Tira Misu - a different problem

Question
Dear Dana,

Just when I thought Tira Misu was feeling better, another problem has come up.  I've been reading what you've written about cow poop syndrome and I'm wondering if this might be what is affecting him.  He's white with black spots and dark eyes.  He's the fellow with a history of jaw abscesses I wrote to you about recently.  Ever since the most recent problem with a molar, he's had terrible issues with his gut.  I assumed it must be from the bicillin, so I took him off of it.  He was off for about a week, then I put him on baytril because I was worried about a little pus that was coming out on the brush that I use to clean the back of his jaw (between cheek and molars).

He has giant misshapen poops that seem difficult to pass. He  pees in my lap, which he hasn't done since before he was neutered.  The poops are light-weight and dry.  I'm not sure what you mean about marshmallowy, but these are large, firm and dry, not at all squishy.  He has a lot of gas in his intestine.  The vet took an xray and found one part of the intestine to be greatly enlarged.   He's still eating and pooping, but seems very uncomfortable.  He's on metacam, tramadol, reglan, simethicone and baytril.  He won't eat hay (because of his mouth) but is eating a lot of critical care, some timmy pellets, and chopped green veggies.  Massaging on the right side seems to help.  My regular vet comes back from vacation on Tues, I have an appointment to take him in.  The dentist is the one who saw him Friday and took an x-ray of his gut.  We're waiting to work on his mouth until the gas/gut issues can be resolved.  Does it sound like cow poop syndrome to you?  He's never had a problem like this before.  Poops were always normal, and he never suffered from stasis.  Thanks again for your help.  

Yours, Jill

Answer
Dear Jill,

Cow poop syndrome (for lack of a better name) is a congenital condition.  If he's never had big, misshapen poops before, then I'd be surprised if he would start expressing the condition only now.

But the treatment for his condition would be the same as for CowPoop, since the problem is large poops that can become dangerously desiccated and scar the gut.  I would ask the vet about *immediately* putting him on lactulose.  This indigestible sugar acts as an osmotic laxative and will help hydrate those nasty poops.  He will feel so much better, and the gut problems may resolve without further treatment.

If you can't get lactulose right away, then a good "stop gap" measure is to give him about 1-2 cc's of saturated epsom salts solution, which also acts as an osmotic laxative. Be sure he gets plenty of oral and subQ (if possible) hydration so his gut doesn't hydrate at the expense of his other tissues.  Ask the vet before you start any of this, of course.

I hope this will help him!

Dana