My cat is constipated on prednisone. Can I safely give him an enema?

Poor Marshmellow! It would not be safe to give her an enema at home. You can give her some canned pumpkin to see if this helps soften her stool but it really sounds like she needs to see a veterinarian for care. Your veterinarian can also discuss medication options like Lactulose or Miralax to soften her stool in the future and prevent constipation. In older cats constipation often occurs secondary to some other issue like kidney disease or inflammatory bowel disease so blood work would be a good idea for Marshmellow.

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.

Hi, and thanks for your question. Mild constipation that lasts no more than two days can usually be resolved at home with increased fiber and hydration. Canned pumpkin (not pie filling, just the straight-up pumpkin) or liquid paraffin can be used, and should work straight away in the following 8 hours from administration. DO NOT TRY to give an enema as it could be dangerous and cause electrolyte imbalances and colon perforation. If constipation lasts more than 24 hours from administration of those or 48 hours in general, a check up at your local vet is required. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Sennosides should not be given to cats as it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and anorexia. If your kitty is constipated you can try giving pumpkin in his food, It is best, however, to take your kitty to your veterinarian for an enema or proper kitty laxatives.

This drug can be a little tricky when giving it. Your pets complete medical history should be known before starting this laxative, due to possible complications that can ensue. Because of this, I would not continue its use without consulting with Dewey's primary care veterinarian. It is used in veterinary medicine, but it has certain requirements and cautions with use. Also it should always be dissolved and not given in powder form. As a side, Prednisolone does not have constipation as one of the possible side effects to using this medication. If she is constipated, then there is likely another underlying cause. Best of luck moving forward with your pet Dewey. Take care.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I recommend that bottle fed kittens start to be weaned at 3 weeks due to constipation issues with formula. If it has been a week since she has pooped I recommend a vet exam for an enema if needed. Constipation can be deadly for neonates. I would start canned kitten food. You can try a 1/4 tsp or less of plain canned pumpkin but extra fiber can go either way (more constipated or loosens the stool). I wish Kachie the best!

I'm sorry to hear that you're having this problem with Blackie! It really depends on how severe his constipation is, and whether this is a chronic problem or something that just happened. Normally, constipation can be treated in cats and does not require euthanasia. I would recommend asking your veterinarian what the recommended next step would be (possibly a laxative like lactulose or Miralax, or a manual enema under sedation) if he is still not able to poop at that time.