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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / July 2006Surgery -- megacolon
Okay, looks like our cat may have emergency surgery for mega colon as soon as we can find a surgeon. Our regular vet says it looks like she has an old injury, a broken pelvis, or a congenital problem that makes her pelvic area much smaller than it should be. For whatever reason, things have moved through for the last 11 years but now she is completely blocked and nothing has helped significantly. She is no longer even trying to eat. Anyone had a cat with colon surgery? How about a surgery to increase the size of the pelvic area? Scared about this one... Rhonda Hi Rhonda: I don't have any experience with this kind of surgery but I wanted to wish you and your cat luck. Have you discussed the risks and complications of this surgery with your vet? What is he/she saying? Mike > Okay, looks like our cat may have emergency surgery for mega colon as soon > as we can find a surgeon. Hi Mike, Thanks for the luck. She is still spirited but I think she's going to need some luck. We haven't had a surgery consult yet -- just talked with our regular vet (who has left a message to a surgeon.) She's done the surgery only once with a cat so wants someone more experienced for this one. Possible complications -- the biggest is infection from opening the bowel. Another might be that this could happen again even after surgery. The vet didn't know about surgery to widen the pelvis, so I want to ask that of the surgeon. If she doesn't have any surgery, she probably won't make it. We are trying to keep flushing the toxins out of her system. She is eating just a tiny bit because she feels so full, but we don't want her to eat a lot because she is totally blocked. Thanks for the interest, Rhonda > Hi Rhonda: > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >>Okay, looks like our cat may have emergency surgery for mega colon as soon >>as we can find a surgeon. > If she doesn't have any surgery, she probably won't make it. We are > trying to keep flushing the toxins out of her system. She is eating just > a tiny bit because she feels so full, but we don't want her to eat a lot > because she is totally blocked. Didn't your vet consider lactulose and a low residue diet- or even milk? A higher dose of lactulose (3-4 ml, b.i.d.) and/or milk should produce very soft stools bordering on diarrhea- just the effect you want in a constipated cat. A low residue diet should produce small stools. The combination of soft, small stools should make defecation possible since the stools will be soft enough to conform to the opening and squeeze through. Kitten food might even be better than a low residue diet since its nutrient-dense and provides more nutrition in a smaller volume and also produces small stools. Never ever use cisapride in a cat if constipation is caused by an obstruction. >>If she doesn't have any surgery, she probably won't make it. We are >>trying to keep flushing the toxins out of her system. She is eating just [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Never ever use cisapride in a cat if constipation is caused by an > obstruction. Diet changes should help on new production, I'm sure she'll be on special diets in the future. The problem right now is the huge clots that won't soften. Multiple enemas (poor cat) have worn them down a little bit, but it's been too long and they are still way too big to come through. Rhonda Please keep us posted, Rhonda. I pray all goes well for her. There is this site http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/megacolon.htm and many others on google about the procedure. Gail > Hi Mike, > [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] >>>Okay, looks like our cat may have emergency surgery for mega colon as >>>soon as we can find a surgeon. Here is another good site, Rhonda http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:Kffx6WrrGx4J:www.vetinfo.com/cmegacol.html+ megacolon+%2Bsurgery+%2Bcat&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4 Gail > Hi Mike, > [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] >>>Okay, looks like our cat may have emergency surgery for mega colon as >>>soon as we can find a surgeon. Gail, thanks so much for the sites! They were very helpful. I especially liked the other surgery site, it answered a lot of questions, but the pictures were pretty gross. Poor cat, I can't believe that's inside of her. Thanks again, Rhonda > Here is another good site, Rhonda > http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:Kffx6WrrGx4J:www.vetinfo.com/cmegacol.html+ megacolon+%2Bsurgery+%2Bcat&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4 [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] >>>>Okay, looks like our cat may have emergency surgery for mega colon as >>>>soon as we can find a surgeon. > Okay, looks like our cat may have emergency surgery for mega colon as > soon as we can find a surgeon. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Rhonda Oh, Rhonda, I'm so sorry she--and you--have to go through this. I have nothing useful to offer, but I will keep you and kitty in my prayers. > Oh, Rhonda, I'm so sorry she--and you--have to go through this. > I have nothing useful to offer, but I will keep you and kitty in my prayers. Thank you. She is the sweetest and most shy of all our cats. Just breaks my heart she has to go through this. She was at the vet's all day all week, then we'd bring her home at night. Anyway, thanks for the good wishes, Rhonda >> Oh, Rhonda, I'm so sorry she--and you--have to go through this. I have >> nothing useful to offer, but I will keep you and kitty in my prayers. