 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion GroupsGeneral TopicsCat AnecdotesHealth and BehaviorRescue CatKB.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / August 2005Harriet is back in the hospital
Harriest is a very constipated/backed-up cat who lives in a bookstore. She was brought to the vet on August 4th and kept until the 6th, because she was having trouble going to the bathroom. She was sent home with Eukanuba Low Residue food and Lactulose. Two weeks later, she was still having problems. On Saturday she was able to poop, but she did it on a rug and in her bed! They were very large (diameter) and I know they must have hurt her. Back to the vet we go this morning. The vet (same practice, different doctor this time) felt her and said her colon (I think!) was backed all the way up. She said that it didn't feel rock hard, but that everything was getting backed up and each bit would push into the bit before, causing the feces to extend, making them even harder to pass. I had to leave her for more enemas, and I'm to call back at 4pm. She may end up staying overnight again. I asked about her diet, and told him what the other vet had sent her home with. He agreed that all wet food would be better. He also said that there's a possibility of nerve damage, making it hard for her body to push the feces through. He said there's not much they can do if that's the case. My nerves were already shot by this point and I didn't ask what the outcome would be if Harriet does have nerve damage in her colon (or intestine...?). He said that in the past they would treat animals with Propulsid (spelling?), a human medication that helped the body move things along. He said that it caused heart problems in humans so it was taken off the market, although they never had an animal with a bad reaction. He said that if the wet food and Lactulose don't help there may not be anything else they can do. Harriet was so good at the vet's. When I was in the waiting room she even wanted to come out of her crate, and she clung to me for awhile. She's not much of a lap cat, and while I would normally love it if she climbed in my lap and lay on my chest, this time it was just sad. -- Liz Oh that is too bad :( I sure hope you figure out. Please keep us posted. Poor baby :( > Harriest is a very constipated/backed-up cat who lives in a bookstore. > She was brought to the vet on August 4th and kept until the 6th, [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > -- > Liz I wonder if you could order the propulsid from Canada and have it shipped down to you. >I wonder if you could order the propulsid from Canada and have it shipped >down to you. Is it still available in Canada? -- Liz > I asked about her diet, and told him what the other vet had sent > her home with. He agreed that all wet food would be better. He [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > a bad reaction. He said that if the wet food and Lactulose > don't help there may not be anything else they can do. I'm so sorry she's doing poorly again. Propulsid is the drug I emailed you about, Cisapride is the generic name. My cat was on that and the vet had told me it was taken off the market in the US for humans, but the heart problems were never shown with cats. He kept a supply of it for cats so it must be proven to help! I wonder since the vet told you this would have been past treatment if you ask if he can get some? They might make you wave any liability. I'd sure ask. It sure sounds like the constipation is causing the problems that are causing the constipation, if that makes sense. I'm so sorry. : (  SignatureCheryl "The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." - W.C. Fields > I'm so sorry she's doing poorly again. Propulsid is the drug I > emailed you about, Cisapride is the generic name. My cat was on [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > are causing the constipation, if that makes sense. I'm so sorry. : > ( That's what my vet said, too. He said they have never seen any problems with the drug in cats. Soon after we got back to work, Harriet went in the litter box. She passed some very liquid stool, which was expected since she had enemas. I'm sure it felt better than trying to push out the big, hard feces. Harriet seemed extra sweet when she got back. She was rubbing around my ankles in my office and butting heads with anyone who offered their forehead to her. She chased a wadded up piece of paper around for awhile and seemed very content. I just hope that she can stay clear with the diet + Lactulose. -- Liz > Soon after we got back to work, Harriet went in the litter box. > She passed some very liquid stool, which was expected since she > had enemas. I'm sure it felt better than trying to push out the > big, hard feces. I'm glad she is in good spirits tonight. I'm sure she feels so much better after the enemas. I saw your post about the canned food and that is a great plan. And even if she starts shunning the canned food you can try crushing up a few pieces of the dry into a powder and sprinkling it over