Why is my 18-year-old cat constipated with weak back legs?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Bucky! If Bucky hasn't defecated in 2 days and is vomiting and/pr straining he needs to see Vet for an exam, belly X-ray and likely an enema. Constipation is a symptom of something else. In older cats constipation tends to be secondary to kidney disease or intestinal disease. Your Vet may also want to do blood work. he likely will have to be on Miralax, or a stool softener long term. I hope this helps and I wish Bucky a speedy recovery!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. It sounds as though Lil Man may be struggling to defecate and this may be causing him discomfort. I would recommend adding in Feline Laxatone and see if this helps normalize his bowel movements. With his age, if he hasn't had a veterinarian examine him in a while or have his blood tested, I would strongly recommend that you have this done in case there is something else going on systemically that is causing these symptoms. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

This is very abnormal for a cat this young to have these chronic issues. If your family vet is stumped then it would be best for your kitty to see a specialist. I would recommend asking for a referral to a veterinary internist. Internists have advanced training beyond a family vet and can diagnose and manage more complex cases such as this one. Any blood work performed? This is a crucial first step. Xrays of the spine? Have these UTIs been diagnosed and treated by running urine cultures? With a chronic history this is very important. Has any endocrine testing been performed? There are some congenital/developmental disorders that should be ruled out as well given the history. An abdominal ultrasound is important as well to assess for structural changes to organs. Unfortunately in order to help your kitty she needs more tests. Not all pet illnesses are easy to diagnose and some cases can be complex. It sounds like you are worried about her so i would recommend reaching out to your family vet with your concerns and/or to ask for a referral. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Mickey! I would contact your vet for more medication and change Mickey's diet. Constipation is a symptom of something else not a primary disease. In a 5 month old cat it is likely dietary but there can have motility issues that are genetic with their colon. Be sure he has been dewormed appropriately and is vaccinated. Increase water intake by feeding a canned food diet and slowly adding water. There are also prescription diets available (royal canin gastro-intestinal until 1 year of age then fiber response). I wish you the best

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. It sounds like your kitty is very ill. I would recommend taking him to an emergency clinic (or his regular clinic tomorrow if an emergency clinic is not possible) for an exam and labwork. This could be something treatable (or at least manageable, if not curable) or it may not be. I would be worried about kidney disease, thyroid disease, diabetes, cancer, and liver disease - it could definitely be other things too, but these are at the top of my list. Good luck with your kitty. Let me know if this was helpful advice or setup a consultation if you need further help.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. What you are describing (hard feces despite drinking and peeing, and drinking a lot of water) can definitely be caused by kidney disease, and that would be the number one concern. Other concerns would be diabetes, hyperthyroidism, megacolon, or possibly cancer. In terms of your medications comment, all medications have different times for how long they take to kick in, and how long they last. This can be changed based on hydration, age, kidney and liver function, and overall health status. It sounds like Jay might need to see a vet, based on your questions. Best of luck with Jay!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Co is constipated you should contact your vet for stool softeners. Medications can constipate. He may just not be able to figure out how to posture to urinate and defecate due to the hip dislocation. I would take him to the litter box often and support him. Hopefully that is all it is. Also be sure he isn't painful he should be on pain medications for his hip. I hope this helps!