Question on Miralax timing and ranatadine. Megacolon

nettiemaria

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Hi. I'm new. First I want to thank you for taking the time to read my post. Jack is 12 years old. He's recently been diagnosed with megacolon. I have a question about timing the Miralax administration. Things were going great for 4 weeks since off the lactulose but came back with a vengeance last week.

Thank God I had pain meds and mineral oil and small syringes for mini enemas.

I was giving at mealtime but now thinking maybe that's not a good time. Any thoughts on this?

I've heard ranatadine helps with motility issues.....Thoughts?

Lastly does anyone use an oil additive in food? My vet advised bacon grease but I'm worried about long term use. Cocunut oil is a no go.

Does anyone have a cat that was diagnosed with an infection causing Megacolon? Just wondering as he has a "zit" on anus.

Thanks so much for your time.

Jeanette and Jack
 

artiemom

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I wonder about your Vet, if he is advocating bacon grease.. that is a new one on me...strange recommendation...

My guy has not been diagnosed with megacolon, but he does have issues with constipation.

I have been giving him Miralax (1/4 tsp) mixed with water and added to his food, twice a day..

He has also been prescribed Cisapride for the constipation. I would ask about that.. 

Curious about your mention of the "zit" on his anus... picture please?  and has you Vet examined this...

There are many threads on megacolon and constipation.. 

Hopefully someone who is well versed in this can advise you better...
 
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nettiemaria

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Thank you. I'll see if I can find it. Vet is old school.
 

artiemom

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The cisapride is a prescription... I would suggest taking him to another Vet, or to a specialist...I would really prefer specialist..if you are able to...
 
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nettiemaria

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Hi. Thank you. He has been to the vet....many times.
 

thekitty

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I don't know if my former cat had megacolon, but she definitely had chronic constipation. We used the powdered miralax for years with her. It was the only thing that worked. We'd just sprinkle maybe half a tsp in some wet food. She was a small cat, but it was maybe 1/4-1/2 tsp. We didn't try ranatadine. 
 

darkhorse321

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As cats age, they do get more constipated. I find it odd that the term 'megacolon' is used here instead of constipated?? My boy was diagnosed with megacolon at age 2 and he will be 17 this December. Megacolon is a result of chronic constipation and it enlarges to colon/stretching it so that it holds more stool and thus, the muscles thin and become less effective in propelling the stool out of the bowel.

Ciscipride is a propulsate which helps the contractions of those muscles. Mirilax/restoralax is PEG--polyethyl glycol. This works by bringing lots of water into the bowel to flush the stool out----humans used it for clearing out before colonoscopies. 

Now, having used Mirilax, I found that caused far more bloating and gas. Can you find Restoralax? I found this MUCH easier on my kitties tummy! Add to that, massages. I ...without getting too specific, was taught how to break up the stool still in Bandit's GI system to make it easier to pass. Remember, the bowel muscle is defective in these cats (neurologically) therefore the stool can be unbroken and very long, making it very difficult to pass. Also, if it gets too large (oh, the stories I could tell....), it can't move either.

Bandit used to use 1/4 tsp daily in food with his restoralax. This worked wonders for him. Also, make sure you are not giving him food that can constipate---lots of wet foods are a better choice than hard food as that bungs up the system faster.

Lastly, try Royal Canin GI hard food---this was a life saver for my kitties (my female has developed constipation due to age). 

Best of luck!!
 

spazzie933

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As cats age, they do get more constipated. I find it odd that the term 'megacolon' is used here instead of constipated?? My boy was diagnosed with megacolon at age 2 and he will be 17 this December. Megacolon is a result of chronic constipation and it enlarges to colon/stretching it so that it holds more stool and thus, the muscles thin and become less effective in propelling the stool out of the bowel.

Ciscipride is a propulsate which helps the contractions of those muscles. Mirilax/restoralax is PEG--polyethyl glycol. This works by bringing lots of water into the bowel to flush the stool out----humans used it for clearing out before colonoscopies. 

Now, having used Mirilax, I found that caused far more bloating and gas. Can you find Restoralax? I found this MUCH easier on my kitties tummy! Add to that, massages. I ...without getting too specific, was taught how to break up the stool still in Bandit's GI system to make it easier to pass. Remember, the bowel muscle is defective in these cats (neurologically) therefore the stool can be unbroken and very long, making it very difficult to pass. Also, if it gets too large (oh, the stories I could tell....), it can't move either.

Bandit used to use 1/4 tsp daily in food with his restoralax. This worked wonders for him. Also, make sure you are not giving him food that can constipate---lots of wet foods are a better choice than hard food as that bungs up the system faster.

Lastly, try Royal Canin GI hard food---this was a life saver for my kitties (my female has developed constipation due to age). 

Best of luck!!
Hello darkhorse321 !  I was wondering if you could possibly share your massage techniques with us ? My Spazzie was diagnosed with chronic constipation, bordering on megacolon almost 3 years ago now and we have tried everything. I switched him from a fibre wet food diet to a low residue diet which kept him away from the vets for 6 months until now. It has returned, same as before. I don't like him to suffer through the enemas at the vets...my gorgeous docile cat turns into a feral like cat and it breaks my heart. Shouldn't a cat be mildly sedated for an enema? I give him 1/4 tsp. Restoralax X 2 daily with chicken baby food and the vet has prescribed Lactulose also which I will start today. He was at the vets last week and was given a shot of Zantac which actually worked when we came home. No enema that day !! Is anyone familiar with Zantac treatment and how often can they have a shot?

   Thank you everyone...such a frustrating and scary time.
 
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