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Anyway, thanks for the good wishes, I suggest locating and looking at the website of the nearest college of veterinary medicine. They usually have associated small animal hospitals. It may be too far to take your cat, but imo there is a good chance you could find someone there who would discuss the case in general and suggest a closer veterinary surgeon I've done a quick Google, and it appears that medical treatment of mega colon does "run out". Otoh, surgery (by an experienced surgeon) is usually successful. In my experience, family veterinarians do sometimes hesitate to recommend a surgical option. There is a risk ... and they probably have heard "You said he'd be ok." too many times. But, you are the one who knows your cat best and it is your choice to make. > I suggest locating and looking at the website of the nearest college of > veterinary medicine. They usually have associated small animal hospitals. > It may be too far to take your cat, but imo there is a good chance you > could find someone there who would discuss the case in general and suggest > a closer veterinary surgeon Hi Ann, thanks for the info. We do have a good surgeon fairly close, but it's the weekend. They left him a message yesterday and we're hoping he picks it up before Monday. > I've done a quick Google, and it appears that medical treatment of mega > colon does "run out". Otoh, surgery (by an experienced surgeon) is > usually successful. In my experience, family veterinarians do sometimes > hesitate to recommend a surgical option. There is a risk ... and they > probably have heard "You said he'd be ok." too many times. But, you > are the one who knows your cat best and it is your choice to make. Our vet changed her mind about how to deal with this when she took another x-ray and saw how narrow the pelvis is. She said she doesn't think the current stuff will ever pass on it's own. She's been working on it all week and said she's reduced the biggest clot less than 25%. She said Friday that she feels surgery is the only thing that will help now. Thanks for your concern and info, Rhonda >> I suggest locating and looking at the website of the nearest college of >> veterinary medicine. They usually have associated small animal hospitals. [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > Rhonda Good, sounds like things are moving forward. I hope things turn out best for the cat - and - do keep in mind that, like any surgical patient, she is asleep though all this. The clock really crawls while one is waiting for the "When can I call to see how she is?" hour. > Good, sounds like things are moving forward. I hope things turn out best > for the cat - and - do keep in mind that, like any surgical patient, she > is asleep though all this. The clock really crawls while one is waiting > for the "When can I call to see how she is?" hour. Oh, that's for sure! The waiting is horrible. Rhonda > Oh, Rhonda, I'm so sorry she--and you--have to go through this. > I have nothing useful to offer, but I will keep you and kitty in my prayers. Me, too, Rohonda, I will be thinking about her and you. I hope the surgeon responds quickly. Candace > > Oh, Rhonda, I'm so sorry she--and you--have to go through this. > > I have nothing useful to offer, but I will keep you and kitty in my prayers. > > Me, too, Rohonda, I will be thinking about her and you. I hope the > surgeon responds quickly. Hi Candace! I like your typo, "Rohonda." It makes our dear Rhonda sound like an African Princess. :) >>>Oh, Rhonda, I'm so sorry she--and you--have to go through this. >>>I have nothing useful to offer, but I will keep you and kitty in my [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Hi Candace! I like your typo, "Rohonda." It makes our dear Rhonda > sound like an African Princess. :) I like that too! If I ever was an African Princess, it was in another life. I don't think African Princesses get freckles. :) Rhonda >>Oh, Rhonda, I'm so sorry she--and you--have to go through this. >>I have nothing useful to offer, but I will keep you and kitty in my prayers. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Candace Thanks, Candace. I'll let you know what happens. She could use all of the good thoughts. Rhonda >Okay, looks like our cat may have emergency surgery for mega colon as >soon as we can find a surgeon. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >Rhonda I'm sorry to hear about this Rhonda. I don't know anything about megacolon. You and the cat have my best wishes for a good outcome... keep us posted. Charlie > I'm sorry to hear about this Rhonda. I don't know anything about > megacolon. You and the cat have my best wishes for a good outcome... > keep us posted. > > Charlie Thanks, Charlie. It seems like it's always something new with cats. Thanks for the good wishes, Rhonda > Okay, looks like our cat may have emergency surgery for mega colon as soon > as we can find a surgeon. