My cat is constipated with dry stool. Does she need an emergency vet?

I usually say if there's straining in the litterbox with little to no stool produced in 24 hours, or if there are 3 days with no stool (but no straining is seen) it's time to head to the vet. The fact that he is eating normally is a good thing since appetite tends to decrease with constipation. At any time if he seems painful it is best to go to the vet. You may want to check in with your vet and see what their criteria would be for when to head in - they know more about Bug's particular case and might make different recommendations.

Its very difficult to say for sure based on the picture if that is the cotton from a q-tip. My guess would be probably not. A small amount of cotton like that would probably look indistinguishable by the time it exits the body. Constipation in cats, particularly for long periods like you have described, can be painful and have some serious consequence on their well-being and health. Often the cause the constipation goes undetermined, particularly in younger cats. Sometimes dietary change is all that is required, adding something fibrous into the mix. Other times, there is a motility problem in the GI tract that requires intervention with drugs. Either way, if there is truly bad constipation, Bomi probably requires an enema (multiple, more than likely). An x-ray will be able to reveal the extent of constipation as well as the size of the colon. Sometimes cats with severe constipation require hospitalization to rehydrate them. Once the body is better hydrated, somethings the dry fecal material will loosen and pass more easily. Overall, I wouldn't say this is necessarily an emergency, but I would get her in somewhere by tomorrow. Hope his helps.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Butter. I recommend that she sees her veterinarian now. The longer she goes without defecating, the more serious it can become. She may need fluids under her skin to provide her with more hydration. If the problem is severe enough, then an enema will be necessary. I hope this information helps!

Hi and thanks for posting! Hard stool can certainly be an indication of constipation and while a hairball formula can help, you can also try a higher fiber diet (one that is formulated for hairball control) or just give a few teaspoons of plain canned pumpkin (not the pie filling) in her food which can help. However, if she is not eating and is acting lethargic, you may want to take her in to see a veterinarian to get checked out. Sometimes underlying health conditions such as liver or kidney disease or certain endocrine problems like diabetes can cause dehydration and can lead to harder stools and episodes of constipation as well as decreased appetite and lethargy. Certainly worth a veterinary visit if the hairball cream doesn't seem to be making a difference in her appetite or energy level. I hope this helps and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I would base the decision on going to the emergency clinic more on his attitude and behavior. If he continues to seem distressed then maybe consider going tonight. It is possible that he is having discomfort from an anal sac infection or from constipation. Do the white spots move? Do they look like rice? If so they may be tapeworm segments. Keep a sample of the feces in a ziplock type bag for your veterinarian to see. Best of luck and I hope he improves soon.

I am sorry to hear about your kitty Kiko! Oftentimes if the oral laxative is not helping pass the stool, she may require more aggressive treatment at the vet's office such as a stay for a period of time to get IV fluids to help rehydrate her, an enema and in some cases sedation to manually empty the bowel https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951509 . I would recommend calling your vet to get Kiko back in for a recheck examination.

If your cat is unable to defecate, he needs to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Some cats become so constipated that they require subcutaneous fluids (under the skin), enemas, sedation, and manual evacuation of the stool by a veterinarian. Do NOT try giving enemas or removing stool at home. Constipation in a cat is a serious medical condition.