Rags Before His Cat Enema on 6-25-08
When Rags stopped going number 2, he tried giving him all sorts of things from Metamucil to Enulose (Generic Name: lactulose (LAK too lose) to canned pumpkin. He hated it all. I also started giving him fluids, in hopes that would help the kidneys run better and help the motion of everything in that area get-a-movin!
So, as a last result, he has started getting cat enemas. I believe Rags needs this help because of his age (he’ll be 19 in two short months) and his kidneys are not functioning as they once were.
Please see photos of the procedure below.
Different vets do a cat enema different ways. Rags is currently getting his cat enemas done at Mariposa Veterinary Center in Lenexa, KS.
Before he had it done at KC Cat Clinic.
KC Cat Clinic required that he have X-rays done of his colon to see how much poop was in there, then, they would administer the enema and make him stay all day to have it done. Which costs in the upwards of $115 for everything, including, fluid therapy, day ward charge, visit/consultation, etc.
Mariposa, on the other hand, has a relatively quick and painless procedure. They only charge about $29. Dr. Chappell fills a container with water and KY jelly and mixes it up. Then she shoves a small red tube into Rags’ colon and fills the red tube (which eventually empties out into Rags’ colon) with the KY jelly and water solution and squirts it all into Rags’ colon.
Once she is done, he is put in a cage with a litter box and usually does his business in the first 5-10 minutes and then we go home.
As the owner of Rags, I am much happier with this procedure because I know Rags’ stress is kept to a minimum because he isn’t stuck at the vet all day. And certainly, I save nearly $100 by having it done at Mariposa. You cannot complain about that! I think the best thing for me was that Dr. Chappell allowed me to watch the procedure and watch my cat, so that I felt comfortable with everything that was going on.
Even though I have thought about Rags’ dignity with the photos that were taken, I am sure that he is willing to help other cats and their owners so there are a bunch of clean colons out there.
I have talked to Dr. Chappell about giving Rags enemas at home. I will be picking those up next week. So I will start giving Rags enemas at home, which I am sure he will prefer–and I will have no problem doing it, as I hate being constipated myself!
Rags Before His Enema on 6-25-08 – Probably dreading what’s coming…
Rags During His Enema on 6-25-08
Vet Tech, Nicole, holds his neck and body, while Dr. Chappell administers the enema (a solution made up of water, KY Jelly and a little bit of soap!)
Insertion of Red Enema Tube into Rags’ Colon
Dr. Chappell lifts Rags’ tail out of the way and inserts the red enema tube into his colon and then takes a syringe and fills it with the enema solution Dr. Chappell has created (water, KY Jelly and soap)–see this solution in the silver bowl in the picture below.
This is the red tube and the syringe before the Enema…
Rags is given 1 tablet every night of this product to help him with his pooping problems.
Check out the other procedures that Rags received:
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
We have tried everything with Max and still end up at the vet every few months for an enema and now we live in China and the vets here are dodgy at best. We have been considering doing it ourselves but have read sites that said absolutely don’t, go to a vet, you may puncture the colon. Also Max goes wild, screaming and biting which he never does so thought it would be less stressful at home. Any suggestions you got from the vet on exactly how to insert the tube to make sure you don’t puncture the colon, how far, how much fluid to use, etc…also interested in how you immobolize your cat. The China Vet tied him spreade eagle to the table which won’t happen again. Thanks much.
Gary,
I am hesitant to offer advice in this area because not only am I not a vet tech, but nor am I a vet. I only did it on my old kitty that was in chronic renal failure. He died in March 2009 – so it has been over a year since I have done it.
Why is Max constipated? Have you tried various foods to help him along? I hear pumpkin or squash helps – if you mix a little in his food.
I recommend contacting Lisa A. Pierson, DVM – through her website – http://www.catinfo.org – she will help you with your questions and concerns if you donate to a cat rescue in her honor.
With that said, with Rags, as you saw on the post – there was a small red tube. I used KY jelly to lube it up and I put it on his butt hole and on the tube. I only put it in him 3-4 inches or less.
The solution in the syringe was a mixture of water, KY Jelly and soap – I don’t know what kind of soap she used. But I assume the least harmful there is. But the idea of the soap was lubrication.
Rags was my cat since I was 10 years old – he was used to me doing about anything to him. But he still wasn’t a fan. Wonder why?! We (my boyfriend and I) laid him on his side. Bill held him down, while I inserted the tube and the hardest part was pushing the solution (water, KY Jelly and soap) through the syringe at a slow rate – it was hard to keep Rags still. But one time I did it too fast and he vomited – in other words – you end up pushing the poop back into his tummy – or something along those lines. I had not been warned about rupturing the colon, but rather inducing vomiting.
As gross as this sounds – get Max used to you touching his butt hole – or around it – so that when it’s time to do the deed – he’s better about it.
Although Enulose was encouraged – it sucked and Rags hated it. That’s not to say I woudln’t give it a go again.
I am really sorry you and Max are struggling with this – it totally sucks. But BRAVO to you that you want to help him.
Jenny