10/19 Herman amps 324 +9 180 pmps 171 +3 131 +8 185

Bandit's Mom said:
Is he showing any symptoms of anything else being wrong? Appetite, pee, poop, spirits...all okay?
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Welli thought he was slightly constipated yesterday but I did see him go to the bathroom in afternoon…I guess that doesn’t mean he still doesn’t feel a little blocked up now.
He’s ravenous today. Maybe extra urine in lb. Prior to yesterday his urine output was normal.…but those could be symptoms explained by high numbers.m
 
Thanks everyone! I’m going to push work back a couple hours and run out for errands while he is high. My Lantus is a few month old and down to less than half, I’m tempted to grab a new one while I’m at Costco, just in case. Reading up a bit on feline constipation in case that’s part of it….overwhelming. I’ll add more water to his food (I do that only once a day currently when he gets his b12)…as winter comes I’ll continue to get him to exercise as much as i can but it’s impossible to replicate his summer activity. If anyone has any other “can’t hurt to try” constipation tips I’m open to them!
 
Are you already giving him miralax? That was a game changer for Simon! Do you have a fountain for Herman? Also the feline constipation.org site explains how to give suppository laxatives and enemas. I have done both and it is easy to do- very helpful when you run out of other options!
 
For mild constipation due to his seasonal lack of activity, you could start by offering a tablespoon of pumpkin (if he'll eat it, for my civvie Wicket who has chronic pancreatitis with flare ups due to constipation, I crumble a freeze-dried on it and he gobbles it up). If that isn't enough, a pinch of psyllium husks added to food with water helps things moving. It does have a taste though, and some cats oppose to it (best to buy a bit in bulk at health food store so you don't end up with a whole bag if he won't touch it). If neither of these things are acceptable to Herman or they just don't produce the results you want, then as @Kyle & Simon (GA) said Miralax is really helpful. You can start with 1/8 tsp once a day, and increase the dose slowly until you reach the results you want. It works by pulling water into the stools to make them softer, so you'll need to add more water to his food (and if you don't already have one, a fountain can also help increase his water intake).

Not sure how Herman and you feel about raw meat, but a little sliver of raw liver can REALLY keep things moving. It's very rich though, so you have to start with a tiny portion if you don't want to have the opposite problem.
 
Kyle & Simon (GA) said:
Are you already giving him miralax? That was a game changer for Simon! Do you have a fountain for Herman? Also the feline constipation.org site explains how to give suppository laxatives and enemas. I have done both and it is easy to do- very helpful when you run out of other options!
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I will look into miralax. I’m guess I’ll need a vet appointment to obtain…I see pumpkin mentioned s as lot a bit worried about the carbs so maybe this route would be better.
 
Virginie said:
For mild constipation due to his seasonal lack of activity, you could start by offering a tablespoon of pumpkin (if he'll eat it, for my civvie Wicket who has chronic pancreatitis with flare ups due to constipation, I crumble a freeze-dried on it and he gobbles it up). If that isn't enough, a pinch of psyllium husks added to food with water helps things moving. It does have a taste though, and some cats oppose to it (best to buy a bit in bulk at health food store so you don't end up with a whole bag if he won't touch it). If neither of these things are acceptable to Herman or they just don't produce the results you want, then as @Kyle & Simon (GA) said Miralax is really helpful. You can start with 1/8 tsp once a day, and increase the dose slowly until you reach the results you want. It works by pulling water into the stools to make them softer, so you'll need to add more water to his food (and if you don't already have one, a fountain can also help increase his water intake).

Not sure how Herman and you feel about raw meat, but a little sliver of raw liver can REALLY keep things moving. It's very rich though, so you have to start with a tiny portion if you don't want to have the opposite problem.
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Fantastic info….so is pumpkin not a carb concern? I guess one would only feed a small amount. I do believe he is always prone to be a little backed up but the seasonal change and change in activity I think really affects him.
 
Amy & Herman said:
Fantastic info….so is pumpkin not a carb concern? I guess one would only feed a small amount. I do believe he is always prone to be a little backed up but the seasonal change and change in activity I think really affects him.
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I don't think so? But maybe someone more experienced would know better. I did give it to Chewie as well when she was still eating raw food, and it didn't seem to affect her numbers.
 
