major diarrhea afterwards.Usually it is a choice when all motility is gone.Meaning you are at max doses of miralax & cisapride and still no movement.The stool inside the cat is soft,not hard like people think.Just sitting there.Some vets/surgeons take the illeocecal (sp?) valve out as well.I have read some are preferenced to keep it intact and make the incision forward of that valve removing the flaccid colon because kitties are known to have forever diarrhea after.Honestly the owner wouldn't know what they id inside removing what.It is a gamble but sometimes we have to make hard decisions.I wish you had found miralax because IMO it is far superior to lactulose.Most MC kitties and it is not heard of at all at 6 wks. I have seen many with MC to go the lactulose route.Then the dose goes up & up & up until you are mega dosing your kitty and still receiving rocks.Not all.Some do very well on lactulose.It is sad though to see countries that are not onboard and make that med available for kitties rather than euthanasia  which i see almost daily.I'm sorry you lost your babe to CKD.I lost three.You take care now.Remember peg 3350 is what you want.Miralax is just a brand.TY for taking care of the ferals.It all helps the major epidemic we are dealing with. Such sweeties deserve a huge chance at a life!!! C.

 

[shannonmari1]

Oh my goodness, continued prayers for your and your little kitty! My heart just breaks for you! But I think you are wonderful for continuing to care as best as you can for Kitten! Big hugs and keep us updated!!!