My cat ate a chicken bone, is sick, and hasn't had a BM. What next?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sometimes if the foreign material is small enough compared to the size of the patient, it may be digested or passed in the stools. This will of course take 24-48 hours to be determined. You can monitor her closely for clinical symptoms that could indicate an obstruction such as nausea (lip smacking, decreased appetite and/or drooling), vomiting, inappetence, lethargy and/or abdominal pain. If you see any of those clinical symptoms, have her evaluated by a veterinarian right away. Otherwise, if she is acting normal, it is ok to continue to monitor her for now. She should be using the litter box soon. I really hope she is able to pass the foreign body. Good luck and have a good night!

Hi, and thanks for your question. These signs could be compatible with an inflammation of the gastrointestinal system and a possible obstruction. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics and possibly further investigations (like abdominal imaging as ultrasound or radiographs) may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

Unfortunately there is nothing you can do about this situation. It's not recommended to induce vomiting because the bone could get caught in Furman's esophagus, and/or cause damage on the way up. You can only watch him to see if there are any problems from this ingestion. If you see any blood in his feces, he becomes anorexic, he start vomiting, there is blood in his vomit, he has diarrhea, and/or he becomes lethargic, you will need to take him into a vet immediately. It can take up to 72 hours for signs of an obstruction or perforation to appear, so watch him closely over this time. Best of luck, I hope this helps.

This is very serious and he needs immediate veterinary attention. The bones are probably still in his stomach and intestinal tract and the diarrhea can quickly result in dehydration. Many dogs also get pancreatitis from eating rich, fatty foods. He will need fluids, an X-ray to determine where the bones are, and possibly surgery. My dog ate rib bones and he needed to be hospitalized and the bones surgically removed. Again this can become life threatening quickly so please take him in for treat soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Nino.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Sorry to hear about Raven. It is possible that this will pass but if she doesn't get better you will have to take her to your veterinarian for treatment. Your veterinarian can do a physical exam and then advise some tests or x rays to assess her condition. She may need fluids, medicines for nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, pain medicines, etc. So if she doesn't get better within the next 12-24 hours, you should have her evaluated. Good luck with Raven

Poor girl. I think both are a possibility here since they produce almost the exact same symptoms. Although you generally see more lethargy, smaller stool sizes and vomiting of both water and food in pets with an obstruction. At any rate Isabella should definitely be seen by your vet for testing (bloodwork + radiographs) and treatment based on what the final diagnosis is. I hope your fur baby is able to feel better soon! It’s best to get her seen right away. I would withhold food and only offer water until she can be seen by your vet. Best wishes and take care!

His gums don't look tremendously pale, but the lethargy and discomfort you describe is concerning, and yes, I would take him in. It's hard to say whether the bones could have caused a complete GI blockage, but if he's not defecating at all (or urinating???) then that is a potential concern. Even a serious case of gastroenteritis secondary to eating fish and bones is extremely uncomfortable, and warrants treatment. I would take him in ASAP.