Chronic Feline Megacolon Question

If any of you out there also struggle with this, please chime in!

So my 14-year-old boy has been stable on his dry food with a particular dose of Miralax daily for many years now -- since whenever I was lucky enough to read about Miralax on this message board -- and even after I slowly introduced wet food to his diet (he still snacked on the dry food during the day). However, he broke a molar recently, and I decided I didn't want to risk another surgery with general anesthesia at his advanced age, so the dry food he used to eat, which was really huge hard pieces of kibble on which he broke it, is history. I have since tried a few other varieties, including kitten chow (small enough that he could just swallow it whole, without chewing at all), but he hasn't been able to tolerate any of them and ends up vomiting it back up....



Thus, we transitioned to entirely wet, even though he could really use the "snack" calories between feedings.



I've been on the fence about the Miralax, as his stools were getting progressively looser, so I cut the dose in half. Yesterday I didn't use any at all, and last night his stools were so loose as to be liquid. I had to isolate him just to keep them from dripping all over everything. We've experienced this before with an impaction (the obstruction irritates the colon, and diarrhea passes around the bolus), but in the end-- no pun intended -- he always eventually passed the bolus and all was well. He's gradually getting better, but I haven't found the dislodged stool anywhere. Could it just be that he just OD'd on the Miralax he was still getting when, on an entirely canned food diet, he doesn't need any at all?



I need to know how to proceed going forward!



Also, if anyone has any suggestions for a lighter, crisper, smaller, easy to chew -- and digest -- dry food for snacking between meals, I'm all ears.

Given his history, I think you should take him to the vet and have him checked for impaction. Just because he dislodged a previous stool on his own before doesn't mean he is going to this time. Even if you seem to think he is getting better, he still might be partially blocked.

Is he still eating? If so, that is a good sign. But, he still needs to be seen by a vet, just to be on the safe side.

Worry about this first, and once this matter is taken care then you can focus on potential new foods for him.

I'd have him checked as well, and while you are there, have them take a look at that tooth and make sure there isn't an exposed nerve! That could cause all sorts of problems in and of itself.

He's fine now -- as he always is after an episode like this (not our first rodeo) -- probably dropped it in a corner somewhere before I quarantined him. If I think he's not fine, of course I'll take him to the vet's office. As for the tooth, that was weeks ago and, again, he's been fine ever since (entire thing, root and all, extracted). Now about the Miralax...

Ah...I thought that the tooth breaking was more recent for some reason. As for the Miralax, let's see if artiemom has a minute to peek in here...I know she's quite busy, but she has some past experience with these things, as does @LTS3...either of you have time to peek at this?

Hi!
My guy had Megacolon as well as IBD.
I do not know if I can help, just going by my own experiences.

Miralax should be given to effect. Then you can cut back on it.

You start with a dose of 1/8 tsp per day, mixed with water, added to wet food.

If that does not help, after a couple of days, then increase the dose to either 1/8 tsp twice a day or just one dose of 1/4 tsp.

You need to mix it with some water and add it to the wet, food.

If you see soft stool, or diarrhea; then cut back.

On a cat with ongoing constipation issues, I would give a daily dose.

For dry food you can try Royal Canin Fiber Response food, mixed with some of his regular food.

This is a Prescription food, which works wonders for constipated cats.
You can order it from Chewy.com; however a prescription from your Vet is needed. It is cheaper from Chewy.

All I can say, is that it is: trial and error.

Get a calendar and log amounts of Miralax and results.
Doing this I found that my guys transit time (time from ingestion to poop) was about 2.5 days.

I think I would start with the constant Miralax dose first. Initially, You can use the RC Fiber Response as a treat; increasing as needed.. but I think the stable Miralax will help.

You just need to find the correct dose for you baby..

Good Luck..
It is so frustrating.. ((hugs))

Thanks, artiemom ! All I know about this, I learned from you and @LTS3!