We have a wonderful 16 year old domestic shorthair that we have raised since the day he was born. He stays inside and has a 14 year old "sister" we also rescued as a kitten.
OK, so.. the 16 year old is generally happy and content almost all the time. He sleeps and plays (although not as much play as the years have gone by). He cleans, although he seems to be somewhat stiff and arthritic in the lower back, so there are some areas he avoids. However, he gets around just fine, up and down stairs, jumping up on sofas, beds. Not as much running around but he will play hard with his "sister" from time to time.
All this to say, he's doing really good for 16.
And he's very good with eating and drinking. Then he's pretty good with the litter box, too...
...except when he has to poop. That is the one thing that makes him uncomfortable, sick, tired, and going all over the house.
I should also mention that we haven't taken him to a vet in many years, although a vet did make a house call here a few years ago when his arthritis first flared up. So aside from the 1/4 baby aspirin he gets every couple of days for his joints, he's not on any prescription medication or food, and he has not had shots in a long time.
He used to be on Science Diet J/D, by prescription from that last vet. It was dry food. Dry food is all both of the cats had since they were kittens.
So it was after we started the J/D we noticed that the 16 year old was not pooping as often and the poop was getting stuck, sort of dry.
I started looking into it and we switched to wet food. Eventually we transitioned to FreshPet grain free and both cats love it.
FreshPet made a real difference in the poop situation. Also we add several things in their food: Cosequin for cats (for joints) Vetasyl (kitty metamucil) Aloe Vera juice (natural goodness) Extra Water Fish Oil
That's been their food for the last couple of years. They also get grain free treats occasionally.
Over the last few months, the 16 year old started to have trouble pooping again, despite all this very wet food filled with things to help him go. So, I went looking for more information and we started adding probiotics for cats to the food.
In the last few weeks, it's gotten worse. The cat is pushing, pushing, pushing and nothing coming out except some gas. Then he throws up. The he goes back to pushing and pushing until a poop comes out. Eventually he'll do some more. But in the meantime, he might throw up again, accidentally pee on the floor, express pain, and try to hide.
Over the last week, same thing but it's less poop than before. A couple of days ago, we started adding a very small amount of Miralax to the food.
Last night, he pushed unsuccessfully for almost 12 hours before one poop came out this morning. Then a few hours later, another poop, smaller. These were not hard and dry -- actually very moist and wet.
The cat slept for most of the day. He got up to drink water later in the day. Also he pushed once and a little watery diarrhea came out, just a little. He drank more water and has gone back to sleep, purring and loves getting petted and rubbed. If he follows his usual routine, he'll start eating again and getting more sleep, eventually a day or two of more like his regular self.. until it's time to poop again.
I should mention that his lower back area seems like a more sensitive area, after all of the pushing. He doesn't like to be rubbed there.
OK.. that's about it. We don't know what else to do. Yes, we called a vet and we will have a house call next Monday. In the meantime, we want to help our cat but we don't know what else to do.
Does he have a GI problem, or an orthopedic problem?
I would appreciate any ideas!
[link] [comments]
from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/cgne35/older_cat_happy_except_when_straining_to_poop_any/
No comments:
Post a Comment