Serious Constipation

Last year our cat was suffering with serious constipation
(googlegroups link he http://tinyurl.com/2z7k8n)

However in the last 6 months or so, he seems to be having to go back
to the vet for a clean out more and more frequently. The last time he
was at the vets for nearly a week, and he's been back now for less
than a week and seems to be suffering again (he's back to the vets
tonight).

We're trying to manage his condition with lactulose, and another
product which is supposed to force his innerds to contract and move
the stool along quicker (the name escapes me), but it doesn't seem to
be working at all.

This is all starting to sound worryingly like megacolon. I've heard
one of the solutions to this is to remove all or part of the colon.
Has anyone had any experience of a cat that has had this done ?




Here he is anyway:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...d&id=627125965

It may be megacolon. Do you feed canned food only? Also, you can add pumpkin
(no spices) in the food.
Gail
"DrLargePants" wrote in message
ups.com...
Last year our cat was suffering with serious constipation
(googlegroups link he http://tinyurl.com/2z7k8n)

However in the last 6 months or so, he seems to be having to go back
to the vet for a clean out more and more frequently. The last time he
was at the vets for nearly a week, and he's been back now for less
than a week and seems to be suffering again (he's back to the vets
tonight).

We're trying to manage his condition with lactulose, and another
product which is supposed to force his innerds to contract and move
the stool along quicker (the name escapes me), but it doesn't seem to
be working at all.

This is all starting to sound worryingly like megacolon. I've heard
one of the solutions to this is to remove all or part of the colon.
Has anyone had any experience of a cat that has had this done ?




Here he is anyway:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...d&id=627125965

It may be megacolon. Do you feed canned food only? Also, you can add pumpkin
(no spices) in the food.

Canned food only (low fibre). Going to try him on liquid parafin when
he's back.

Last year our cat was suffering with serious constipation
(googlegroups link hehttp://tinyurl.com/2z7k8n)


Well he's much better now: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...3&id=627125965

He seems to really dig liquid paraffin, so he's passing solids OK so
far.

Fingers crossed....

"DrLargePants" wrote in message
ups.com...
Last year our cat was suffering with serious constipation
(googlegroups link he http://tinyurl.com/2z7k8n)

However in the last 6 months or so, he seems to be having to go back
to the vet for a clean out more and more frequently. The last time he
was at the vets for nearly a week, and he's been back now for less
than a week and seems to be suffering again (he's back to the vets
tonight).

We're trying to manage his condition with lactulose, and another
product which is supposed to force his innerds to contract and move
the stool along quicker (the name escapes me), but it doesn't seem to
be working at all.

This is all starting to sound worryingly like megacolon. I've heard
one of the solutions to this is to remove all or part of the colon.
Has anyone had any experience of a cat that has had this done ?

I've never had a cat with this as an ongoing problem. When my 17-yr-old got
constipated after a surgery the vet had me give her plain mineral oil.

Hugs,

CatNipped





Here he is anyway:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...d&id=627125965

Yes, our cat had this. Once they get to a certain point -- supplements
and other things don't seem to help.

Our cat had her colon removed after a week of daily trips to the vet.
She just could not get anything to move and time was running out. The
vet sent us to a great surgeon at an emergency clinic.

The surgeon had done lots of these surgeries and had never had a
problem. Sweeter did well through the surgery but ended up getting
weaker after she got home. We had to take her back in and she had
another surgery. She had developed a septic infection because some
internal stitches had come loose. The surgeon was very upset and
operated the second time for free.

Sweeter survived, and recovered quickly once the infection was
diminishing. She is doing great a year later. She is a new cat, seems to
have a new lease on life. She's playful again!

If you have the surgery, get a referral to a surgeon with lots of
experience. Our surgeon said Sweeter's colon was so bad and thin, it
actually tore when he touched it. Poor cat, she had suffered for quite
awhile apparently.

By the way, the only medication she takes now is a potassium supplement.

Good luck,

Rhonda

DrLargePants wrote:
Last year our cat was suffering with serious constipation
(googlegroups link he http://tinyurl.com/2z7k8n)

However in the last 6 months or so, he seems to be having to go back
to the vet for a clean out more and more frequently. The last time he
was at the vets for nearly a week, and he's been back now for less
than a week and seems to be suffering again (he's back to the vets
tonight).

We're trying to manage his condition with lactulose, and another
product which is supposed to force his innerds to contract and move
the stool along quicker (the name escapes me), but it doesn't seem to
be working at all.

This is all starting to sound worryingly like megacolon. I've heard
one of the solutions to this is to remove all or part of the colon.
Has anyone had any experience of a cat that has had this done ?




Here he is anyway:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...d&id=627125965

Our cat had her colon removed after a week of daily trips to the vet.
She just could not get anything to move and time was running out.
The vet sent us to a great surgeon at an emergency clinic.


Did she have issues with incontinence after the procedure ?

DrLargePants wrote:
Our cat had her colon removed after a week of daily trips to the vet.
She just could not get anything to move and time was running out.
The vet sent us to a great surgeon at an emergency clinic.

Did she have issues with incontinence after the procedure ?

Urination was fine, but she did have diarrhea. We were warned of that
because the colon is what takes the water out of the feces. I was
actually glad to see the diarrhea, that things were moving through. All
we did was change to a clumping litter for her.

The vet said some cats' small intestines start taking over for the colon
and form solid feces. He seemed to think cats are a miracle! Sweeter now
only has occasional diarrhea.

Rhonda

Urination was fine, but she did have diarrhea. We were warned of that
because the colon is what takes the water out of the feces. I was
actually glad to see the diarrhea, that things were moving through. All
we did was change to a clumping litter for her.

The vet said some cats' small intestines start taking over for the colon
and form solid feces. He seemed to think cats are a miracle! Sweeter now
only has occasional diarrhea.



tbh I'd be glad to see him have diarrhea now! I don't think I could
cope with diarrhea 24/7 though.

Oddly enough the vet is now sugesting that he should go on a (higher)
fibre food and a different drug.

DrLargePants wrote:

Rhonda wrote:
Urination was fine, but she did have diarrhea. We were warned of that
because the colon is what takes the water out of the feces. I was
actually glad to see the diarrhea, that things were moving through. All
we did was change to a clumping litter for her.

The vet said some cats' small intestines start taking over for the colon
and form solid feces. He seemed to think cats are a miracle! Sweeter now
only has occasional diarrhea.

tbh I'd be glad to see him have diarrhea now! I don't think I could
cope with diarrhea 24/7 though.

You could cope -- it's far worse for the cat. All we have to do is use
scoopable cat litter and then it's about the same as urine in the litter
box.

Oddly enough the vet is now sugesting that he should go on a (higher)
fibre food and a different drug.

The problem with the fiber is that it may work well on new feces being
formed -- but the stuff already in him is probably rock hard. The body
pulls the fluid out of it. Is your cat getting sub-cu fluids to try to
hydrate it?

The only hope is really to get it hydrated and softened, and to get the
muscles of the intestine working. Sweeter's colon was so stretched that
the muscles would no longer work. I hope your cat is not at that stage yet.

Rhonda