Large amount of cecals passed after/during gas episode...

[Jenk]

My 3.5-year-old Californian, Pinkerton, gets several gas bouts yearly, especially when shedding, as he is now.

Tonight, he showed the usual signs of gas pain; I treated his gut distress with Simethicone and Metacam. After the third dose of Simethicone, I massaged his gut and felt a large amount of gas starting to break up.

Although Pink's still struggling with gas right now, I was able to get him out of his pen. He ran out of irritation and to find a place to hunker down. I massaged him again briefly, and he passed a large quantity of cecals shortly thereafter.

Ten minutes after passing the cecals, he started passing various-sized fecals (while still lying down). The first fecals were small and oblong in shape; then he passed a few more fecals that were closer to half their normal size.

Is it normal/okay for cecals to come out like that following massage for a gas bout? Or is it likely a sign of a problem? (For as many gas episodes as Pink's had, I've never seen him pass cecals like that before tonight.)

Pink's diet consists of: 5 Tbsp. of Oxbow BB/T pellets (morning), 3-5 C. of greens (Italian parsley, green-leaf lettuce, Romaine lettuce, cilantro, and/or dandelion), and unlimited timothy hay. I've also been giving him Bromelain (powder mixed with water) for several weeks, since his latest shed began.

Thank you,

Jenk

 

[CCWelch]

Are you positive it was cecals and not just a bit of diarrhea?

 

[Jenk]

CCWelch wrote:

Are you positive it was cecals and not just a bit of diarrhea?

Yes, they were cecals. One or two clusters retained their form, while most of the "grapes" were singular--broken apart?--when I found them moments after they were passed.

As of 9 am today, he was acting normal: passing normal fecals, eating, etc. He and our two other pets were boarded at the vet's for most of the day, and I wonder if the stress of the experience caused--or at least added to--his current digestive symptoms.

I'd hoped that he'd be doing better by now, 4.5 hours after I noticed his symptoms; but he still doesn't want to move. I've tried encouraging him to do so, and he'll make two hunched steps and lies back down.

There have been times when it's taken 12 hours for him to rebound from a bad gas bout; I'm hopeful that tomorrow morning will bring a better sign, so that I needn't resort to veterinary intervention.


Jenk

 

[CCWelch]

Jenk, how much Simethicone are you giving and how often? Are you using the baby type?

 

[Jenk]

CCWelch wrote:

Jenk, how much Simethicone are you giving and how often? Are you using the baby type?

I use the infants' version. The concentration is 20 mg of Simethicone per 0.3 mL's, and I give him him 2 mL's every hour for a total of three consecutive doses; if he's still having signs of gas distress 6-8 hours later, I sometimes give a fourth dose. (Pinkerton weighs about 9.5 lbs.) Mind you, if his gas is relieved after 1-2 doses, I stop giving it at that point.

I've read that it should be safe to give buns three consecutive doses of Simethicone per hour; admittedly, I don't know if that applies to the concentration/dosage that I've been using for him. Perhaps what I'm using is stronger than the concentration suggested for three consecutive doses?

I've used this treatment previously with no ill effects; this time, Pink's gut is reacting differently. I don't know for certain what's to blame: the Simethicone, the Bromelain powder I'd been giving him once daily (for quite a few weeks now), a partial blockage from ingested fur, etc.
:?

Jenk

 

[Jenk]

CCWelch,

I should confess that I read your latest post after giving Pink another (fifth) dose of Simethicone around 3:45 pm (CST).

Lest you think me Simethicone crazy, I'd like to note that I told my vet about Pink's latest digestive episode and how I treated it; she said that I could probably give him one more Simethicone dose sometime today. (I'd given the fourth dose at 2:30 am and, so, thought giving another one around 12 hours later seemed to make sense.)

Again, I don't know at this point if the concentration I'm giving is too strong--if I should be reducing the dosage. :confused2:

Jenk