Poopin’ Issues And Colon Support - Recommendations??

[McKenn]

MegaColon diagnosis 4 years ago. Prescribed Lactulose 2 x daily but was able to back him off by getting him on to a good wet food diet and only give Lactulose as needed for the last year, year and a half.

Last weekend we ended up at the vet for an enema due to constipation. Enema was on Monday last week and it totally cleared him out. He had one bowel movement after that on Wednesday and hasn’t gone since.

Back on Lactulose 2 x daily since the enema. He is eating and urinsting regularlynsnd frequently.

Went back to the vet today for an exam and x-ray since he hasn’t pooped since Wednesday. Doc could not feel any blockage or consripation but x-ray shows he’s got a full colon - full but not impacted, blocked or constipated. She said it is most likely very soft and that’s why she couldn’t feel it when she was palpating his belly.

She said she’s not concerned that he’s constipsted and expects he’ll go on his own in the next day or so. If he doesn’t go by Friday we are headed back to the vet.

Doc explained that things move slower in cats with MegaColon and because the nerves aren’t sending his colon signals to go so it’s just hanging out in there - but because she suspects it’s not solid and very soft she’s not worried about it becoming too hard to pass on his own. She thinks that as he eats more it will move what is already in there and will pass on its own.

I asked about medicine to force his colon to move more frequently and she doesn’t think we are ready for that just yet since he was going regularly and consistently on his own until last week. I am ok with this right now because he is 16 and we’ve already decided that surgery won’t be an option for him/us, so medicine beyond Lactulose for colon motility is sort of the last step, and if we can avoid it by managing in different ways it’s preferred.

Does anyone have recommendations for supplements I can add to his diet that will support as much colon motility as possible?

My goal is to make his colon move and keep things slippery and easy to move. Any suggestions?

Anything that adds fiber or bulk is not great for us since he’s already moving things out so slowly - don’t want to help things become too big for his slow colon to move.

 

[molly92]

I would think that the vet would be recommending cisapride-it's a medication that stimulates the intestinal muscles. My cat isn't to the point of megacolon yet, but when she did have a several week stretch of constipation and enemas she was eventually on cisapride for 2 weeks and that really helped get everything moving again. Fortunately she didn't need it long term, just a jump start.

I don't know if probiotics could help with motility, but they're worth a try and they won't hurt. My cat does really well with Lactobacillus acidophilus added to every meal. She's not megacolon, but is constipation-prone, and that makes a huge difference. She doesn't need any kind of stool softeners when she gets probiotics.

Slippery elm comes to mind. It would lubricate things, but it does have fiber in it, so if you decide to try it I would do a very low dose.

 

[daftcat75]

Pumpkin puree helps with both constipation and diarrhea. That's an easy one to try.

You can also try this. I haven't used this one but their other holistic supplements is how I control my Krista's IBD.
Easy Go New | for cats with Firm Stools | Vitality Science

These people have great customer support so you can contact them and find out what they recommend.

 

[McKenn]

I did ask specifically about Cisapride and doc said it’s an option eventually but we’re not there yet. She was confident that because we have been able to manage him with good food and Lactulose that we should still be able to make that happen.

He was constipsted and the enema cleared him out and what’s inside now is not solid so there’s a chance his colon isn’t recognizing to push it out because it’s not firm.

I am going to pick up the probiotic you mention as well as goats milk that we previously used that he really did well with.

I also just ordered Smooth BM from Pet Wellbeing; it’s an herbal supplement for colon function and regular movements.

Here’s hoping!!

 

[McKenn]

Pumpkin adds bulk for him and hasn’t worked well in the past.

I’m going to check out the Easy Go that you recommend, thank you!!

 

[PushPurrCatPaws]

MegaColon diagnosis 4 years ago. Prescribed Lactulose 2 x daily but was able to back him off by getting him on to a good wet food diet and only give Lactulose as needed for the last year, year and a half.

Last weekend we ended up at the vet for an enema due to constipation. Enema was on Monday last week and it totally cleared him out. He had one bowel movement after that on Wednesday and hasn’t gone since.

Back on Lactulose 2 x daily since the enema. He is eating and urinsting regularlynsnd frequently.

Went back to the vet today for an exam and x-ray since he hasn’t pooped since Wednesday. Doc could not feel any blockage or consripation but x-ray shows he’s got a full colon - full but not impacted, blocked or constipated. She said it is most likely very soft and that’s why she couldn’t feel it when she was palpating his belly.

She said she’s not concerned that he’s constipsted and expects he’ll go on his own in the next day or so. If he doesn’t go by Friday we are headed back to the vet.

