We’re discussing treatments for feline constipation, and we covered treatments we put into the mouth of the cat, and suppositories that we put into the rectum. Now, let’s consider the big guns: enemas.
Good enemas and OsamBenEnema or Bad enemas
From your cat’s point of view, all enemas are bad, but here are some enemas that are at least safe. Safe enemas for cats include warmed:
• water
• dilute salt water
• water with docusate sodium (DSS), such as “Pet-Ema,”
• mineral oil
Mineral oil is not given with DSS because the DSS increases the absorption of oil.
Unfortunately, some enemas are not safe for cats. Unsafe enemas are those containing phosphate; for example some Fleet enemas. (Some Fleet enemas do not contain phosphate and are safe.) Cats absorb sodium and phosphate molecules from these enemas into their blood and tissues, becoming hypertonic. As a cat’s body seeks to dilute the area and correct the hypertonicity, it pulls water from the tissues, including from the brain and muscles. The result is a potentially fatal hypertonicity electrolyte imbalance.
How to give an enema to a constipated cat
If you can work in a knight’s chainmail outfit so your cat won’t know it’s you it hates and is about to kill, you can give a cat an enema. Otherwise, have your vet do it. You cannot pay your vet enough to handle this chore because this will prevent your cat from hating you, or running away to hide and dribble fecal contents in the closet.
Hospitalize cats for enemas
When your cat’s problem with constipation is severe enough that an enema is needed, your pet needs to be hospitalized for at least a few hours. During hospitalization, your cat will be given a thorough exam, blood work, X-rays, and fluids. After the diagnostic work is done, your cat will be rehydrated with IV or subcutaneous (SQ) fluids. Once rehydrated, it will probably be anesthetized for the enema.
The enema technique used by veterinarians is to fill a stainless pitcher with warm enema fluid, connect the fluid to a rubber feeding tube or a urinary catheter, allow enema fluid to flow down to the end of the tubing so there is no air in the setup, lubricate the tip of the tube with K-Y jelly, and insert the tip into the rectum. The tubing is then slid above the fecal obstruction and the clamp is slowly opened to allow enema solution to disperse around the fecal mass.
Enemas take patience
It can take hours for enema solution to soften fecal material. In many cases, it takes multiple enemas. Depending upon the cat, some vets will give more than one enema a day, but other vets wait and give a second enema the following day, and a third on the third day.
Fluids and forceps
If enema fluid does not soften the concrete in your cat’s colon, the next step is to slip a sponge forceps, which has small round, flat tips, into the rectum and into the fecal mass. The forceps are used to help break the stool into smaller chunks so that enema fluid can penetrate the material.
Enemas can cause vomiting
An enema or the use of forceps can cause vomiting. Vomiting is dangerous in anesthetized cats because fluid can enter the lungs. We position these cats so that their mouths drain any fluid, and we inflate the cuff around the tube that carries anesthesia solution and air into the lungs so that very little vomitus can slide past. Still, vomiting when anesthetized can kill cats.
Soap Enemas
Soap enemas stimulate bowel movements because they irritate the colon. For most cats, it’s healthier to soothe the colon than to irritate it, so soap enemas—even those made with gentle castile soap—aren’t recommended.
Coming Up
We’ve covered every treatment for constipation except medications. They’re next.
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