Constipated Cats- treatment and prevention
Here is some advice for any of you with constipated kitties. I typed it up for our kitty, so I figured I'd share it here. Much of this is for cats who have trouble with chronic constipation, especially the items further down on the list.
Exercise--
A very important aspect of controlling constipation. Play with your cat as much as possible and do whatever you can to encourage them to exercise.
Water and Moisture--
Encourage them to drink as much water as possible and give them as much moisture as possible in their food. Cats don't naturall drink large amounts of water, they usually get a lot of their moisture needs from their food. Give lots of fresh, clean water. Offer homemade meat broths. Feed canned, home made, or raw food as opposed to kibble. Raw meat is a natural way to encourage normal stools.
Limit Grains--
They are difficult for cats to digest. Look for food that has no grains in it such as canned wellness and nature's variety.
Vita Mineral Mix--
recipe:
1 1/2 cups yeast powder
1/4 cup kelp powder
1 cup leitchin granules
2 cups wheat bran
2 cups bone meal, calcium lactate, or calcium gluconate
mix and store in fridge
1 tsp each meal (2 tsp/day)
Foods and Supplements--
- 1 tsp aloe vera juice (no sodium benzolate, canageean, or potassium sorbate)
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp canned pumpkin
- 1/8 tsp olive oil
- 1/8 tsp unsalted butter of ghee
- 1/8 tsp wheat bran
- 1/8 tsp psyllium husk mixed with 2 tbsp warm water 9if you don't add water it will make it worse)
- 1/2 to 1 clove of freshly grated raw garlic daily
- 1 tsp grated carrot 3 times week
Essential Fatty Acids--
500 to 1300 mg cap of borage or evening primrose oil every other day
and/or
1 to 2 tablespoons fish oil daily- wild salmon oil from a good source is best
Kristalose--
Fortunately, lactulose now comes in a mild-tasting powder (Kristalose) that can be encapsulated by a compounding pharmacy, or simply added to canned food.
Slippery Elm--
To give internally, mix about 1/4 teaspoon of Slippery Elm bark powder with cold water for every 10 pounds of body weight. For very small dogs, it is fine to use the same 1/4 teaspoon dose. The bulk powder may be very fluffy, so pack it down as much as possible to measure it. Alternatively, use 1/2 capsule (per 10 pounds), opened and the contents mixed with water. Slippery Elm powder will absorb many times its own weight in water, so be sure to add enough to make a moderately thick gruel. This gruel can be given before meals by syringe or eyedropper, or added to baby food, canned food, or a homemade diet. It has a slightly sweet taste and is usually well-tolerated by cats and dogs when mixed with food. Give a dose 5 minutes before meals for sore throat, and before or with meals for digestive tract problems, such as inflammatory bowel disease, until symptoms resolve.
Author Anitra Frazier gives the following recipe for Slippery Elm Bark syrup in her book, The New Natural Cat, which applies equally well to our canine companions when adjusted for weight: Into a small saucepan place 1/2 cup cold water and 1 teaspoon powdered slippery elm bark. Whip with a fork. Bring to simmer over low flame, stirring constantly. Simmer 1 or 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Cool and refrigerate. Keeps 7 or 8 days. Give a teaspoon of syrup (5 cc) for an average-size cat (again, about 10 pounds) 5 minutes before a meal to minimize diarrhea, or to soothe and heal mouth ulcers.
Slippery Elm Bark Broth Recipe
Pour 1/2 tsp slippery elm bark powder from capsules or 1/4 tsp bulk powder into small glass jar such as baby food jar. Add 2 tbsp of just boiled water. Mix gently and fasten lid part way. After half hour completely close lid and shake. Give 3 to 5 cc 2-3 tmes a day. Wait 30-60 min before feeding meal or giving another medication.
Happy Tummy--
http://www.spiritessence.com/?action=categories&cat=happytummy&class=cathealth&kind=cats
Homeopathic Treatments--
Bryonia, Carbo veg, Graphites, Nux vomica, Plumbum, raphanus, silica, Calcarea Carbonica
See a homeopathic vet or book for treatment recommendations.
Mineral Oil--
Can be given, but it interferes with the body's ability to absorb certain food nutrients and vitamins A, D, E, and K.and creates dependency so that the body needs it for normal defecation. Limit it's use, and rotate this treatment with others. Give addition vitamins to help prevent deficiency.
Aluminum toxicity--
Some cats are sensitive to aluminum. Toxicity can result in weakening of rectum. Suspect this especially if your cat as sticky and messy not hard stools, but can be a factor even if your cat doesn't. Stop using aluminum dishes, aluminum pots, food in aluminum cans, processed cheese, table salt, white flour, and tap water. Give vitamin C (500 mg to 3 g daily) and zinc (5mg). Chelated zinc is best.
SubQ-
Your vet may recommend giving subcutaneous fluids if they are extremely constipated. Consider learning how to do this yourself at home. It's very easy to do, cheaper then taking kitty to the vet, and far less stressful. It's easier then giving oral medication in most cases.