the canned food to try to entice her to keep eating it. This subject is so serious to me after trying to help Marley, and not to scare you, but the enemas can start to become almost "addictive" if she can't seem to keep everything moving. It's a viscous circle. SignatureCheryl "The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." - W.C. Fields > I'm glad she is in good spirits tonight. I'm sure she feels so much > better after the enemas. I saw your post about the canned food and [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > almost "addictive" if she can't seem to keep everything moving. > It's a viscous circle. Even before the constipation showed up again this year, I was sprinkling a little freeze dried chicken on her wet food. Of course she would just lick/eat the very top layer that had the chicken and leave the rest. Today after she initially began eating her wet food (she didn't really have time to eat her breakfast this morning) and left it, I put a little of the chicken on it and she went back to the bowl. I crush it to a fine powder. She's addicted to the freeze dried chicken, but now I'm afraid to give it to her. -- Liz >> I'm so sorry she's doing poorly again. Propulsid is the drug I >> emailed you about, Cisapride is the generic name. My cat was on [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > -- > Liz I wonder if the hills wet w/d or i/d would help. It is very high fiber and is suppposed to help both with constipation or diarrhea. It sure has helped Pearl's diarrhea. I mean like within two days. The w/d comes in two flavors. The "with chicken" seems more appealing. More juice. > I wonder if the hills wet w/d or i/d would help. It is very high fiber and > is suppposed to help both with constipation or diarrhea. It sure has > helped > Pearl's diarrhea. I mean like within two days. The w/d comes in two > flavors. > The "with chicken" seems more appealing. More juice. Both vets that have seen Harriet this month (at the same practice) didn't recommend high fiber food. I think they said that it might cause her stools to become too big again. The Lactulose does have some kind of fiber in it. -- Liz I just read something about this in a recent issue of a cat magazine. Someone wrote in about her cat that was experiencing the same kind of problems. The vet recommended the low residue food, metamucil (unflavored, powered mixed in canned food), lactulose, laxatone, canned pumpkin mixed in food, possibly subcuteneous fluids -- not that he recommended all of these at once but that these are some of the treatments recommended for a severely constipated cat. Good luck. I hope your kitty is feeling better soon. Sue > Harriest is a very constipated/backed-up cat who lives in a bookstore. > She was brought to the vet on August 4th and kept until the 6th, [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > -- > Liz >I just read something about this in a recent issue of a cat magazine. >Someone wrote in about her cat that was experiencing the same kind of [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Sue The vet said that for Harriet, they recommend a low-fiber food (the Eukanuba low residue) plus a high fiber medication (the Lactulose). I remember the first vet we saw at the beginning of the month said that more fiber helps some cats but in others it makes the problem worse. I also have hairball stuff at work and I would give that to her occasionally. Giving that to her is worse than giving her the Lactulose. They did give her fluids in the hospital, and she drinks plenty of water on her own. She really does love her Drinkwell fountain. I was able to pick her up today, and we couldn't get out of there fast enough to suit her. While I was waiting for them to do the billing, she was right at the door of her case. I opened it and she came right out. I only held her for a minute and made her get back in. When we got back to work she immediately went to her food bowl. I had dumped all the dry food that was in it after I left her at the hospital this morning. I got her some of the Eukanuba wet food and she started eating. She went back to the bowl a couple of times over the next half hour or so and ended up eating most of what I gave her (1/3 can). I know she didn't eat much of her dry food this morning, since I threw most of it out, so she was hungry. I've talked to everyone at work who gets in early and explained the new "wet food only" rule. I posted instructions on the fridge and in my office, where the food is kept. I took away all of the dry food. I think that once Harriet realizes there is no more dry food, she'll start eating her wet food quickly. -- Liz My heart goes out to you, Liz. I've worked with constipated cats so I know how heartbreaking it is to see them suffer. My nerves were already shot by this point and I > didn't ask what the outcome would be if Harriet does have nerve damage > in her colon (or intestine...?). Sometimes colonic motility decreases due to smooth muscle deterioration caused by chronic overdistention. Has your vet run any blood tests? Hypokalemia