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I took in a newborn orphan kitten going on 6 days ago.. assuming he’s only about 6 days old, 7 tops. He has been doing amazing! His ears were fully opened yesterday, he lost his umbilical cord on day 3, and his colors started coming in today. (He was an off white.. but now his nose and ears have added black coloring to his mix) he has been gaining weight normally. He eats every two hours, three tops. Hes been finishing 5cc since day one.. now he’s finishinh anywhere between 5cc and 10. I burp him after every bottle as well as stimulate him to use the bathroom. (He pees every time and has been pooping between once and twice a day) I even keep him clean and dry in the event of an accident. He sleeps in a box with half heat pad on low and a blanket covering it, as well as a stuffed teddy for snuggling and comfort. Its my first time doing anything even close to this but his mom dropped him off on my porch only hours old and never returned, when it got dark cold and rainy I had to bring him in. Hes eating KRM I bought from the vet. I also bought a bottle and syringe. Not having much luck with the bottle but doing amazing with the syringe. Noticed his belly being kinda hard and that he hadn’t had his usual poop about 4 hours ago. His bottom is red and raw so im trying to be easy but still try and stimulate him every feeding. I know hand raising newborn kittens is a 50/50 shot especially his mom being a stray but he’s doing perfect other than that. Hes purring and eating and peeing and even wondering around a bit.. just a little fussy over the last two feedings. Im also burping him. Is there anything I can do to help his bottom or get him to poop to relieve the belly bulge? I will take him to the vet if needed. Im just seeing what I can do in the mean time. How long is too long for a kitten to be constipated or not poop if everything else seems normal? *I’ve also been adding a little extra water over his last two feedings hoping that may loosen him up. HELP 🙁
I have a female beagle and she is around 6-8 years old. She’s always been a hyper dog, loves to jump up and down the couch/bed for a good snuggle, loves people and would jump on them and during meal time, she would be excited and beg for food. On Thursday evening & Friday all day (today is Saturday at 11am), we noticed something weird/strange going on with her and she’s been acting really weird. Her walks have been slowed (especially up and down the stairs) and she cannot jump up on the bed/couch (she can still jump down). She is eating (I gave her a little piece of chicken on my pizza) and she is peeing but not pooping, and my mom said her tummy is very hard and one of her front leg is acting up… We made an appointment with the vet but it isn’t until next week and right now we are trying to rule out a lot of things like constipation…. We just didn’t want to take her to the emergency because last time something like this happened, we freaked out and took her there, it turns out it was only constipation and we were charged over 500 dollars and as it just being after Christmas and a new semester, we really don’t have the money to take her to the vet unless it’s an actual emergency…
Thank you very much for your feedback! I will re-make an appointment tonight and hopefully get an Monday appointment. I’ve also bought some pumpkin stuff for her (many people online say that it helps with constipation) and if she doesn’t get better by then, then off to the doctors we go on Monday!
Hello Yuan.
In addition to Dr M’s response, I can only add you are describing classic symptoms for the early stages of IVDD (of which beagles are a susceptible breed). Up and down stairs, not jumping, etc… are self-evident; but urinating while not defecating is a classic symptom because it requires arching the back/neck and “pushing/straining” – something a lot more painful than urinating when IVDD is causing back pain.
Since IVDD requires immediate medical attention, I recommend a veterinary visit ASAP. Great if IVDD is ruled out, but any delay could make treatment more difficult.
Good luck,
Dr K
Hey guys, thank you both so much for the feedback. I can proudly say that Abby is getting a lot better as we speak! Abby does have a history of constipation and without even knowing it, she’s been constipated for over a week now, that’s being taken care of with some pumpkin & lots of tummy rubs and walks! Her leg was also hurt earlier in the week because my dad had taken her to a field where she could run but as it being Winter with lots of snow, sometimes the ground is steep without even realizing it and she must have walked twisted her left front leg, and with her belly already in pain and her front leg hurt, she was having a lot of troubles being herself. But she will get better soon! I really appreciate all of the support and medical advice I have received.
As she is getting older, we will definitely be more careful and cautious with her health!
I tooky dog to vet hospital on Friday night and they said he was constipated. They gave him stool softer and he has pooped 3 times and he’s still in a lot of pain. Can someone tell me what to do please?
I haven’t had him long, my mother in law died and we inherited him. He has pooped 3 times. Once it was quite a bit, but he is still in a lot of pain. I spent the only money I could do to take him to vet hospital and now I’m over drawn.
Ok thank you
My cat has been dragging her rear and licking it excessively. She has not responded to deworm medicine or more liquid in her diet (incase of constipation). I noticed a white discharge from her vagina. She is fixed and about 7yrs old.
I have a 10 year old walker coon hound and he is acting very strange. He wanted in and out of the house all day, very dry nose and seems to be constipated even though he had an accident earlier in the house. What should I do to help him?
try with a warm wet towel rub your kittens anal. softly. mothers lick their kittens to be able to go pee or poop. hope it helps(:
That’s been how I get him to pee after every feeding. But he usually has at least one poop by now.. his little bottom is so red and sore and his belly is so bloated. All I can think is he’s constipated bc its like he tries just can’t. :/
i’d call the vet first thing, to be honest.
I called and they said not to be worried that his belly is just adjusting and if he isn’t better in a day or so then to bring him in
i hope he starts doing alright tomorrow. you’ve certainly got your hands full with such a teeny baby! may he grow up healthy and strong. 🙂
Update: called several vets over the last 24 hours… so far I’ve got a lot of contradictions. To limit feedings to not limit feedings. To water down, to not. To use suppository and/or water enema, to not use. To soak bottom, to not soak bottom. To do an early dewormer, to not. To only stimulate bottom every third feeding, to do it every feeding. To use oil, to not. To use tube/Vaseline, to not. Never the less I’m doing what I can and trying a little off everything. Was able to get a poop today just not the consistency I would like or the amount but it’s something. He’s still eating, peeing, and sleeping normally. Just has a hard belly, hard poop, and a raw bottom. Guess I’ll just try and see if anything works or doesn’t and if he gets worse or doesn’t improve in a few days ill take him somewhere hopefully that specializes in this kinda thing or has personal experience bc this crap is confusing. “Do it… don’t… do it..” OMG!! *DAY SIX. -Signed one exhausted mommy!
sounds like the parent of a newborn anything. you’re doing well! you’re staying on top of things.
you. can. do. it. 🙂
Thank you! He’s a handful for sure. I have no idea how mommy kitty’s do this with more than one lol. He is much more of a handful than my 3 & 1 year old human boys ever were.. even put together lol
well, it’s not like they have to worry about going to work or cleaning or anything like that. 😉
Cherish–I have fostered hundreds of kittens. Usually thinnning out the KMR works well. DO not get the stage 2 KMR, stick with the stage one KMR for all feedings,even as the kitten gets older. Warm up a cotton ball and gently hold it to the anus, barely move the soaked cotton ball around . Try for several minutes. Sometimes it takes awhile to get a bowel movement. Usually thinning the food will get a BM…make sure that you are keeping the kitten warm also with a warm water bottle or heat pad (just don’t put the heat pad directly on the kitten) .GOOD LUCK!!!
UPDATE: we are on day 8.. problem seems to have resolved. Thank you so much for everyone’s help!