My cat with IBD is straining to poop. When should I call the vet?

Hello. You can offer Maggie 2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin ( not pie filling ) twice a day. This is a very safe laxative. If she does not produce a stool in another 24-36 hours, or she seems bloated, starts vomiting or stops eating, please have her evaluated by your veterinarian. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The red ring may be a potential rectal prolapse from all the straining. Add water to the meals to increase fluid intake. Too much pumpkin may worsen constipation. Add no more than 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds body weight of plain canned pumpkin (NOT pie filling) to the meals. Ideally, Olivia should be examined by your veterinarian. Abdominal x-rays should be done to determine if she is obstipated (obstructed with stool). If so, she may need sedation and manual emptying and or enemas. Do not administer an enema at home.

Oh no, poor Bella! It is concerning that she is appear to have trouble pooping and/or peeing. I would try mixing in a teaspoon of canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling) with her food, and feeding her canned food to get more moisture in her. If she is constipated, dehydration is the most common cause of it in cats. Continue to monitor here and if she is still having trouble pooping, have her seen by a vet tomorrow. If she has trouble urinating, strains to urinate, nothing is coming out when she tries to pee, or she cries when trying to urinate, you will need to take her into a vet immediately because these signs are a medical emergency.

If she is experiencing a lot of pain than she should be examined by a vet to determine the cause. She may be just having some constipation issues but a vet could check to make sure she doesn't have a congenital malformation and/or problems with her hips or pelvis. If it is just constipation than you could add a teaspoon of canned pumpkin to her diet to increase the fiber and see if that helps.

It will probably be best to give her gut a rest for the night if she's going to the vet in the morning. You can feed a small amount of her normal food if she seems to be desperate for food, but I would avoid any big meals or high-fiber foods at this time. Make sure she has plenty of fresh water available though. It's definitely good that you are taking her to the vet in the morning, because blood in the stool can be concerning if left for too long (multiple days). Your vet will help to identify the cause of this and ensure she gets the necessary treatment. I hope that helps Fergie gets better soon.

Make sure she has plenty of water. You can add 1 teaspoon of pumpkin (NOT pie filling) per 10lbs body weight once or twice daily. Mix well into the food. Canned is preferred since it contains more moisture which will aid defecation. Too much pumpkin may cause diarrhea. It should not cause pain. If Mishka is painful, have her examined by your veterinarian.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She may be constipated. You can start by trying to use something to try to relieve her if she has constipation. You could start giving her 2 tablespoons of canned pumpkin with her meals which may help with cases of mild constipation. If that does not improve this, have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment though it is likely that this will resolve. Good luck and have a great day!