and/or hypocalcemia can adversely affect colonic smooth muscle function. He said that in the past they would > treat animals with Propulsid (spelling?), a human medication that > helped the body move things along. He said that it caused heart > problems in humans so it was taken off the market, although they never > had an animal with a bad reaction. He said that if the wet food and > Lactulose don't help there may not be anything else they can do. Speak to your vet about ranitidine (Xantac) dosed at 1 to 3.5mg/kg every 12 to 24 hours. Ranitidine is in the H2 receptor antagonist drug class- and stimulates colonic motility through inhibition of synaptic acetylcholinestierase. Cimetidine (Tagamet) and famotidine (Pepcid) are in the same drug class but they don't have the same effect in cats, so you can't use either as a substitute for ranitidine (been there tried that- didn't work). I've had pretty good luck with a regimen of lactulose and ranitidine. Ranitidine doesn't work in all constipated cats- but it works in enough cats to justify trying it. Also, speak to your vet about pediatric rectal suppositories such as Colace or glycerine. Both are available in preloaded pediatric rectal syringes. Fleet also makes a *plain pediatric glycerin* preparation. Please be *very* careful not to confuse Fleet pediatric glycerin preparations with regular Fleet enemas. Please *DO NOT EVER* use sodium phosphate retention enemas such as Fleet enemas in cats- they can cause *fatal* electrolyte imbalances in cats. Similarly, *never* use mineral oil orally in cats because of the danger of fatal aspiration pneumonia due the lack of taste. Mineral oil should only be used *rectally* as lubricant laxative. If your vet recommends fiber, please make sure Harriet is *well* hydrated to avoid impaction of the fiber in the colon. If she's been constipated for more than a few days, the feces may be too dry and hard to eliminate. Sometimes, manual extraction (under anesthesia) is the only way to get the cat back on track. Once the dry, hardened feces are removed, you should be able to manage her with only dietary support and possibly ranitidine and lactulose. Get her blood checked. ;-) Best of luck, Phil > If she's been constipated for more than a few days, the feces > may be too dry and hard to eliminate. Sometimes, manual > extraction (under anesthesia) is the only way to get the cat > back on track. Once the dry, hardened feces are removed, you > should be able to manage her with only dietary support and > possibly ranitidine and lactulose. This is merely a theory since obviously I'm not qualified to make anything more than a guess. Since Liz keeps saying that the stools are very large, I wonder if there's a reason why she has so much waste? Not absorbing food during digestion and most of it turns to waste? Or is it more likely just because the bowels aren't moving as often as they should, ie, 2x instead of 1x per day, and it just builds up? I've read a few articles about digestion problems (diarrhea/constipation) in cats and one factor with constipation in some cases other than hard and dry, seems to be very very large. What are the things that lead to large stools (not just frequent stools, not just dry, hard stools) - eating too much? eating too much, too quickly? malabsorption? SignatureCheryl "The clever cat eats cheese and breathes down rat holes with baited breath." - W.C. Fields > This is merely a theory since obviously I'm not qualified to make > anything more than a guess. Since Liz keeps saying that the stools [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > stools, not just dry, hard stools) - eating too much? eating too > much, too quickly? malabsorption? The vet said that if the feces start accumulating and she can't pass it, and more feces come along they end up pushing forward and squashing together. That increases the diameter, making it that much harder to pass. If she can't go and more & more feces build up, the colon's (and feces) diameter will enlarge making it that much harder to pass. They recommended the low residue food, which is supposed to decrease the amount of feces she produces, since her body can use more of the food and makes less waste. Less feces produced should hopefully mean it won't start getting backed up and compacted. She never really seemed to have a problem going to the bathroom before all this started. She used the box on a regular basis. Since there are two cats & 4 boxes, it wasn't really possible to tell who did what. Her favorite box is outside my office, so I could often tell what she did if I caught her in the act. -- Liz > Sometimes colonic motility decreases due to smooth muscle deterioration > caused by chronic overdistention. The vet we saw today did mention this. > Has your vet run any blood tests? Hypokalemia and/or hypocalcemia can > adversely affect colonic smooth muscle function. They ran blood tests when she was brought in the first time, on the 4th. They said the results were all normal. She also had x-rays (they thought maybe at one time she might have