Putting an enema is not a pleasant procedure, especially if your beloved cat has to do it. But there are situations when one cannot do without such manipulations. Some prefer to trust this matter to veterinarians. However, it may turn out that still you personally have to put an enema. So let's figure out how to make the cat an enema at home.
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The enema method for both humans and animals is that a certain fluid is injected into the rectum and large intestine to help defecate. The basis of any enema is warm water. To do this, it is recommended to use warm boiled water. Raw tap water can cause infection.
It is erroneous to think that liters of water are needed to cleanse the intestines. In fact, the dosage has a purely individual calculation.
The most important thing an enema should do is to excite the nerve centers responsible for intestinal motility, which will help free it from stagnation of feces.
Cleansing enema
This type of enema is great for regular constipation, especially if they are irregular. A cleansing enema for a cat with constipation at home helps to cleanse the intestines from stagnant fecal matter.
These procedures are also suitable for use in the preparatory phase of surgical operations or to prevent intoxication in case of poisoning.
Enema for medicinal purposes
Another type of enema is referred to as medical. They are used to more thoroughly cleanse the intestines and better penetration of drugs into the body.
Only a veterinarian can prescribe such enemas, depending on the condition of the animal. For example, to combat low blood pressure, use a weak water-salt solution, and to increase intestinal motility, a soap or glycerin aqueous solution.
Enema with vaseline oil is used to lubricate the intestinal walls and facilitate the release of feces. A solution of chamomile is perfect for relieving inflammation and painful cramps, and a soda solution can reduce acidity and relieve pain.
Causes of defecation
Very often, various diseases become the causes of constipation in pets. These include diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys or liver, as well as problems of a neurological and psychological nature.
It is necessary to deal with constipation immediately, as this can have very dire consequences. The cat at this time may experience heaviness and pain, and may even reach intoxication of the whole organism, since with constipation, toxins are not excreted, but accumulate in the animal's body.
If we look at the statistics, then among fluffy pets, cats are more likely to develop constipation than cats. In addition, adults are more likely to suffer from problems with bowel movements than young ones.
However, it is worth noting that the most common are irregular problems with bowel movements. If your pet does not have serious diseases, and there is constipation, then the reason may lie in the following:
- violation of the diet;
- foreign object;
- accumulations of wool in the gastrointestinal tract.
A cat may need an enema if you begin to notice the following symptoms after it:
- lethargy;
- lack of appetite or thirst;
- swollen and tight stomach;
- lack of going to the toilet;
- defecation attempts that were unsuccessful.
You should pay attention to the fact that cats and cats go to the toilet in a big way twice a day. If your pet does not visit the toilet at least once a day, it is worth considering.
What should be considered when setting an enema?
So, we decided in which situations the cat needs an enema. There are points that you need to pay attention to when carrying out this procedure, namely:
- It is necessary to resort to putting an enema in extreme cases. When no other way to relieve bowel movements, such as drinking plenty of fluids or taking laxatives, has failed.
- Before the procedure, you need to consult with a specialist. He will not only confirm the need for an enema, but also tell you how to do it better.
- Do not carry out the procedure if you are not confident in your abilities. Imagine your cat is like your child. The same helpless in this matter. Therefore, if it seems to you that you are not sufficiently informed or not ready to do this, it is better to entrust such a thing to someone else, more experienced. Thus, you will not cause unnecessary discomfort to your pet and you will not lose his trust.
Preparation for the procedure
If you still decide to give the cat an enema for constipation at home, then you need to carefully prepare for this. First of all you need a rubber bulb, a lubricant and salted water.
If everything is clear with a rubber bulb and salted water, then what is a lubricant? In fact, everything is simple. This is a tool that will help you reduce friction and prevent mucosal injury. For this, a fat cream, vegetable or liquid paraffin are suitable. With a lubricant we will lubricate the tip of the rubber bulb.
Now we will prepare a solution for an enema. Salted water is needed so that it is not absorbed by the walls of the large intestine. We need to take one teaspoon of salt (table or sea) in 300 ml of boiled water.
As solutions for an enema, manganese, decoctions of medicinal herbs or other special solutions sold in veterinary pharmacies are also suitable. However, their use must be monitored by a veterinarian, without whose appointment it is forbidden to use them.
We will also need rubber gloves, napkins, rags and a container in which the cat will be until the end of bowel movement.
Regarding the choice of pear, a small rubber pear with a volume of up to 100 ml is preferable. By the way, the nozzle of the syringe should be introduced about 2 cm, and the temperature of the solution should be 26-30 degrees.
