Cat Veterinary
My cat just passed a golf ball sized hard poop and now his anus is very enlarged and swollen. He seems okay, he’s eating
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Customer: My cat just passed a golf ball sized hard poop and now his anus is very enlarged and swollen. He seems okay, he’s eating and drinking. If you pet him he purs
JA: I'll do all I can to help. When did you notice this firmness? Did the cat eat anything unusual?
Customer: this morning but yesterday he was lethargic after eating breakfast (maybe bad batch ?) and wouldn’t eat all day
JA: And what's the cat's name and age?
Customer: Wally 9 months
JA: Is there anything else the Vet should know before I connect you? Rest assured that they'll be able to help you.
Customer: hes A Persian
JA: I'll do all I can to help. When did you notice this firmness? Did the cat eat anything unusual?
Customer: this morning but yesterday he was lethargic after eating breakfast (maybe bad batch ?) and wouldn’t eat all day
JA: And what's the cat's name and age?
Customer: Wally 9 months
JA: Is there anything else the Vet should know before I connect you? Rest assured that they'll be able to help you.
Customer: hes A Persian
Answered by DrTracyR in 3 mins 11 months ago
DrTracyR
Pet Specialist
4,748 satisfied customers
Specialities include: Cat Veterinary, Cat Medicine, Cat Diseases, Small Animal Veterinary
Customer
I have pictures of what is going on as well
Hi, my name is***** have over 36 years of clinical experience and I'm here to help you and Wally this morning. I'm sorry to hear about his anus. Do you have any Cortaid?
Customer
I don't have cortaid, is that something I can get ?
How about hemorrhoid cream?
Customer
Do you think this is something emergent? He passed a very large poop so it makes sense his butthole is enlarged to that size. But he is eating, drinking and playing. He's tolerating being handled
Customer
no but I can get it
Can you upload a pic for me to see please?
Customer
My hand is holding he back right leg
Is the anus just wide open?
Customer
Hi
Was the fecal ball really hard?
Customer
I almost think he has something else to pass maybe but he's acting normal
Customer
Hi
Customer
Golf ball sized and mostly hard
Do you know if he's had issues with constipation in the past?
Customer
Not constipation but diarrhea, he's been good though lately
Does your Grandma put stool softener in his food?
Customer
I don't put stool softener in his food
Ok, can you do me one favor, it's a little gross, but... Can you get the top of a Bick pen or open up a paper clip and touch the area around his anus to see if he tries to close his anus or if there is no response at all?
Customer
Will do!
Customer
No tightening
Customer
It's weird there's like a tan colored outside ring (what I was poking) and then you can see a pink sphincter basically just inside that is tightening and closed
Customer
I was touching the outside light pink area
Ok, there was most likely some nerve damage to his anus caused by him passing that large of a fecal ball. I'm not sure if it will gradually come back or not. It would be a good idea to have him seen as soon as you can as he may need a steroid injection to decrease the swelling around that nerve.
Customer
Okay sounds good
Customer
Thank you! We were thinking that he literally ripped his butt passing that thing
Does he eat dry or canned food?
You're welcome ;)
Customer
Both!
Customer
1 can wet, 1/2 morning and 1/2 night and around 1 cup dry throughout the day
Discontinue feeding the dry, ok? Just feed canned and add @ 1/2 teaspoon of Benefiber to each meal to keep his stool soft. I like Benefiber as there is no taste or smell - that is NOT the case with Metamucil.
Customer
Perfect thank you!!!
My pleasure, let me know how it goes with his appointment and what they say, ok?
Customer
Will do! He seems good right now, eating, drinking, playing with the other cat and running around. We have to go to a funeral so we may take him after; see how he's doing. I scheduled to take him into the emergency vet today so they are aware of what's going on
Perfect, good job! Sorry to hear that you have to go to a funeral today - take good care with that. I'll be on the site all day, so feel free to check back in whenever it works out for you, ok?
Customer
Sounds good! Thank you so much
Anytime :)
Hi, how is it going? Were you able to get Wally into the vet today?
Customer
At the emergency vet right now! Will let you know
Customer
We got here at 430 and just went back so I'll keep you posted
Sounds great, thanks!
Customer
Impacted :(
Customer
Enema and then massage it out
Holy Toledo, is he absolutely full of poop!! Wally is going to feel sooooo much better when all that poop comes out. Thank you so much for letting me know and uploading the x-rays. Very impressive. Did they think the anal sphincter will return to normal and close?
Customer
I know and I took pictures of them right off the screen and she's not sure... shes hopeful with time but honestly, she's not sure
Hi, how is Wally doing?
Customer
He is doing so much better ! No longer eating dry food and lactulose x2 per day
Great, and deficating on a more regular basis?
Customer
I think I know what the culprit was... I think he was getting to my other cats food and he's a Maine coon, so his kibble is the size of Cocoa Puffs (purine maine coon) and I don't think he could properly chew them. He gets Persian adult Purina
Customer
Not in litter box but they're normal and the hole is shrinking
OK, good job that you figured all of that out - life is a lesson! ;)
Customer
it is! Thank you for all of your help
My pleasure, take good care!
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