Vomiting after using litterbox
Vomiting after using litterbox
Please help me. I'm at wits end. My kitty (13 yr old) is currently on lactulose for constipation, which has been effective. The problem is that he vomits after using the litterbox. He doesn't seem to be straining in there but for some reason, it is upsetting his stomach. He eats Science Diet Sensitive Stomach Dry and Fancy Feast moist. What can I do? Has anyone else had this problem? Thanks in advance, Linda
Re: Vomiting after using litterbox
When was kitty's last vet exam, when was full bloodwork last done?
What is your vet's diagnosis for the constipation issue? Did he persue specific diagnostics to determine the underlying cause? (i.e., IBD, megacolon, poor digestibility, malabsorption, inflammation, lymphoma, bacterial infection, etc) Without specific diagnostics, you can't just treat blindly.
The diet may be part of the problem. Kitty should be on a highly digestible diet, preferrably one with novel proteins and of a hypoallergenic type (veterinary brands are superior for this). Fancy Feast is not a quality diet, and could be part of the problem. Also, you need to monitor his water consumption, if he isn't drinking normally, he will become constipated and dehydrated.
If your vet isn't discussing things with you and not persuing diagnostics for a clear diagnosis, see a new, more competent vet immediately. Kitty should have a full blood profile done including urinalysis and thyroid function testing. Xrays can be helpful to determine sources of inflammation that could be contributing to the constipation and/or vomiting. In IBD, sometimes an endoscopy can be helpful to determine a specific inflammatory problem, but treatment would most likely include a very specific diet, sometimes lactulose and cisapride, sometimes prednisone. None of these things should be done WITHOUT a diagnostic workup however, to ensure the proper diagnosis is done.
The vomiting is concerning, because it will lead to dehydration if it hasn't already. Chronic constipation can also prevent vital nutrient absorption, cause pain, and injure the colon etc. In an older kitty, you can't let this go undiagnosed specifically and not treated appropriately...you cannot risk kidney or liver disfunction. If he's vomiting directly after a stool, he could be nauseated and/or painful due to an impaction/inflammation that may not be detectable by you, this requires an xray and possibly a kitty enema done by a vet to ensure there are no impactions deep inside the colon, GI tract etc. If inflammation is present somewhere, it needs to be addressed immediately.
Unlikely, but make sure the litter in the litterbox is not producing large amounts of dust, is kept scooped daily and cleaned and rinsed weekly.
Please, get your kitty seen by a more experienced vet immediately for a more throrough diagnostic workup in order to choose the most effective treatment. Do not wait on this!
What is your vet's diagnosis for the constipation issue? Did he persue specific diagnostics to determine the underlying cause? (i.e., IBD, megacolon, poor digestibility, malabsorption, inflammation, lymphoma, bacterial infection, etc) Without specific diagnostics, you can't just treat blindly.
The diet may be part of the problem. Kitty should be on a highly digestible diet, preferrably one with novel proteins and of a hypoallergenic type (veterinary brands are superior for this). Fancy Feast is not a quality diet, and could be part of the problem. Also, you need to monitor his water consumption, if he isn't drinking normally, he will become constipated and dehydrated.
If your vet isn't discussing things with you and not persuing diagnostics for a clear diagnosis, see a new, more competent vet immediately. Kitty should have a full blood profile done including urinalysis and thyroid function testing. Xrays can be helpful to determine sources of inflammation that could be contributing to the constipation and/or vomiting. In IBD, sometimes an endoscopy can be helpful to determine a specific inflammatory problem, but treatment would most likely include a very specific diet, sometimes lactulose and cisapride, sometimes prednisone. None of these things should be done WITHOUT a diagnostic workup however, to ensure the proper diagnosis is done.
The vomiting is concerning, because it will lead to dehydration if it hasn't already. Chronic constipation can also prevent vital nutrient absorption, cause pain, and injure the colon etc. In an older kitty, you can't let this go undiagnosed specifically and not treated appropriately...you cannot risk kidney or liver disfunction. If he's vomiting directly after a stool, he could be nauseated and/or painful due to an impaction/inflammation that may not be detectable by you, this requires an xray and possibly a kitty enema done by a vet to ensure there are no impactions deep inside the colon, GI tract etc. If inflammation is present somewhere, it needs to be addressed immediately.
Unlikely, but make sure the litter in the litterbox is not producing large amounts of dust, is kept scooped daily and cleaned and rinsed weekly.
Please, get your kitty seen by a more experienced vet immediately for a more throrough diagnostic workup in order to choose the most effective treatment. Do not wait on this!
..........Traci