A kitten with megacolon

[chrispen777]

I have a kitten that is 4 1/2 months old.  It has been diagnosed with megacolon.  I have raised this kitten since it was 3 days old.  Since the beginning it has had trouble with constipation and not being able to defacate.  It has been to the vet several times for enemas and has had to be sedated to have its colon evacuated manually.  We've tired treatment with lactulose, metaclopromide, and hair ball meds.  Nothing seems to work.  The vet suggested seeing a specialist about surgery to remove the colon.  The surgeon she recommended said the surgery could be as much as 3,000 dollars.  I really love this kitten.  It is so sweet and loving.  We are financially strapped.  Is this the normal cost for this surgery. I'm confused and heart broken!

[MMcKey]

My male DSH cat, Nicko, was diagnosed with megacolon in 2007. He was prescribed Lactulose with only mild improvement. After a couple of years, the sugars in the Lactulose caused the "bad" bacteria in his intestines to flourish and take over. Nicko began the licking the hair off his belly, hind legs and forearms to try to ease the discomfort he felt in his skin. After three more clueless vets, we found one that understood this side effect of the Lactulose and he periodically treated Nicko with probiotics, but it would always come back. Fed up and certain there was a better and more natural way to give Nicko his life and dignity back, I experimented with many of the ideas I found on-line and have found the perfect solution for Nicko that completely has the megacolon and intestinal health managed.

First, I feed him a wet food with a good level of moisture in it – .75oz per meal. Right now, it's Blue Wilderness Salmon. To the wet food, breakfast and dinner, I add a heaping teaspoon of Fruitables pumpkin & Oatmeal SuperBlend and about a teaspoon of Barlean's Pet Essentials Flax Oil for Animals. In addition, I add 1/4 teaspoon of Nature's Way Primadophilus Children once a day. (I also feed him 1/3c. of high-quality grain-free kibble per day.)

Nick hasn't had an "accident" since I began this regimen. His stools are now normal sized for a cat (no longer Great Dane sized), they are a perfect consistency, and the frequency is normal. His fur has completely grown back on his belly and legs. He has even lost a pound or two, which is a very good thing. His stool is still on the stinkier side, but nothing like before. He has his confidence and dignity back.

If you're like me, and you'll go to the ends of the earth to give your pets a healthy happy life, this little bit of extra effort at feedings is worth it. The cost of these products is FAR less than what we used to spend on Vet visits. Because the Fruitables cans are large and would go bad in the fridge before it gets used, I spoon it into ice cube trays at the right serving size and freeze it into little cubes. Then I just defrost them for a few seconds in the microwave for each meal.

I hope this helps others find a purely natural solution to helping their pet.

[PrettyKitty1]

Yes, dear, this is the normal cost for surgery. I'm sorry about your cat with Megacolon. Mine also has colon issues which can lead to cancer. He has Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and just the endoscopy, which isn't surgery, is about $1,500 over here in the Sunshine State.  So, $3000 sounds fair.

However, you could try and search for options. There is always someone willing to help you pay little by little.  You could, in addition, use a credit card since those have payment plans, or you could ask the specialist if they have payment options. If they don't, can they help you out? Just explain your situation, and don't give up until you find someone willing to help you. $3000 is a lot of money, so if you're going to spend it, make sure the person is knowledgeable and extremely qualified to perform this type of surgery. Do you happen to know what surgery technique will be performed?

Colonic surgery is very rare, and it is done only after the vet has used all possible resources (biopsy included), which in your case it does sound like everything has been done. Just know that the possibility of catastrophic operative and postoperative complications (leak and fecal peritonitis) is still there, so you might want to ask what will be done, possible complications and if it is worth it.

Expect weight loss and frequent trips to the litter box (up to 7 times a day). Take care of your kitten, and again, so sorry for this....