Help with bowel
Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 2:29 am
Hello everyone,
My cat Yeti who was born partially paralyzed in the lower half of his body has always had problems with seizures, bladder control and walking. After, many agonizing years and many visit this forum and to the vet, we were finally able to control the seizures with prednisone and lots of baths to keep Yeti clean. We finally got the seizures under control and his back legging working real well. Now he is having problems with consitpation and cannot pass his bowels and he is dragging the lower half of his body. He no longer comes out to eat or play. He still has an appetite so we feed him in his bed, but he will not come out. We took him to the vet and they cleaned him out and we were told that his condition was getting worse. I have a hard time accepting that, Yeti went from doing 70% better to 0% overnight, it just seems too fast of a change. Since the vet visit, Yeti still has not passed a bowel on his own. We have tried enemas, some liquid meds the vet gave us (can't remember the name) and mineral oil. My son has even put a rubber glove on and tried to scoop it out. He has passed a little but he is still very full. Is there anyone that has had a similar problem or any advice as to what I might try? I was thinking of having x-ray done, but do not know if that will help.
Thanks in advance for all your help
I just read this post by CarolC, I guess I should have searched first cause I found some great stuff, anyway I will try some of the advice in it and If anyone has any other ideas, please let me know.
Re: Urgent advice needed for incontinent Manx!
by CarolC ยป Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:05 am
Lactulose is something you can fine-tune. It sounds like you need to be giving him more. I would ask the vet for a small syringe so you can measure it exactly, you're going to want to be precise. With lactulose, and measuring it exactly right, you can get any quality of stools you want and with consistent results. I assume you are feeding him canned food and not dry. If he is getting dry food I would switch him to canned.
You can do enemas at home. I know they say it is better to do it in the vet's office because it is a mess and cat's don't like the procedure, but you CAN do it at home. My aunt (a very stylish woman) gave her cat an enema twice a week for years. She and my uncle took him to the garage, spread the Wall Street Journal on the car, and gave it there.
There is a medication that increases intestinal motility. It is called Propulsid (cisapride). I would try that rather than put him down.
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/cisapride.html
In addition, giving sub-q fluids can help these cats, and this is something else you can do at home. I have a cat I am giving fluids to twice a day for another condition, it is not that much trouble and takes very little time. If you want links on that, please let me know.
There is a technique that you can learn if you cat is fairly calm. You can learn to manually massage the colon to move feces along toward the exit. It is especially easy if he is not overweight. You simply cup his abdomen with your hand in a lobster claw and reach up on both sides with your fingertips and squeeze. You can learn to feel the colon (it will probably feel "harder" than you expect) and by squeezing you can actually break the feces into sections and help it move toward the exit. If you see some in his anus that is not coming out, you may be able to get it out by putting on a latex glove, dipping your finger in vaseline and reaching in and sweeping it out. Some people would cringe at the idea, it really isn't that bad.
They can do surgery for megacolon. What they do is simply remove the section of colon that has enlarged. Afterward, your cat will probably need to go to the litterbox more often but he will not block like he has been doing.
I hope something in this message helps.CarolC
Moderator
Posts: 7117
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2003 7:00 pm
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My cat Yeti who was born partially paralyzed in the lower half of his body has always had problems with seizures, bladder control and walking. After, many agonizing years and many visit this forum and to the vet, we were finally able to control the seizures with prednisone and lots of baths to keep Yeti clean. We finally got the seizures under control and his back legging working real well. Now he is having problems with consitpation and cannot pass his bowels and he is dragging the lower half of his body. He no longer comes out to eat or play. He still has an appetite so we feed him in his bed, but he will not come out. We took him to the vet and they cleaned him out and we were told that his condition was getting worse. I have a hard time accepting that, Yeti went from doing 70% better to 0% overnight, it just seems too fast of a change. Since the vet visit, Yeti still has not passed a bowel on his own. We have tried enemas, some liquid meds the vet gave us (can't remember the name) and mineral oil. My son has even put a rubber glove on and tried to scoop it out. He has passed a little but he is still very full. Is there anyone that has had a similar problem or any advice as to what I might try? I was thinking of having x-ray done, but do not know if that will help.
Thanks in advance for all your help
I just read this post by CarolC, I guess I should have searched first cause I found some great stuff, anyway I will try some of the advice in it and If anyone has any other ideas, please let me know.
Re: Urgent advice needed for incontinent Manx!
by CarolC ยป Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:05 am
Lactulose is something you can fine-tune. It sounds like you need to be giving him more. I would ask the vet for a small syringe so you can measure it exactly, you're going to want to be precise. With lactulose, and measuring it exactly right, you can get any quality of stools you want and with consistent results. I assume you are feeding him canned food and not dry. If he is getting dry food I would switch him to canned.
You can do enemas at home. I know they say it is better to do it in the vet's office because it is a mess and cat's don't like the procedure, but you CAN do it at home. My aunt (a very stylish woman) gave her cat an enema twice a week for years. She and my uncle took him to the garage, spread the Wall Street Journal on the car, and gave it there.
There is a medication that increases intestinal motility. It is called Propulsid (cisapride). I would try that rather than put him down.
http://www.marvistavet.com/html/cisapride.html
In addition, giving sub-q fluids can help these cats, and this is something else you can do at home. I have a cat I am giving fluids to twice a day for another condition, it is not that much trouble and takes very little time. If you want links on that, please let me know.
There is a technique that you can learn if you cat is fairly calm. You can learn to manually massage the colon to move feces along toward the exit. It is especially easy if he is not overweight. You simply cup his abdomen with your hand in a lobster claw and reach up on both sides with your fingertips and squeeze. You can learn to feel the colon (it will probably feel "harder" than you expect) and by squeezing you can actually break the feces into sections and help it move toward the exit. If you see some in his anus that is not coming out, you may be able to get it out by putting on a latex glove, dipping your finger in vaseline and reaching in and sweeping it out. Some people would cringe at the idea, it really isn't that bad.
They can do surgery for megacolon. What they do is simply remove the section of colon that has enlarged. Afterward, your cat will probably need to go to the litterbox more often but he will not block like he has been doing.
I hope something in this message helps.CarolC
Moderator
Posts: 7117
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2003 7:00 pm
Private message