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Scared about this one... Rhonda, Good luck with your cat. One of my cats at work kept getting blocked last year. When I took her to a second vet for another opinion, he mentioned the possibility of surgery. Lickily that vet got her cleaned out well and upped her medication. The first vet originally told me to give her 1ml of lactulose a day - that's it. When I pressed him, after getting advice here, he said I could give it to her twice a day. I also asked about cisapride/Propulsid and he gave me some of that as well. I then took her to the second vet, who upped the Lactulose. That all happened in August & September last year and she hasn't had to go back to the vet. She wouldn't eat the low residue canned food, so she gets Wellness & Petguard wet and the prescription Eukanuba low residue dry food. She gets her Propulsid and lactulose (flavored) twice a day and she's very good about taking it, at least for me. She has developed a problem of pooping out of the box (there are 4 boxes at work) but at least she's going. If it seems like she's struggling or if I see that she's produced a really large stool, I increase her lactulose by 1ml for her next dose or two. Sometimes that causes very loose stool but at least I know she's empty then. -- Liz > Good luck with your cat. One of my cats at work kept getting blocked last > year. When I took her to a second vet for another opinion, he mentioned the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > cisapride/Propulsid and he gave me some of that as well. I then took her to > the second vet, who upped the Lactulose. Hi Liz, Sweeter is getting .7 ml of lactulose three times a day. I hope that's a good dose. How long did it take for her to pass the stuff? Was she eating or drinking during all of this? Sweeter's spine is sticking out now, she's getting thin so fast. Why did the first vet think your cat needed surgery, was it lasting too long? Mine thinks the passage is too narrow for this to get small enough before she fades away. I sure wish it would surprise us all and just pop out. > That all happened in August & September last year and she hasn't had to go > back to the vet. She wouldn't eat the low residue canned food, so she gets [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > 1ml for her next dose or two. Sometimes that causes very loose stool but at > least I know she's empty then. All of that is good advice. I know she'll need a different diet and more litter box monitoring when we on the other side of this. Thank you, Rhonda > Sweeter is getting .7 ml of lactulose three times a day. I hope that's a > good dose. .7 ml is useless. Lactulose should be dosed to effect. The usual starting dose is at least 2-3 ml/b.i.d. to t.i.d. Use only the flavored lactulose (chicken, tuna, bacon, etc.) otherwise you and her will end up wearing more than you'll get into her. What is your vet using for an enema? Never ever use sodium phosphate retention enemas- such as Fleet- in cats. >>Sweeter is getting .7 ml of lactulose three times a day. I hope that's a >> good dose. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > (chicken, tuna, bacon, etc.) otherwise you and her will end up wearing more > than you'll get into her. So far, I'm not having trouble getting it all into her. It would be nice if I didn't have to pry her mouth open and she would think it's a treat. Can't do that until Monday though. > What is your vet using for an enema? Never ever use sodium phosphate > retention enemas- such as Fleet- in cats. I don't know what kind of enemas they used. Rhonda > >>Sweeter is getting .7 ml of lactulose three times a day. I hope that's a > >> good dose. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > So far, I'm not having trouble getting it all into her. It would be nice > if I didn't have to pry her mouth open You don't have to pry her mouth open. You can give her the lactulose between the buccal wall and her teeth or through the diastema- the little gap between the canines and premolars. http://www.maxshouse.com/anatomy/mandible__right__medial_view.jpg > Sweeter is getting .7 ml of lactulose three times a day. I hope that's a > good dose. The original vet had Harriet on 1 ml once a day, then twice a day and finally said I could give her 2ml twice a day. It did nothing. The second vet doubled that to 4ml twice a day, and after her intital treatments it's been cut back to 3ml twice a day, which she gets every day. When I see she's struggling I go back to 4ml for a couple of doses. As Phil said, .7 is pretty much useless. Find a pharmacy that has the FlavoRx system. It was nearly impossible getting the unflavored Lactulose into Harriet but she doesn't struggle at all with the flavored stuff. I usually get chicken or bacon. One time they accidentally gave me something fruity (maybe did cherry instead of chicken) but she didn't seem to mind. > How long did it take for her to pass the stuff? Was she eating or drinking > during all of this? Sweeter's spine is sticking out now, she's getting > thin so fast. With the original vet, they'd give her an enema and she would immediately get backed up again. The second vet gave her a different enema that really cleaned her out, and the medication has kept things moving ever since then (that was September 2005). I don't know what the first vet was using, but it did nothing. The second vet also gave me several enemas to use on her if she got blocked again, so I wouldn't have to waste time & money bringing her back in. I have not had to use those enemas, fortunately. She went for about a month between seeing the first vet (something like 5 times) and the second. She was still drinking and eating when she was backed up. She did lose weight, and has put some back on