My 16 year old female cat is having trouble with her rectum.

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My 16 year old female cat is having trouble with her rectum. About a month ago I gave her a powdered mixture of brewer's yeast, COQ10, milk thistle, and laxative, in very small quantities to help boost her appetite. She did not eat enough food for this concoction to work so she vomitted all night. She then had diarrhea for almost 2 weeks. She passed out a thick white pulpy substance one night. I helped pull it out. It came out whole and was 1 1/2" long. I never saw that again. I then gave her Immodium but I think it was too often and she became constipated.

The vet gave her an enema 2 weeks ago. That cleaned her out but the next day she was forcing to have a bowel movement. I thought that was an after effect of the lactulose so I left her alone. She continued to force and I gave her 1cc lactulose twice a day for 2 days. I stoped because she seemed to have severe spasms. She continued to force. I gave her a small amounts of fiber laxative but she still did not have a bowel movement so I stopped as I knew it was just building up in her.

Last Friday the vet gave her another enema but that did not help. He had trouble getting the tip in. It went in about 1/4". An expert from Just Answer told me that she may have inflammatory bowel disease. My vet said if she had that, she will have diarrhea not constipation. Today as he tried to put a thermometer into her rectum it would not go in. He said he could feel some stool there but it's soft. Last week when I tried to put a thermometer in her it did not go in.

It seems that her rectum is shut tight so not stool comes out and she keeps forcing to go. Through all this she does not eat and we force-feed her. She has started vomitting since nothing is being expelled. The vet gave her a cortisone shot today to help the pain and reduce any swelling. I have to take her back tomorrow for him to check again. Can you advise what may be causing this problem and what can be done to relieve it? I have given you all the info I know. Thank you.
Sheryl R.

Optional Information:
Age: >12; Female

Already Tried:
Moist food, laxatives, enemas./p>

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $8

Sheryl-

Has your vet done any xrays to check for obstructions?

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Lori McLaughlin
Your veterinarian should ALWAYS be consulted first and foremost when your pet's welfare is at stake.

Reply to Lori's Post: No he has not. He just felt her abdomen and anus. What could possibly cause an obstruction?

There are MANY things that could cause an abdominal obstruction. She could have eaten a piece of thread or string, rubber band, piece of plastic, just about anything. It seems that cats find things we don't even notice and they are gone before you know it. Cat's tongues are designed by nature to pull things down the throat - if you've ever felt her tongue, you know how rough it is...once something is on the tongue, it is very difficult for them to get it off the way it came in....it is much easier to swallow an object and would be something I would ask him to check....an xray will show up most blockages.

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Lori McLaughlin
Your veterinarian should ALWAYS be consulted first and foremost when your pet's welfare is at stake.

Reply to Lori's Post: Thank you for your answer. With the first enema that was done, would it not have pushed everything out? I did not see when she did her number but around her anus was wet and she had a much better disposition in the evening, plus she had diarrhea before the constipation. In all her years I have never known her to eat something strange, plus at the time this behavior started she was not eating anything on her own. I will ask the vet if an x-ray will show anything. Is there anything at all that would cause the rectal muscles to tighten so much that nothing will come out or go in? Please advise. Thank you.

If the obstruction is closer to the stomach or IN the stomach and not in the intestine, the enema wouldn't move it. You might ask the vet about diazepam or another drug that might help the rectal muscle relax. You might talk to your vet about megacolon to see if the symptoms she is experiencing fits into that diagnosis. Please let me know how things go with your girl. You are probably at your wits end!

Please Press ACCEPT if my answer helped solve your problem.
Lori McLaughlin
Your veterinarian should ALWAYS be consulted first and foremost when your pet's welfare is at stake.

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