Fraser with ongoing gut issues. Saga warning

[Jaysmumagain]

This was from a question posted in iherbs UK site

Yes, you can add it to your cat's food but do not add too much or else your cat will have an intestinal blockage. I recommend spreading out 1 teaspoon throughout the day during your cat's meals and seeing how your cat does. This way you can determine if you should add more or less psyllium powder. It is imperative that you ensure your cat gets enough water by adding water to their food, otherwise they risk forming an intestinal blockage while being treated with psyllium husk powder. Whether your cat it being given psyllium or not, you should always make sure your cat is getting enough water. A chronically dehydrated cat is a grave issue and can lead to many more health issues and complications.

Hope you can find more info

Take care Julie

[tritonx]

Yes, I saw that comment on the iHerbs site and I'm glad I had the warning. with all the trouble he's having, I don't want to add anything more.  While I was in the drug store yesterday, I had a look through their laxative section and found powdered psyllium in capsules that had no additives, so took it home with me. Put the powder from one capsule into his pumpkin and added water plus kibblel last night and again this morning. He slept through the night, yay! and perversely, I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep until an hour before official get up time. So, things looking promising. It will be cheaper to get online and if psyllium seems to be working, I'll start to buy it there. He did a poop this morning and another one of the coil kind maybe late last night. The Tylosin order finally came in at the vets, so now he's on the presdnisone/Tylosin regime that I hope will calm his gut and he can carry on with his life in better health. Fingers crossed.

[ejp]

I really hope this settles things down for you both.

[bizzylizzy]

Fingers crossed! 

[Mudmagnets]

Sending cyber wishes for an improvement for you both - and some well earned rest.

[tritonx]

Just when you think it's safe to go back to the vet....Now Fraser is having the anal polyp removed in June. It was found two years ago and since then vets have thought it wasn't growing much. Took Fraser in to the vet to have his anal glands expressed and the locum vet said the polyp was larger and probably enough to cause some obstruction. Up until now, the size of the polyp hasn't been mentioned as significant during all the tests Fraser has had. But, in case it actually is contributing to Fraser's problem I decided to go ahead with having it removed. Talked to the specialist clinic who's going to do a consultation and then removal on the next day. The vet on the phone said the polyp could be a cause of inflammation in his gut. Ka Ching. In for a penny, in for thousands of dollars, but I guess every avenue needs to be explored to try to get him back on track as otherwise, he's a strong, energetic dog for his age. Unnervingly, I have a person in my neighbourhood who has an adorable cockapoo (Fraser and the cockapoo are in love--they rush toward each other) who has heard the ongoing story and seen Fraser straining to poop. Lately she's been asking if I've had him put down.  Ummm, no. Not as long as he's still enjoying life other than having a hard time pooping. And I'm working on that.

[bizzylizzy]

Poor little fella, - lets hope the op will finally solve it!! Fingers crossed for you both, do let us know how it goes 
(Fingers crossed for the little cockerpoo as well, heaven help him if he gets a bout of the runs!  )

[Mudmagnets]

Sorry to read your update, as bizzylizzy says, hope this helps sort out his gut issues.

  for you both

[Jaysmumagain]

Am so sorry to read the update, but you must stay positive, these cockers are strong little dogs as my Ollie has shown, still as demanding at the age of 14 plus

Hug to you and Fraser

[tritonx]

Thanks for cheering good wishes. Poor fellow has been licking his behind a lot and he left a smear of blood on my leather couch this morning after he'd been outside. At least the pumpkin and bran buds which have psyllium in them seem to be working as he's now pooping during the day rather than overnight. It looks like input and output are matched which I'd been worrying about before when his straining wasn't very productive. Not looking forward to the aftermath of his surgery in such an awkward place. I'm sure it will be uncomfortable for him. But if it helps....

[ejp]

That will have been a bit of a shock for you.  It's good that his toilet routine is better and you are both getting a bit more rest.  Sending positive and healing vibes for the surgery.  xx

[phoenix]

Diverticulitis is a thought. My father in law had that. Dieticians came up with continual changes to diet. However when he went into a care home he got the same normal varied meals as every  else and was much better!
Ive gone off feeding dry food. My feeling is that a sensitive digestive system needs wet food, less trouble to the gut .
Vets invariably recommend prescription food.  Are you aware of any actual food allergies?  Personally I would try a grain free commercial wet food.  I feel that some vets are over keen on giving too many different things when sometimes going back to the basics can clear the system and let the real problem become more obvious.

[tritonx]

I wish I was coming back with better news. Fraser is still a little over two weeks before his appointment with the specialist vet clinic in Vancouver. In the meantime, he seems to be going downhill. He is dropping into a crouch attempting to poop every few yards on his walks. He's started to be uninterested in his food, a major change as he's always been mad about food. I put it out and he will maybe take a few mouthfuls and then it sits while he goes back to bed for a snooze. Usually later he eats the rest of the food. However, he has lost weight, down from 11.8kg two months ago at the ultrasound to 11kg a couple of days ago. Last night while he was sleeping, his respiration was fast and shallow. I took a couple of vids to show the vet. I watched him for a couple of hours and it remained high. When I took him to the vet a couple of days ago, she upped his prednisone to 2 pills per 24 hours instead of the 1 pill every 48 hrs. Plus put him on a second antibiotic. I don't know if the raised prednisone might be causing the faster respiration. He's still asking to go out a couple of times per night and usually leaves several little pils, so overall his output still seems to match input. I'm wondering it there's any point in taking him out for neighbourhood walks as he spends most of the time trying to poop with little result, though some small amounts. He seems to produce more during his night time forays. But maybe he needs the walks for his mental health, a bit of stimulation and things to sniff. It's all very worrying and I don't know whether he's got much of a future, but I'm hoping the specialist vet will be able to pin down what's wrong and find effective treatment. Simple removal of the anal polyp is addressing only part of the problem though that's what he was referred for.

[Mudmagnets]

Sorry to read your update, it must be heartbreaking for you to watch and experience. I hope the specialist vet can come up with something hopeful 

 

[bizzylizzy]

So sorry to read this,  I really wish I could come up with something useful to say, - I can only begin to imagine how you must be feeling. I do hope the the specialist in Vancouver can help and give you some answers.
I do agree about the walks, - even if its only 5 minutes outside, I think keeping to the routine is so important, they need to keep their morals up like we do otherwise they get get frustrated and depressed.
Keeping fingers and paws crossed for you, do hope something can be done for Fraser! Please keep us posted. Sending