Doc explained that things move slower in cats with MegaColon and because the nerves aren’t sending his colon signals to go so it’s just hanging out in there - but because she suspects it’s not solid and very soft she’s not worried about it becoming too hard to pass on his own. She thinks that as he eats more it will move what is already in there and will pass on its own.

I asked about medicine to force his colon to move more frequently and she doesn’t think we are ready for that just yet since he was going regularly and consistently on his own until last week. I am ok with this right now because he is 16 and we’ve already decided that surgery won’t be an option for him/us, so medicine beyond Lactulose for colon motility is sort of the last step, and if we can avoid it by managing in different ways it’s preferred.

Does anyone have recommendations for supplements I can add to his diet that will support as much colon motility as possible?

My goal is to make his colon move and keep things slippery and easy to move. Any suggestions?

Anything that adds fiber or bulk is not great for us since he’s already moving things out so slowly - don’t want to help things become too big for his slow colon to move.

Has the vet suggested that he stay on twice daily lactulose since the enema, even though she is saying that the stool inside of him is likely very soft & not solid??

It is my understanding from a vet I used for my previous cat that Lactulose is a man-made sugar that cats cannot digest well. It essentially is supposed to boost the moisture level in poo and hopefully aid the (constipated) cat in pooping better or more regularly.

If he's still on it twice daily, and it is boosting the moisture level of his internal stool and he's unable to pass the stool due to your vet thinking the poo is too soft, would it make sense to ask the vet if decreasing the daily Lactulose dose for a bit would help find a "goldilocks version" of slightly harder poo forming inside of him? So that it might be easier for him to poop it out? Lactulose is a dose-to-effect drug, I think.

Cisapride is a powerful colon motility drug, and I appreciate that your vet wants to make it a last resort drug. My last vet felt the same way. Sometimes once on it, a cat has trouble getting off of it. Almost as if the cat's body gets too used to the drug-induced colon motility so that when off of the drug, the colon gets "lazy" in a way, and doesn't push poop out on its own (without the drug).

I don't think Cisapride (per my last vet) should be given to a cat with diarrhea (or soft poo?), so the goal is to first try to find what makes your kitty have regular, 'normal' poos.

 

[McKenn]

Last week when he received the enema Doc said to have him on Lactulose 2 x daily so things didn't get stopped up again and have time to become dehydrated and hard.

Since his poop is now so soft I asked Doc if we should back off the Lactulose to give things a chance to firm up and move out what's sitting in there and she said she was wary of an impaction happening because the harder stool couldn't get beyond the soft stuff waiting to move out.

She truly thinks it's an issue of the nerves not signaling the colon to move stuff out and because the Lactulose is making it so soft he's not getting that "full" sensation.

I am going to try the Goldilocks method and see what I can make happen.

Just in case I have a pre-measured enema specific for cats at home that I am prepared to administer (have done it before, got it from the vet) and I picked up Goats Milk to add to his food (super digestible protein, helps retain calories and hydrates), plus an herbal supplement specifically formulate for colon movements in cats - doesn't create soft stools or diarrhea but works to keep the colon moving.

Cisapride is our last resort because of his age. If we are there, fine, but I don't think we're there yet, and like you said, once he's on it he may be on it for life and at his age that's not terribly long.

HE POOPED!

Soft, not really formed, but it's coming out! We're getting there!

 

[PushPurrCatPaws]

Time for the poop smiley!

 

[McKenn]

It wasn’t much but it was poop!

Normal length, sort of formed, very soft but not diarrhea. Dare I say, it was cute!

Last night at dinner I gave him his regular dose of Lactulose and this morning at breakfast he didn’t get any but he did get 1/3 cup Primal beans Goats Milk mixed in and gobbled it up. It’s suoer digestible and easy on the belly so I’m hoping it allows enough to form to move out without being too hard to pass. A few years back a vet recommended Goats Milk because the Lactulose was working so well that Gizmo was passing stool before his body could get all the nutrients and calories he needed and he was losing weight. I fell off the Goats Milk train out of laziness but we are back on it.

Thank you to everyone who is letting me talk out these poop escapades. Gizmo and I appreciate the feedback and support. I’m hoping my boys belly is on the mend.

 

[chunkykitty]

My beloved Mr. Baby Cat had megacolon for the last 10 of his 17 years.

I made many trips to the E/R when he got blocked up and tried many types of food, lactulose, digestive treats, etc. This is what worked for him:

• Wet diet
• Keep him in motion (lots of play and moving).
• 1/8 tsp Miralax powder on his food morning and night.
• Cisapride

Eliminating any of these would cause a problem. All of them worked well. I once ran out of Cisapride for almost 2 weeks -- I was getting it mail order and there was a problem with the refill but he was still okay. I thought of d/c the Cisapride but I didn't want to mess with what was working.

