![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif)
Mouse is 17 or so, and has been troubled by constipation, on and off, for a few years ... happens, said the vet, as they get older, muscle tone deteriorates ...
Mouse's father Finn (they were ferals before they joined me) was the same. He'd go to his tray, wait, no result, wander out again and ... a loud raspberry! Oh No! OHHH YES! It just came out. Right there, on the carpet.
Mouse does her best but quite often I find Mousey Maltesers in surprising places ... whodunnit? I know whodunnit - and I know whogottapickit up ... ohhh well. The very good Royal Canin Fibre Response dry food helped her for a while, but, catlike, she went off it a bit, and I think her system adapted, as systems do ... home remedies such as tuna in oil (wouldn't eat it) and psyllium seeds didn't seem to have much effect.
Lactulose was prescribed for her a couple of years back, and that isn't bad. Luckily I'd kept some in after that episode (you can buy it online) and recently I'd been a bit concerned - but bits had kept emerging and I'd hoped she wasn't doing too badly, but ...
Nemesis. Last Sunday. First rule of cat ownership: It always happens on a Sunday! She was not a happy camper. I'd just bought some Lick e Lix, so gave her a dose of Lactulose in that ... paws crossed. Hoping her legs weren't going to be! Crossed. For long.
Poor love, she started to leak diarrohea. But the problem remained. She was still bright, still interested in food, and her stomach was soft and she would let me massage her back. In her initial episode she had hated to be touched. More Lactulose (which is what the vet tried first time round) and then a call to the vet on Monday.
Home visit (I'm housebound and my vet is only round the corner - I'm lucky!)
'Has she passed anything?'
'No.'
'I need to examine her, have you a drop of olive oil for lubrication?'
I run into kitchen for oil, let out a loud squawk. 'AAAAAHHH! She HAS passed something! I've just stepped in it!'
But it was only a blob, and not good enough ... Carry on with the Lactulose and see how she goes, if nothing tomorrow, then we'll take her in and do an enema.
Well, the following day there was something, and I trod in it again. With a bare foot. But again not enough and my marvellous vet came out again, and took her in, and she was returned to me that evening ...
Very cross. Mousey is never cross. But junior cat, Molly, is inclined to bully us all, and when Mouse emerged from her carrier there was a loud hiss. I sprang up and scolded - but it was Mousey who chased Molly upstairs - and Mousey who hissed again at Molly a while later. It's a common situation, cat goes to the vet and returns smelling vetty and housemate is hostile, but in this case the situation was reversed. Do Molly good!
So. She's now on 2ml of Lactulose daily. The vet confirmed my opinion, that the blockage had only been around the sphincter and not a huge backup, but still ... ouch ...
With very many thanks to Calder Vets of Wakefield!
Wish us luck, paws crossed ... but not legs, I hope!
Poetry in motion!