Prolapsed Rectum And No Answers

[Thatgirl]

I've posted on here a few times about the kitten I rescued with a prolapsed rectum. I've been to countless vet appointments and there's still no improvement. Here is a brief overview of what has happened with little Zilu:

• Rescued Zilu when she was about 9 weeks old and 1.6lbs. She had a prolapsed rectum (looked like a red Fruit Loop on her butt).
• Took her to a vet ASAP that performed a purse string suture, dewormer, and vaccinations. Unfortunately, a week later her rectum popped out again when she pooped. It would pop out about 80% of the time she poops.
• Took her to a local vet where they did any needed vaccinations, dewormer, and we also did a fecal sample. She tested positive for Giardia. The vet said this could cause straining and could be why there's a prolapse. She was pretty infested and they said she may need 2 treatments. Finished the first treatment of fenbendazole, sent a fecal sample in, it came back negative (I thought that was weird).
• Vet gave me a laxative to make her stool softer and pain medicine to help her relax when she poops. It may have made Zilu more comfortable, but it didn't help the prolapse at all. The vet recommended to keep the purse sting suture in "just in case" (keep in mind it's been a month since she had it put in).
• Took her to a specialist/surgeon for a consultation. I asked if this could be genetic and she said if there's a prolapse and parasites were found then 99.9% of the time it's because of the parasites. I also asked if her muscles around her butt are weakened from all the prolapsed. She said no since it doesn't prolapse all the time/every time she poops. So, it looks like it's because of parasites and we need to clear that up. She recommended removing the sutures because they may be working against her (she's straining to get her poop past the sutures).
• I got the sutures removed today. When she poops she continues to strain/grunt and it prolapsed again. She's currently taking a probiotic once a day mixed in her food and Metronidazole twice a day. I'm also starting to feed her some organic pumpkin.
• **Since I've brought her back from the first purse string suture... I've been manually pushing her rectum back in.

I don't know what else to do. I'm a teacher so I'm going to be starting school soon and I won't be able to be home with her all day. Aside from the prolapse issue... she's pretty healthy. She's almost 3lbs now, runs, plays, eats well, etc. Even when her butt is prolapsed she will want to run and play... I have to chase her down!

Anyone have any suggestions? Another purse string suture? I thought about getting another opinion from a different vet.

 

[Daisy6]

If you are thinking about getting a different vet, you need one.

 

[silkenpaw]

All other things being equal, you'd want to completely get rid of her parasites and get her stool soft with stool softeners and see what happens. But since you have to go back to work soon, you might opt to do more definitive surgery sooner. The question I don't know the answer to is how much damage is being done to the lining of the rectum if it remains prolapsed for a long time? Also, what is considered "a long time" in this context?

The more definitive surgery, as I understand it, is tacking the outside of the rectum to surrounding tissues and I'm pretty sure it involves an incision. I have no idea about the cost.

I hope Zilu does well. She's lucky to have such a great cat parent. Thank you for this update and please keep us updated on how she does.

 

[Thatgirl]

All other things being equal, you'd want to completely get rid of her parasites and get her stool soft with stool softeners and see what happens. But since you have to go back to work soon, you might opt to do more definitive surgery sooner. The question I don't know the answer to is how much damage is being done to the lining of the rectum if it remains prolapsed for a long time? Also, what is considered "a long time" in this context?

The more definitive surgery, as I understand it, is tacking the outside of the rectum to surrounding tissues and I'm pretty sure it involves an incision. I have no idea about the cost.

I hope Zilu does well. She's lucky to have such a great cat parent. Thank you for this update and please keep us updated on how she does.

Thank you! Right now since I'm home most of the time it doesn't stay prolapsed for more than 1 min, lol. It's weird because when I do go out, I will come home and see that she pooped but her butt is in. During the consultation the surgeon said that she doesn't need surgery. She said that treating the cause of the prolapse is the first step. If we go ahead and do the surgery then it could still prolapse since she's straining. She did suggest another purse string after she's finished with this round of medicine. I'm worried about the price! I started a gofundme for all her vet bills. Keeping my fingers crossed we can get all of this resolved.

 

[silkenpaw]

How much does it cost to put in a purse string? Does it require general anaesthesia?

 

[Thatgirl]

Yes, it requires anesthesia. The surgeon said she'll charge $150-200.