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Mags's Avatar
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15-08-2008, 12:24 PM   #41

Re: A very sore tummy :(


Meep, when Cassie was confined to a cage with a broken pelvis, my vet told me to give her a tsp of liquid parafin mixed in with her food ........ it stopped her from straining while her pelvis was healing. It does work......gently too..



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15-08-2008, 12:38 PM   #42

Re: A very sore tummy :(


Thank you Mags; this does reassure me greatly. I'd never heard of this before, but it is good to know it has been done and works. I'll buy some of this today and mix it in with his meal tonight *fingers crossed*



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15-08-2008, 02:27 PM   #43

Re: A very sore tummy :(


Merlin has had liquid paraffin too in the past, and I have some in the cupboard on standby, but I only used that when he was definitely suffering with constipation, which is why it didn't pop into my mind before meep - sorry! He would not touch his food with it in however but was very happy to lick it off my fingers and would usually take two or three fingers worth! As Mags says, it is a gentle remedy. But some people do not like to use it as it is a petroleum product.

(Actually I used to have it too as a child and actually liked it! - strange child!!!)



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15-08-2008, 03:58 PM   #44

Re: A very sore tummy :(


Update:

I came home early and fed them both a special Sheba chicken dinner, which has in the past usually quickened their toilets.

About 5 minutes later I heard Darcy scratching around in his tray and almost jumped for joy. I perched myself at the doorway and looked casually in so he wouldn't feel embarassed, to see if he was 'straining' but not going. But he went! And it was a normal poo!

So I thought.....

I went to pick it up with a disposable plastic glove on, and in doing so was able to 'feel' it slightly to check that it wasn't too soft. When I picked up one part, another part came up with it, as if they were joined together by something that wasn't poo... So, I hate to say, but I began to examine the poo and pull it apart a little...

And I found, altogether, three bits of sellotape each about 2 inches long : shock:

As you can imagine, I was quite disturbed and very worried. I called the vet straight away (well, after disposing of the poo!) It was the same lady I'd spoken to last time, so I just told her what had happened.

She said that there's really very little they could do for him at this stage. If he's passing it naturally that's a very good sign; the only worry is that there might still be some inside him that isn't passed. So I'm to keep a very close eye on him and his bowel movements. The only thing that vets can do is, firstly if he's constipated give him something to relieve that, and secondly if they do an x-ray and find some more sellotape or foreign objects inside him; operate to remove them.

So I'm slightly in shock. It is good news that he's done a normal poo and has passed out the sellotape naturally. but very bad news that he'd eaten it in the first place! So now it could have been that that made him ill rather than the NM food.

I feel so irresponsible. I always thought of myself as a good, responsible and loving cat owner who wasn't negligent or only wante cats because they "looked cute" but genuinely wanted to care for them.

And to now find out he ate sellotape, was ill with it for a few days and has passed it has really made me think I might not be a good owner! I feel so guilty.

I am now away to search the flat top to bottom for any bits of plastic, sellotape, anything that he could eat.

Also, I'm thinking, why on earth did he eat sellotape?! I've no idea where he would have found it. I clean and hoover regularly, so if I'd seen it I would have picked it up. It must have fallen behind the couch or coffee table...

Thankfully the sellotape was, to be graphic, embedded in the poo and I had to dissect it to find it, rather than on the outside of the poo; the vet said this is good as it won't have caused any internal damage.

Jeez-o, what a day.

Darcy is still acting fine. Happy after his tasty Sheba meal, and purring like a motor right now.



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15-08-2008, 04:05 PM   #45

Re: A very sore tummy :(


And thanks for the advice too Angie! It is reassuring to hear of other people using it in this way. Good to know, and have in the cupboard, if ever needed (I now have some).



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15-08-2008, 04:11 PM   #46

Re: A very sore tummy :(


meep, please don't beat yourself up over this! It was an accident, pure and simple; cats do eat weird things on occasion and you couldn't have foreseen it. You are not an irresponsible cat owner!!! Wasn't it fortunate that you discovered it; hope he's passed all of it by now. I know you'll keep a sharp eye on the next movements...chin tickles to the boys and a big (((hug))) to you; been a distressing couple of days ....



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15-08-2008, 04:18 PM   #47

Re: A very sore tummy :(


Goodness meep - that really is something that none of us could possibly imagine having happened - don't blame yourself please. As DM says, cats do eat weird things (not as bad as dogs) but they do. As you say, you are careful not to leave things lying around that could harm them and there really is nothing else you can do. These things happen.

Thank goodness that he has passed some (and hopefully all) the tape. Please give him a good cuddle from me and have a ((((HUG)))) for yourself - as least he has poo'd!



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15-08-2008, 04:23 PM   #48

Re: A very sore tummy :(


Thank you Eileen and Angie - I really appreciate what you've said.

When I told the vet, and asked her advice she said "Well firstly, change his diet! He shouldn't have eaten that!" She was nice but that comment got to me; I was thinking 'Of course I didn't leave this out for him, or give it to him as a treat.' My flat is very clean, there isn't piles of rubbish lying around for him to snack on. He really must have tried hard to find it. But the vets attitude toward me and the situation kind of got to me.

Like you say, it couldn't have been forseen, and I wasn't to know he would have eaten it if he had found it! Although I do now. It's so hard not to feel it's your fault when you're the one responsible.

He is now running around like crazy, full of beans and meowing loudly to be played with. So even though he was fine before it's as if he's now 'free' of whatever icky feeling he had and is making up for lost time!

Thank you again everyone; for all your help, support and advice on the whole thing. He'll get many cuddles and chin tickles from all of you



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15-08-2008, 04:26 PM   #49

Re: A very sore tummy :(


Meep, an irresponsible owner would probably not even noticed that there was anything up with their cat, let alone call a vet, seek advice and disect their poo.
There is nothing irresponsible at all about what has happened, its just one of those things and now it's been brought to your attention, it's one of those things that is less likely to happen again to any cat that is lucky enough to be owned by you.
Now, put those feelings of guilt aside and get on with enjoying your kitties other wise i will have to take a trip down south and slap your fingers



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15-08-2008, 04:37 PM   #50

Re: A very sore tummy :(


Quote:
Originally Posted by Elaine
Meep, an irresponsible owner would probably not even noticed that there was anything up with their cat, let alone call a vet, seek advice and disect their poo.
There is nothing irresponsible at all about what has happened, its just one of those things and now it's been brought to your attention, it's one of those things that is less likely to happen again to any cat that is lucky enough to be owned by you.
Now, put those feelings of guilt aside and get on with enjoying your kitties other wise i will have to take a trip down south and slap your fingers
You do not want to face the wrath of Elaine!!!!



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