Constipated cat.

Dr. Marie replied:

Hi,

Constipation in cats can be a very difficult problem. It is unlikely that this was caused by the glucosamine that you were giving. Quite often we don't find out the cause of constipation. However, sometimes in older cats it can be a sign of a more serious underlying problem such as a kidney problem. When the kidneys are not working at full capacity, it can cause a cat to get dehydrated and this can cause the body to extract fluid from the bowels which can result in constipation.

You are doing a lot of the right things, but if this were my case I would be advising you to bring Paws to see me right away. If lactulose, extra water and metamucil are not helping then he likely needs medical attention. For cases like this I often need to keep the cat in the hospital on intravenous fluids for a day or two to help with hydration and I would also give multiple enemas. These enemas are not something I would recommend trying at home because there is the potential to do harm if you are not sure of what you are doing.

I would probably also be testing his kidney enzymes to make sure there isn't a problem there.

If there is any way at all that you can get him to a vet I would recommend it. The longer he goes without defecating the harder this will be to fix.

In the meantime, you can possibly increase the amount of lactulose he is getting. However, I cannot legally give dosages over the internet.

My other concern is that sometimes when people think there is a stool problem there is actually a urine problem. If it is at all possible that the straining is him trying to urinate then this is a medical emergency as he could have a urinary tract blockage.

I'm so sorry. I wish I could give you more advice but this does not sound like something I would want to treat away from the hospital. I do hope things improve soon.

Dr. Marie.


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Dr. Marie replied:

You're very welcome Ryan...just wish I could offer more to you. I hate to see a cat who is constipated.

I'm glad to hear that there was a stool today.

If Paws is not currently diabetic, then lactulose won't cause him to become diabetic. However, I do have some concern that diabetes could be present because even if you are giving him extra water, you shouldn't be able to see a noticeable difference in the amount of urine he is producing. With that being said, lactulose is unlikely to cause significant problems even if diabetes is present. Lactulose for humans is the same product that cats can use, yes.

I really really would not recommend giving him an enema at home. If a cat is constipated they can have a fragile colon and if he is dehydrated and has very hard stool an enema could potentially cause the colon to rupture which would be horrible.

We are really limited in what we can give cats for arthritis. The only over the counter product that I like is Cosequin which is a form of glucosamine. I like Metacam for cats but this is a prescription medication.

In thinking more, I do think that when you are able to see a vet you should have Paws tested for diabetes. Cats with diabetes can get a weakness in their hind limbs. It may be that what you are thinking is arthritis is actually due to diabetes. Hopefully not though.

Dr. Marie replied:

Glad to hear that Paws is feeling better. I think the best thing you can do is have the vet do a good exam and if possible a blood profile as well.

Hope all goes well.

Dr. Marie

Dr. Marie replied:

Hi there. Ideally it's best to ask a new question for this as it has been some time since your original question, but for this time I will answer your question here.

Metacam is a great medication. I have written an article here on my thoughts on Metacam.

A weight loss of 3 lbs is significant though. It is very, very unlikely that this is because of worms. When an older cat loses weight there is usually a health issue. It really sounds like Paws needs to have some blood tests done. I understand that this is difficult for you as you live in a remote area but there really isn't much that I can recommend at this point without knowing why he is losing weight.

Here is an article I wrote on some reasons why an older cat would lose weight.

Hopefully he is able to get some blood tests done at some point.

Dr. Marie.