Why is my kitten sleepy after taking paraffin oil for constipation?

Constipation can be a very serious condition, it can be caused by a physical blockage (foreign body like a bone) or a functional peristalsis deficiency of the intestines. In order to treat simple constipation, you should increase the fibers in the food (e.g. canned pumpkin) and can add a little mineral oil to the diet. I strongly advise taking Acil to the vet in order to check if there is a serious condition causing the constipation first.

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!

Lethargy can be concerning and indicate a medical problem, but it's encouraging to know that he is eating and eliminating well. Sudden lethargy is not too concerning in a kitten unless you are noticing other signs of illness, heavy breathing, or pale gums. Kittens can normally appear very lethargic at certain times of the day. It would also depend on how long this has been going on. If it's less than two hours, then I wouldn't worry. If it's longer than four hours then I would be more concerned. If it's been all day, then this would be a strong indicator that something is wrong. I would have to examine butterscotch to tell if this is an emergency. I would definitely recommend an emergency visit he is breathing heavily, or has pale gums. Otherwise, he's likely OK to wait the night and go to the vet in the morning if he's still lethargic. If you have further questions or need further clarification, then you may consider having an online consult with one of our vets on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This way, you can send unlimited pictures and have a text conversation with a vet. I hope that helps and all is well with Butterscotch.

Mineral oil is unlikely to cause aspiration pneumonia if it is swallowed normally by the pet. If it's vomited and inhaled then, yes, it certainly can cause serious illness, including potentially aspiration pneumonia, however at this point there isn't much that could be done by a veterinary professional unless she has vomited and is showing signs of pneumonia (coughing, breathing difficulties, lethargy, etc) which won't develop for at least 24 hours after vomiting and inhaling. Making her eliminate the mineral oil by inducing vomiting is not indicated, since this will (obviously) increase the chances of aspiration. To answer your question, "How will I know if she's OK?", you'll know she's OK if you don't see the symptoms described by Dr. Anstaett below. If you don't see any of these issues, you'll know everything is fine. And in the future, the recommended product (Laxatone) is a much safer way to encourage hairballs to pass.

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.

Do not give her any other medications. I would have strongly recommended you NOT sedate a kitten this small. That was not a good idea. Her heartbeat is hammering because you overdosed her. Without knowing what you gave her and how much and when you gave it I really cannot comment much on this point. Just leave her alone and let her sleep it off. Stop trying to force her to interact with you. In the future, do not sedate unless absolutely necessary and be sure you have the correct dosage. Give her food made for kittens. She may not eat until the sedative wears off completely. If you are truly worried about how she is acting then I suggest you get her to a vet for an exam.

I am concerned as well. While a kitten can have some lethargy after receiving vaccines and deworming treatments, it's not normal for that to last more than a day or two. If she is eating and drinking normally, then you can wait until the morning to have her seen by a vet by a health check. Should she not be eating or drinking normally, then I would have her seen by an ER vet tonight.