Enemas--
These are helpful in severe cases. The New Natural Cat by Anita Fraiser has instructions on making your own enemas, how to give them, etc. It's best to have a vet show you how the first time, then in the future you can do it at home.
Exercise--
A very important aspect of controlling constipation. Play with your cat as much as possible and do whatever you can to encourage them to exercise.
Water and Moisture--
Encourage them to drink as much water as possible and give them as much moisture as possible in their food. Cats don't naturall drink large amounts of water, they usually get a lot of their moisture needs from their food. Give lots of fresh, clean water. Offer homemade meat broths. Feed canned, home made, or raw food as opposed to kibble. Raw meat is a natural way to encourage normal stools.
Limit Grains--
They are difficult for cats to digest. Look for food that has no grains in it such as canned wellness and nature's variety.
Vita Mineral Mix--
recipe:
1 1/2 cups yeast powder
1/4 cup kelp powder
1 cup leitchin granules
2 cups wheat bran
2 cups bone meal, calcium lactate, or calcium gluconate
mix and store in fridge
1 tsp each meal (2 tsp/day)
Foods and Supplements--
- 1 tsp aloe vera juice (no sodium benzolate, canageean, or potassium sorbate)
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp canned pumpkin
- 1/8 tsp olive oil
- 1/8 tsp unsalted butter of ghee
- 1/8 tsp wheat bran
- 1/8 tsp psyllium husk mixed with 2 tbsp warm water 9if you don't add water it will make it worse)
- 1/2 to 1 clove of freshly grated raw garlic daily
- 1 tsp grated carrot 3 times week
Essential Fatty Acids--
500 to 1300 mg cap of borage or evening primrose oil every other day
and/or
1 to 2 tablespoons fish oil daily- wild salmon oil from a good source is best
Kristalose--
Fortunately, lactulose now comes in a mild-tasting powder (Kristalose) that can be encapsulated by a compounding pharmacy, or simply added to canned food.
Slippery Elm--
To give internally, mix about 1/4 teaspoon of Slippery Elm bark powder with cold water for every 10 pounds of body weight. For very small dogs, it is fine to use the same 1/4 teaspoon dose. The bulk powder may be very fluffy, so pack it down as much as possible to measure it. Alternatively, use 1/2 capsule (per 10 pounds), opened and the contents mixed with water. Slippery Elm powder will absorb many times its own weight in water, so be sure to add enough to make a moderately thick gruel. This gruel can be given before meals by syringe or eyedropper, or added to baby food, canned food, or a homemade diet. It has a slightly sweet taste and is usually well-tolerated by cats and dogs when mixed with food. Give a dose 5 minutes before meals for sore throat, and before or with meals for digestive tract problems, such as inflammatory bowel disease, until symptoms resolve.
Author Anitra Frazier gives the following recipe for Slippery Elm Bark syrup in her book, The New Natural Cat, which applies equally well to our canine companions when adjusted for weight: Into a small saucepan place 1/2 cup cold water and 1 teaspoon powdered slippery elm bark. Whip with a fork. Bring to simmer over low flame, stirring constantly. Simmer 1 or 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Cool and refrigerate. Keeps 7 or 8 days. Give a teaspoon of syrup (5 cc) for an average-size cat (again, about 10 pounds) 5 minutes before a meal to minimize diarrhea, or to soothe and heal mouth ulcers.
Slippery Elm Bark Broth Recipe
Pour 1/2 tsp slippery elm bark powder from capsules or 1/4 tsp bulk powder into small glass jar such as baby food jar. Add 2 tbsp of just boiled water. Mix gently and fasten lid part way. After half hour completely close lid and shake. Give 3 to 5 cc 2-3 tmes a day. Wait 30-60 min before feeding meal or giving another medication.
Happy Tummy--
http://www.spiritessence.com/?action=categories&cat=happytummy&class=cathealth&kind=cats
Homeopathic Treatments--
Bryonia, Carbo veg, Graphites, Nux vomica, Plumbum, raphanus, silica, Calcarea Carbonica
See a homeopathic vet or book for treatment recommendations.
Mineral Oil--
Can be given, but it interferes with the body's ability to absorb certain food nutrients and vitamins A, D, E, and K.and creates dependency so that the body needs it for normal defecation. Limit it's use, and rotate this treatment with others. Give addition vitamins to help prevent deficiency.
Aluminum toxicity--
Some cats are sensitive to aluminum. Toxicity can result in weakening of rectum. Suspect this especially if your cat as sticky and messy not hard stools, but can be a factor even if your cat doesn't. Stop using aluminum dishes, aluminum pots, food in aluminum cans, processed cheese, table salt, white flour, and tap water. Give vitamin C (500 mg to 3 g daily) and zinc (5mg). Chelated zinc is best.
SubQ-
Your vet may recommend giving subcutaneous fluids if they are extremely constipated. Consider learning how to do this yourself at home. It's very easy to do, cheaper then taking kitty to the vet, and far less stressful. It's easier then giving oral medication in most cases.
Enemas--
These are helpful in severe cases. The New Natural Cat by Anita Fraiser has instructions on making your own enemas, how to give them, etc. It's best to have a vet show you how the first time, then in the future you can do it at home.