broken/fractured something) and those were also normal. > Speak to your vet about ranitidine (Xantac) dosed at 1 to 3.5mg/kg every > 12 [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > in > enough cats to justify trying it. > Also, speak to your vet about pediatric rectal suppositories such as > Colace > or glycerine. Both are available in preloaded pediatric rectal syringes. > Fleet also makes a *plain pediatric glycerin* preparation. Please be > *very* careful not to confuse Fleet pediatric glycerin preparations with > regular Fleet enemas. > Please *DO NOT EVER* use sodium phosphate retention enemas such as Fleet > enemas in cats- they can cause *fatal* electrolyte imbalances in cats. > Similarly, *never* use mineral oil orally in cats because of the danger of > fatal aspiration pneumonia due the lack of taste. Mineral oil should only > be used *rectally* as lubricant laxative. I've never given her any type of medication without seeing a vet first. I will ask about the Xantac and baby suppositories. > If your vet recommends fiber, please make sure Harriet is *well* hydrated > to > avoid impaction of the fiber in the colon. They didn't recommend a high fiber food, because they said it might cause her stools to become too big and block her again. Harriet does drink a lot of water. We have a Drinkwell fountain at work, and she comes into my office several times a day and has a nice looooooong drink. > If she's been constipated for more than a few days, the feces may be too > dry [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > removed, you should be able to manage her with only dietary support and > possibly ranitidine and lactulose. When I brought her in this morning, the vet said that her entire colon was blocked but that it didn't feel too hard. He said that the diameter was probably making it hard for her to eliminate them, not that they were too hard. I do know that when she went outside the box they did seem firm to me. Today she said that they got everything out, and she did pass liquid stool after I brought her back to work. > Get her blood checked. ;-) > > Best of luck, > > Phil I'll try to find out what blood tests they did run two weeks ago. -- Liz > I've never given her any type of medication without seeing a vet first. I > will ask about the Xantac and baby suppositories. Have you tried (cow's) milk? "Too much" milk gives most cats diarrhea-- that's just the effect you want in a constipated cat. Is there a possibility your cat has IBD or colitus? I have a cat with both of those problems and she occasionally will either have very soft bowel movements or very firm ones bordering on constipation. > Harriest is a very constipated/backed-up cat who lives in a bookstore. > She was brought to the vet on August 4th and kept until the 6th, [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > -- > Liz > Two weeks later, she was still having problems. On Saturday she was > able to poop, but she did it on a rug and in her bed! Liz, try a different litterbox and litter and change the location of the box. Part of the problem might be *voluntary* fecal retention. She may be voluntarily holding it in and finally pooped in other places because she may be associating painful defecation with the litterbox. Constipation, regardless of cause, tends to be self-perpetuating because the large, dry, hard stools in the rectum are painful or difficult to evacuate- which can lead to continued voluntary fecal retention and eventually obstipation. The longer stools remain in the rectum the drier and harder they become and the more difficult they are to evacuate when she finally tries. Phil > Liz, try a different litterbox and litter and change the location of the > box. Part of the problem might be *voluntary* fecal retention. She may [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Phil The two cats have 4 boxes. They all have clay clumping litter in them. Up until recently, their least favorite box had some awful litter my boss bought. I recently dumpd that, cleaned the box and put in a different awful litter (clumps fall apart very easily) and they actually seem to like it. They've used that box a lot since I switched it. I have two big bags of WBCL at work that I bought for my cats, but I think I'll open one and set up one of their boxes with it. Two of the boxes change location as things gets busy/crowded but Harriet's favorite box has always been outside my office door. Even when there was a different box in the same location she preferred that over the others. Before the first trip to the vet, she would sometimes get in the box and try to go. When she couldn't, she would get out and go on the rug and leave one turd. Then she would go back to her favorite box and finish up there. Since she really likes that box in that location, should I just leave it and move the others around? I even took one of the boxes upstairs into the actual store, but she doesn't like going there. I know she knows it's there, because I saw her checking it out. -- Liz |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.