since then. > Why did the first vet think your cat needed surgery, was it lasting too > long? Mine thinks the passage is too narrow for this to get small enough > before she fades away. I sure wish it would surprise us all and just pop > out. Yes, because she kept getting backed up. If the idiots had been more aggressive with medicating her she wouldn't have had to go back there every week to get cleaned out with their useless enemas. Harriet had x-rays taken and her anatomy looked fine, so it wasn't an old injury or anything causing her to get blocked. >> That all happened in August & September last year and she hasn't had to >> go back to the vet. She wouldn't eat the low residue canned food, so she [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Rhonda I give Harriet more canned food than dry. She's always been a picky eater and liked to eat very slowly throughout the day. If I see that she's leaving the wet food for too long I take it away. We have another cat at work who will gladly eat Harriet's leftovers, so I don't always know how much Harriet ate and how much Stinky ate. Harriet also likes to steal Stinky's food (Science Diet Light, canned & dry) and sometimes I'll let her have the wet, since she really doesn't eat a whole lot. -- Liz Elizabeth, Thanks for the info. How much does Harriet weigh? Sweeter's a pretty small cat. There is a pharmacy in the area that compounds for animals, so I could do that on Monday. If I double her dose now, we may run out before Monday, heck. I just called an emergency clinic and they won't even talk about dosages unless I bring her in. Thanks for all your help, Rhonda >>Sweeter is getting .7 ml of lactulose three times a day. I hope that's a >>good dose. [quoted text clipped - 65 lines] > -- > Liz > Elizabeth, > > Thanks for the info. How much does Harriet weigh? Sweeter's a pretty small > cat. Last year her weight dropped to around 9 pounds, she looked very bad. Now she's around 10, I think, a good weight for her. In her past, when there were certain other people at work feeding her non-stop, she was huge. I'll have to weigh her next week because I really can't remember how much she weighed from the last vet visit. > There is a pharmacy in the area that compounds for animals, so I could do > that on Monday. If I double her dose now, we may run out before Monday, > heck. Have your vet call the prescription in to the pharmacy with refills. If the medication works, she could be on it for life. My vet originally wrote for a 4 oz. bottle but the pharmacist offered to give me a bigger size and I've been getting that ever since. I have to get the Propulsid from the vet ($1/pill) and I keep meaning to find someplace cheaper, even if it's online. -- Liz >>Elizabeth, >> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > have to weigh her next week because I really can't remember how much she > weighed from the last vet visit. I just wondered about her weight in proportion to the lactulose dose. Our wonderful vet just called us at home to check on Sweeter and we asked about it. I had already increased the dose but she agreed that there is definitely no harm in higher doses -- it's a sugar. Rhonda >>>Elizabeth, >>> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Rhonda That's so great your vet called you to check on her. When Harriet first went to the second vet he said that 4ml was the best starting dose. He didn't mention anything about her weight. After she began having diarrhea on 4ml, it was cut back to 3ml, twice a day. She's been pooping on the floor a lot lately so I think I'm going to up it a little, 3.25-3.5 ml and see how she reacts to that. I never worry if it ends up giving her runny stool because as soon as I cut the dose back again that clears up. Luckily, when she does get diarrhea, she usually makes it to the box for that. It has happened on the floor a couple of times and it's not fun to clean up. Good luck getting a bigger dose of the unflavored stuff into Sweeter. Harriet's fur ended up matted with the stuff before I got it flavored. I had to cut out big chunks of fur. -- Liz "Elizabeth Blake" <poodlebone@spamless.earthlink.net> wrote in message news:TzZrg.5647 > Good luck with your cat. One of my cats at work kept getting blocked last > year. When I took her to a second vet for another opinion, he mentioned the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > That all happened in August & September last year and she hasn't had to go > back to the vet. That's great news. I was wondering how she was doing. I'm glad you found a better vet who got the lactulose dose just right- otherwise, Harriet was heading for a subtotal colectomy. Phil > That's great news. I was wondering how she was doing. I'm glad you found > a > better vet who got the lactulose dose just right- otherwise, Harriet was > heading for a subtotal colectomy. > > Phil We really like the cats-only vet. Harriet seems so much happier now and she's calmed down a lot, although there have a couple of stray biting incidents lately. Two were employees and one customer. With one employee, it was because she was ignoring Harriet (she hates that!) and the other was actually my cat sitter, who's coming back to work for us at another location. I think Harriet saw him and figured he was there to medicate her. He then won her over by bringing in a container of Cat Crack (freeze dried chicken, which she & Stinky haven't had in months). -- Liz |
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