Cat constipated after new grain-free food. Vet or home care?

Poor Baby! If you are not comfortable giving the enema, I recommend to call your veterinarian and discuss your concerns. At this point, she may need more care than an enema. She may need fluids or a sedated enema. I also recommend to discuss a specific food made by Royal Canin called Fiber Response. It is formulated for cats with constipation and many cats will get relief within a few days. This diet baby needed lifelong. I hope Baby starts feeling better quickly and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Nyla. I'm sorry to hear about her recent bout of constipation. She should have blood work to ensure there is not a medical problem contributing to her constipation. If not, I will typically use a prescription stool softener called lactulose. I also like a prescription diet known as Royal Canin Veterinarian Diet Feline Fiber Response. I hope this information helps!

It’s definitely concerning that Sarisin still has not defecated and is not eating despite treatment. I am wondering if any diagnostics have been performed - constipation can be secondary to ingestion of a foreign object or kidney disease. Blood work and x-rays might help determine why the current treatments aren’t working. I would definitely check in with your vet before giving an enema - not all enemas are safe for cats, and even a water enema can be difficult to administer. Hope your kitty is feeling better soon!

Constipation in cats can definitely cause SIGNIFICANT irritability. Depending on the level of constipation it can be extremely uncomfortable and painful. If you seen your cat straining near the litter box or outside, I can assure you that she is in some level of pain. While vegetables and fibrous products can certain ease constipation at times, it also has the potential of making matters worse. She already may have a clogged up intestinal tract and by feeding her, we may just be creating more of a back up. It sounds like you may have gotten some of the feces out, but there could be quite a bit left in there. If you can get to the vet, I would recommend this as a first choice. They will be able to palpate the abdomen as well as shoot an x-ray to determine the magnitude of constipation (if that is in fact the issue). If they feel it is necessary, they can perform warm soap/water/lube rectal enemas in order to loosen the bowel contents. While this is something that can be done at home on the most well-behaved cats, it does not sound like Coca currently falls in that category! If you do not feel going to the vet is an option, certain stool softeners can be used that can be picked up at a local pharmacy such as duralax or miralax.

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.

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.

Keep Lucky hydrated. If he eats dry food, mix in some warm water or low sodium chicken broth. Warm the food slightly to stimulate the appetite. Mix in a teaspoon of plain canned pumpkin (NOT pie filling) once or twice daily. Unflavored PediaLyte can be mixed with water to make a 50/50 solution. Monitor for straining to defecate, lethargy or loss of appetite. IF he doesn't eat for 2+ days have him rechecked by your veterinarian to prevent serious liver related complications. An appetite stimulant can be dispensed to jumpstart his appetite.