As a place for medical procedures, it is recommended to use the bathroom. But not all cats favor this place in the house. In this case, we can deliver even more suffering to our pet. Then you need to choose a place where it will be at least simple to clean up after the procedures. You can, for example, remove the carpet in the room or do it in the hallway.
Stages of the procedure
After you familiarize yourself with all aspects of this procedure, consider the stages of its implementation. Initially, it should be noted that an enema for a cat with constipation is best done in the early morning, on an empty stomach.
The first stage is to choose the best option for holding the cat during the introduction of an enema. Veterinarians advise that the animal stood at this moment, and not lay.
It is advisable that you do not carry out the procedure alone. You can call for help someone whom your cat trusts. If there is nobody to help, lay the cat on that hand, which you will not make an enema.
The animal needs to be held tight, but not to cause him extra pain.
After you have decided how you will keep the pet, the second stage begins - the enema itself. We collect about 50-100 ml of solution in a pear. It is very important to release unnecessary air from the enema.
Next, the tip, which was previously generously lubricated with a lubricant, is screwed into the anus of the cat with twisting movements. Enema should be parallel to the spine. Do not forget that we enter only 2 cm.
After the tip of the syringe is introduced, gradually introduce the solution. If you suddenly incorrectly calculated the volume of the enema, then the excess fluid will simply leak out.
At the final stage, press the tail of the cat to the anus and hold for 15 minutes. During this time, the feces soften and then should leave safely. After 15 minutes, we place the cat in a pre-prepared container, where he will be able to empty.
It is recommended to repeat the procedure after a few hours in order to make sure that the intestines of the animal are completely clean.
Contraindications for an enema
How to put an enema to the cat, we figured it out. However, this, it would seem, the most common method of getting rid of constipation has its limitations. Of course, only a veterinarian will help you with this question. He will examine the condition of your pet and determine whether the cat can do an enema or not.
In general, the enema method cannot be used with:
- inflammation that affects the rectal area;
- tumors or bleeding in the anus;
- inversion of the intestines;
- hemorrhoids;
- chronic diseases of internal organs;
- mechanical damage to the intestines;
- severe helminthic lesion;
- disturbances in the work of the heart.
Prohibited drugs for animals
As you may have noticed, now there are countless medicines and remedies to relieve constipation. However, not all of them can be given to pets.
For example, rectal suppositories based on aloe vera are very good for humans, but in animals they cause severe allergic reactions.
Castor oil is also contraindicated in animals. Despite the fact that more recently it was popular, numerous cases of poisoning and diarrhea among animals were recorded.
For humans, magnesia sulfate ("Epsom Salt") has a mild laxative effect, but for animals its use is fraught with severe and sudden intestinal disorders.
Hibiscus tea is the most controversial remedy. Although people give it to their pets in case of constipation, he does not promise them anything good. It can cause severe intoxication and diarrhea.
You must also remember that funds for a one-time elimination of constipation are not suitable for prolonged use. In such situations, a cat enema is the least harmful option for eliminating stagnation of fecal masses.
What can replace an enema?
In cases where an enema is not recommended for a cat at home or in a veterinary clinic, the following drugs exist that can replace it. Among them:
- Candles with glycerin. Thanks to the active substance, feces in the intestines of the animal are lubricated, which contributes to their easier exit. Glycerin also draws water into the large intestine, thereby contributing to the softening of feces.
- DocuSol. This medication is intended for children. In addition to glycerin, the composition of the drug includes sodium docusate and polyethylene glycol. The tool is a syringe dispenser, which contains 5 ml of solution. It needs to be slightly warmed up in hands and inserted into the cat's anus.
- FLEET. These are also glycerol based candles. Its content in candles is quite high, so half a suppository will be enough for a cat.
- MICROLAX. Sold in the form of microclysters of 5 ml, containing a mixture of various substances. All of them are used to treat animals, so this tool is allowed to be used for cats. The cat needs to put the Mikrolaks enema gradually, since a strong pressure can damage the mucous membrane.
What do professionals advise?
Here are some recommendations that veterinarians give about an enema for a cat.
- The best time for the procedure, experts consider early morning.
- During the procedure, talk with your cat, pet him, try to calm him down. Your tone should be calm and measured.
- Veterinarians recommend combining with an enema a massage of the abdomen under the pelvis. In this way, you help the feces exit.
- It is also necessary to observe what kind of feces comes out after an enema. If you notice blood impurities or other signs of abnormalities, you need to urgently seek help.