help with megacolon

[Clary]

Hello!  I've an 11-year old long-haired feline who has megacolon.  We move around quite a bit, and I have had to shuffle him between vets, and am about to shuffle him again.   Four years ago, just a few months before we were about to move overseas, he developed a constipation problem.  His American vet gave him an enema and put him on stool softeners to be used only occasionally.  Once we moved overseas, he had several enemas before his vet put him on liquid paraffin every day.  I used to take him for a check every two weeks too make sure that the paraffin was working, and for the most part, it did, like a charm; only very occasionally, the vet would determine that he also needed a micro-lax (which I gather is like a glycerin suppository), and that would sort out any problems--this regime worked for several years.  Still, periodically my vet would mention the prospect of a colonectomy--apparently, from x-rays, he did not absolutely have megacolon at the time, but it was arguable that the colon was at least a bit stretched. This vet had performed many colon-ectomies and assured me that there were few side effects and that it would instantly solve the problem.  I debated this possibility for a long time, and then eventually I needed to move back to the states. Unfortunately, when I moved back, I had to leave my cat for six weeks with my mother.  She says she gave him his paraffin every day (I am sure she did), but when I got home there was an obvious and critical problem.  I immediately called a family vet (literally, a family member who is actually a very well-respected vet).  This vet argued that a colon-ectomy could have serious side-effects, and that I should try to regulate the problem by other means if I could.  This made sense, since I rarely got a negative report during my cat's fortnightly checks overseas; I probably could get the problem under control.  Anyway, I brought my cat in to this vet's hospital, where an x-ray was performed. This time, the diagnosis was definately megacolon. They gave my cat an enema, and tried him on lactulose, since paraffin is not commonly prescribed in this country. This was about six months ago.  Since that time, I have had to switch back to paraffin (I order it from overseas), because the lactulose did not seem to work at all.  I have to say that he seems worse.  He struggles obviously and often in the litterbox, and at first, I thought it was just a stumbling block, getting used to a new place and regime.  My current vet told me that I could give my cat liquid glycerin suppositories to sort out any immediate problems, which I have to do about once a week or ten days.  I take him in for a check every few weeks or so, but lately (I suspect because the weather has been hot) I have been noticing that he dehydrates rapidly, and the problem arises more frequently--he barely ever goes to the litterbox without a liquid glycerin suppository.  I know his urinating is normal, because I am frequently monitoring his trips to the litterbox.  The last two times I have taken him in for checks, they have given him sub-cutaneous fluids and an enema.  They also suggested that I give him pedia-lyte, which I have been doing, though I confess only occasionally, when his flesh 'feels' a bit dehydrated.  My vet seems to think that it is probably the hot weather, but I wonder.  Tonight, for example, he strained four or five times in the box, so I gave him a liquid glycerin suppository.  He feels a bit dehydrated again. He produced a bit of stool, but then resorted to squatting several times outside the box, in several different places, leaking out drops of liquid feces, and he was also vomiting foam.  He did this last time (about a week ago) as well.  OK, so it has usually been an effect of the liquid glycerin suppository that he vomits afterward--it is not always foam, and the vet said that this was normal.  Tonight, his feces has had a strong odor that he does not normally have--normally (at least for the past six months) his feces has had almost no odor.  I would dearly love to order a full blood work-up, but at the moment I don't feel like I can ask for something that my vet does not suggest.  In a few weeks, however, I will be moving a few hours away for a new job that will last a year.  I will continue to see my current vet periodically (I am likely to be a nomad for at least a few more years, and this vet is fairly close to my parents' home), but I will also find one who is close to where we will be living at my new job.  In a sense, I will be glad to have some fresh tests/diagnosis, but it is also difficult to keep moving between vets. Before I make the switch to another vet, I'd love to have an outside opinion of the matter. I know I will be directed a certain way--but is there something I should suggest--any tests, for example? I worry so much about this problem--I keep thinking that something dreadful is going to happen in-between visits to the vet, perhaps even overnight or something, if I am not astute in my observations.  I also wonder if there is something else wrong with him, maybe contributing to the constipation or else happening as a result of it--I really think that I notice changes in his symptoms, but it is hard to present that case--for example, who cares if his feces has a stronger odor all of a sudden?  Maybe it was something he ate!  I realize that I cannot insist upon having him seen and checked every few days, but the 'system' we have going at the moment just does not seem to be working like when we were overseas--everything just seemed so much more consistent then, and I wonder if that last bout of extreme constipation (when he was with my mother) actually changed the problem or created a new one.  There is just something not quite right. Oh, and I should mention that every vet my cat has seen has tried to teach me to 'feel' for constipation--I am hopeless at this.  Further, I should say that the summer here is much hotter than any my cat has experienced over the past four years, when we were overseas. Thanks in advance for any opinions you may have to offer.

[TinksMom213]

Does anyone else hear have a problem of the cat vomitting up her bowels ?
Tinks does that and it stopped for 3 weeks then it happened 3 days ago, all over the place because the colon is so enlarged, says the Vet...at first my Husband tried to tell me she was doing it from her rear, until he witnessed it & could not believe it....On all your postings I never read what Tinks Vomit is like, am I alone on this issue ???

[TinksMom213]

yes we have been using that sticky Lactulose in syringe form for months now, yesterday The Vet ordered the Cisipride, it should arrive today by UPS, also I added 1/4 tsp of Miralax into her food, heard all strange noise's last night while trying to rub her gently, This Morning was very Successful, still no where in sight for her to get 100% better, The Vet said go ahead and do the Miralax, wow that worked ! fingers crossed for today ! I use it once a day with the Lactulose...this is so sad :(  Prayers to Everyone ...

[opus88]

sorry to hear abt Tink...as with any condition it can be worked with as long as you keep reading and learning all you can abt this condition. Pumpkin is a good source of fiber, however cats with megacolon fiber isn't a good idea as I've recently read, high fiber takes out the moisture in the colon and dries up the stool..making passage even slower and more difficult. as stated in some earlier posts you need to be using lactulose or miralax (not both)...has your Vet advised you on one of these products? they will help soften the stool and promote bowel movements.
My one kitty doesn't have mega colon but he does have a con-stricture in his bowel and I use lactulose regularly for him. 2mls with 4mls of water via a syringe or dropper,1-2x per day...as required. this is avail thru any pharmacy..

[TinksMom213]

Hello,
I am CJ  Tinks MOM I am gonna try the Pumpkin today, Tinks is a 9 yr old Siamese (female) going through this mega colon too, its breaking our hearts :(

[sreme]

Megacolon:Adult cat.  Miralax 1/4 tsp add to food about a tablesppon of food. Adjust to less if neccessary nno more than that. Must be daily or stool will become hard again.

Do not use lactulose when using miralax. Only use one.
Cistipride for motility.

Diet:  Use grain-free foods. High quality premium foods such as Merrick, Wellness, EVO, Halo etc.

Provide Fresh water throughout day can add some ice chios to encourage cat to drink.

Make sure you are treating Megacolon. If your cat has other issues  make sure you are treating the proper diagnosis. Consult your Vet or seek a holistic vet.

Most vets do are not taught nutrition and pet foods are not regulated other than the pet food companies. Commercial foods are not good. as you think

Read this article in it's entirety. http://www.squidoo.com/safe-healthy-natural-cat-food

[lastietia]

A cat I saved has mega colon we give him metoclopramide and lactulose through our vet it works lasts a year than have to  go back to renew it ,anyway also can try real unsweeted pumpin  to help soften stool just mix it in their food my cats love it .if you have any questions let me know via my email address it is ***@**** and all the best you sound like a wonderful parent for you cat. mrs Wynne