If we flew (which can cause dehydration and we took him along) I would give him a little anti-hairball paste (which has a laxative effect) upon arrival.

 

[McKenn]

Yeah, as I mentioned, we aren’t at Cisapride yet.

He’s on a wet food diet only with Lactulose. We tried Miralax before Lactulose and it didn’t work well for him.

He also gets Goats Milk and an herbal blend for colon health and movement (just started these in his diet).

 

[McKenn]

I broke down and called to ask the vet for Cisapride, I am waiting for a call back.

Post enema he had one bowel movement in 5 days. We went back to the vet who said it was all super soft and should come out in the next few days on his own. Later that evening he had a very small movement but it was poop so I call it a win.

It is now 48 hours post small movement and nothing else has come out. I am willing to accept that because of MegaColon things move slower but I know he has a full belly because of how much he is eating. It’s making me nervous that he’s not even trying to go.

I have backed off a bit from the Lactulose so things could be a bit firmer and hopefully signal the need to go but I don’t see any changes and my concern is that as all of it sits inside of him it’s dehydrating and will be too hard to pass when he does get the urge.

I’m waiting on a call back and they close at 5pm, if they don’t think I won’t drive over to talk to someone in person they are mistaken.

 

[PushPurrCatPaws]

It takes so much vigilance on our part, doesn't it!

Thinking of you...

 

[McKenn]

No one called me back so I came in and am waiting in the lobby now to speak with a vet.

Vet tech said vet recommends another enema and that there really aren’t medicines for colon motility, and just recommends continuing Lactulose.

I asked what about after the enema and vet tech shrugged her shoulders, I said that I hated to be pushy but that I had read about lots of medicines and wanted to talk to the vet further, because I don’t believe my otherwise healthy cat is ready to be put down which is the only other option since surgery isn’t on the table due to his age.

The enemas are always effective, it’s the in between that I’m worried about. I can’t bring him in or administer enemas every other day so he’s having a bowel movement on a regular basis.

I’m waiting for the vet now and going to show them Google results if I have to, which I hate doing to medical professionals.

 

[artiemom]

I am going to jump in here... sorry if I sound blunt...

My guy, did not have the exact definition of MegaColon; however he did have a motility issue, which is treated the same as MegaColon.

We began with a regular Vet, then went to an Internal Specialist-- who was not helpful.. just kept giving enemas, and lactulose... finally, one of the wonderful members here, helped me see her Internal Vet, at a highly regarded Vet Hospital--one of the top ones around the country..

Artie was initially on Miralax, then Lactulose, then we added Cisapride.. the doses changed daily, due to his bowels...

I learned what was too soft for the neurological relay to cause the colon muscles to contract..

We could easily get it soft, But it became too soft without any substance for the little contractibility he had..

I had to learn what was too soft.. sounds like your kitty is in that category.. I ended up giving Artie some Dry Royal Canin Fiber Response food.. Only at night.. kept with the miralax, bagged the lactulose ~~for a long time, and kept with the Cisapride.. and feeding wet food with water added.. that water was easy to add, as I mixed the miralax with it..

Each drug works differently in the colon..

Ok-- hate to say this, but I would strongly suggest you see an Internal Medicine Vet..
Even at your kitty's age, they can prescribe treatment, which seems to be better than what you are currently getting..

Here is my very long thread, and our journey.. I hope it helps...
Artie and his Issues

((hugs))

 

[McKenn]

THANK YOU!

Yes, his stool is too soft for the weekend contractibility of his colon and I now believe we need Cisapride - along with the wet food and water and goats milk, etc. etc. etc.

Right now my budget only allows for me to bring him to his regular vet. If we can get him stable now I will be moving to an Internal Medicine Vet soon, next month or two when finances are different (I start a new job next month!).

 

[artiemom]

I am wishing you well.. I really am...

I learned that you need a bit of hardness, ie fiber in the stool, in order for it to come out...

The RC Fiber Response food has been a lifesaver for many kitties. It is a prescription and can be picked up at the Vet. RC usually takes back anything unused and refunds... so.. it is something to think about.

I started out by leaving some down at night.. I also free fed my guy...

There is also a Megacolon Kitties Facebook page. It is private, but very helpful.. check it out...You have to ask to join...

Good luck... we are here for you.. never feel alone...

 

[McKenn]

He only became too soft post enema and I believe it’s due to the Lactulose, which we previously weren’t using (was giving as needed instead of twice daily like we are now).

I am hopeful if we back off the Lactulose we can get some firmness back into it AND use the Cisapride to support colon motility.

Still waiting on the vet.......

 

[PushPurrCatPaws]

How is Gizmo doing, McKenn ?