Amy & Herman said:
I will look into miralax. I’m guess I’ll need a vet appointment to obtain…I see pumpkin mentioned s as lot a bit worried about the carbs so maybe this route would be better.
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I would start with 1/8 tsp once a day as @Virginie said. Simon needed 1/4 tsp 2x/day - so you just have to figure out what works. You should see an effect within a day or so. A fountain can help them drink more so you might want to get one if you don’t have one already. I have one if you want it.
It could also be a motility issue where his smooth muscles are not moving material through his lower intestine. For that you would need an Rx for cisapride. I would start with hydration and miralax first though before going that route. Good luck!
 
I mentioned pumpkin before. It's fiber. It doesn't really count as carb, imo. It's gentler on the system than miralax, but I did use miralax before for Rex as well. I hope with all the suggestions you are getting, you can find a good solution for you and Herman!
 
Mandy & Rex (GA) said:
I mentioned pumpkin before. It's fiber. It doesn't really count as carb, imo. It's gentler on the system than miralax, but I did use miralax before for Rex as well. I hope with all the suggestions you are getting, you can find a good solution for you and Herman!
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Yes…I think I was also thinking pumpkin was for diarrhea, I know my sister gives it for that, maybe that’s incorrect! So hard to keep it all straight! And you see the numbers go up and it’s a panic for me to just figure it out, so desperate for this to all get under control.
 
Kyle & Simon (GA) said:
I would start with 1/8 tsp once a day as @Virginie said. Simon needed 1/4 tsp 2x/day - so you just have to figure out what works. You should see an effect within a day or so. A fountain can help them drink more so you might want to get one if you don’t have one already. I have one if you want it.
It could also be a motility issue where his smooth muscles are not moving material through his lower intestine. For that you would need an Rx for cisapride. I would start with hydration and miralax first though before going that route. Good luck!
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Thank you so much! I tried a fountain, he seemed disinterested but I will dig it out and try again! Bought restoralax I understand it is the Canadian version of miralax. And will see first if he will accept the pumpkin.
Having said all that, I came home to a big poop in the litter box. I would definitely say it is firmer and more segmented than ideal, but on the plus he has confirmed pooped two days in a row I do think he needs some support to soften them up. +9 is at least back in the blue so that’s good.
My only concern now is whether to try hydration/pumpkin/miralax before increasing dose or increase dose and work on his constipation simultaneously.
 
Amy & Herman said:
Thank you so much! I tried a fountain, he seemed disinterested but I will dig it out and try again! Bought restoralax I understand it is the Canadian version of miralax. And will see first if he will accept the pumpkin.
Having said all that, I came home to a big poop in the litter box. I would definitely say it is firmer and more segmented than ideal, but on the plus he has confirmed pooped two days in a row I do think he needs some support to soften them up. +9 is at least back in the blue so that’s good.
My only concern now is whether to try hydration/pumpkin/miralax before increasing dose or increase dose and work on his constipation simultaneously.
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For us constipation was a life long issue, so I think it wouldn’t hurt to try to do both simultaneously, just start slowly so you don’t tip the scales in the other direction? Good luck !
 
Amy & Herman said:
Hmmm I’ll be on my toes tonight. Maybe hold off increase and see one more night. I hate the high numbers but a dive scarier….
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Do not increase tonight. He is clearing the bounce with some momentum and you do not want to add an increase to the mix. Let's see where he nadirs tonight and what is his AMPS tomorrow.
Good luck! :)

ETA: Did he get a snack after the +9 test?
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Do not increase tonight. He is clearing the bounce with some momentum and you do not want to add an increase to the mix. Let's see where he nadirs tonight and what is his AMPS tomorrow.
Good luck! :)

ETA: Did he get a snack after the +9 test?
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Thanks Bhooma, for everything!
Yes he got a snack at +9 and again just 5 min ago. He NEEDS a snack just before his 2 hour pre shot fast or he is unbearable. I know when numbers are high it’s less of an issue to fast but I should probably be careful of that today.
 
When I switched Indi to raw I used Slippery Elm, I was concerned about constipation with the new diet. It’s also good for upset stomach and diarrhea. Just make sure to give a couple of hours after or before medications if necessary.
 
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