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Add magnesium chloride crystals to drinking water of the pet. Chances are magnesium levels are low if giving city / tap water. R/O water systems remove any that would be in the water. Remineralization stages do not add nearly enough back in. Fortunately, I innerstand that we along with our animals came from an evolution of drinking water in nature, which naturally has a magnesium salt content. Or eating in the wild, natural magnesium oxide content. Magnesium chloride is a great substitute. Ever since I give it to my dog and cat they both have lost their previous issues with ahrd stool or crystals in their kidneys causing pain when they pee.
I always ask my fellow animal lovers if they're aware there is next to no magnesium in public water, and if they're able to use common sense to connect that with thier animals' issues not being able to poop or pee right. They typically are ignorant to this. And even respond with high skepticism or innocent arrogance. It's simple though. Common sense. Anyways.Magnesium can cause loose stools if given too much. But it can also cause loose stools to go regular in animals and humans .
How much to give?
I go by Ted's recommendations. As practicing tjhem for near a decade, they hold true.
Mix up a dropper bottle with half magnesium chloride crystals, and half pure water. the crystals dissolve instantly.
Add 1 drop for every cup of water in your water jugs you keep at home. Thats about 16 drops.
For initial magnesium repalcement though, I add extra to their water bowls or food. Start low and work up.
a 5 lb cat would need only a single drop of magnesium in it's daily water intake. I may give him 2 drops in his water cup for the day. Adding it to his food sometimes causes GI upset if it isnt thoroughly mixed, so adding half a drop would suffice for food.
a 60 lb dog can have up to 3 drops of magnesium per feeding. 6-8 drops total per day.
a 140 lb human could have 10 drops per day minimum. more if theyre deficient.
Posted by Pam E. (SouthWestern California) on 08/16/2023 148 posts
It is only the *latex* that is found in small amounts in between the skin of the leaf & the clear gel that is toxic ... *not* the clear gel! This latex (yellow or white) is thoroughly *removed* from the gel-only products made for consumption. The clear 100% gel with NO preservatives & NO additives is *safe* for humans & pets.
Conventional medicine at one time used straight aloe latex to treat constipation, which was far too strong & extremely painful ... thus giving Aloe a much undeserved bad reputation for using any part of the Aloe for that purpose. However, the clear gel is a far cry from the latex, and very soothing & helpful. In some cases it works like a dream, while in others it may not work, but won't cause distress, either.
I stronly urge those afraid of using Aloe gel to consider this article:
"Is Aloe Vera Toxic to Pet Cats, Dogs, Other Animals?"
Mixing a bit of tuna or drizzling the tuna "juice" on almost anything will make it irresistible to most cats. Canned mackerel or salmon or sardines should work just as well. Chicken and/or real chicken broth is another good option. My cat is crazy about chicken in any form!
Hi Carol, I have a suggestion. Purchase some Chia seed from Aldie or wherever. Soak it in water about 1 to 4 ratio or chicken broth. It will swell up and look like cells holding all that liquid with the cat will need and its body to prevent constipation. Mix that into the wet cat food daily. I suggest just a couple of teaspoons with each meal & never feed the cat dry food. If you do have to feed the cat dry food food soak that in water or chicken broth also. As the cat ages, it gets more and more constipated. If it really is bad, you can reach a couple inches up above its tail and help to relieve the cat which I used to do with an old cat all the time. Meow mix wet food makes a pate that has extra gravy. I recommend that as well.
Sprinkle the Miralax onto the wet food 1-2 times a day every single day. No taste. Start with 1/8 of a teaspoon each time. You can work up with 1/4 teaspoon but may not have to. It's totally foolproof. It's frustrating there seems to be no longterm, foolproof, natural remedy. I have had cats on this for over 10 years with no adverse affects. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
Hi. I had a female tabby cat who was fine until she was around 10 years old. Then she suddenly began having constipation issues and would cry and hide under the bed. Her little butt was all red and swollen and she was straining and licking at it. Long story short - after years of help from the vet, which really didn't do much for her at all (pumpkin, laculose, manual extraction - you name it) I read online at a Yahoo forum on the subject, about giving Miralax sprinkled dry on the wet food each day. She never had an issue again unless I stopped. She lived to be almost 20. Now I have a cat who used to be feral and he can go for over a week without pooping. He never drinks water! I tried all the usual remedies listed here, and the aloe juice did nothing! Anyway, I'm back on the Miralax for him which works 100% and there is no taste. I don't want him to end up with megacolon like my little tabby, so if this is what it will take, I guess that's what I will do. I feed him a raw diet which I make myself. I am told he is extremely healthy otherwise. My recommendation - use the Miralax. It seems so unnatural, but if the cat gets megacolon, it's a horrendous situation.
Hi. I'm glad you posted. So they're telling me my 3 mo kitten might need surgery. You mentioned you did the surgery and he's still having problems? I ordered duck food in a can and I'll add peas to it once it gets here. Pretty cool website for it I found by accident. I just started trying aloe Vera till food comes. I'm getting desperate. He hasn't pooped in almost a week 😩
Hi Catherine. Are you still getting the same food? I tried to buy for my kitty but some of the reviews were saying they changed the formula. Do you know if that's true? Thank you for your time
I had the same problem with my kitty Max several years ago. After a lot of money spent to have part of his colon removed due to megacolon, a new vet suggested trying a novel protein diet, meaning no chicken, fish, beef - normal meats fed to cats. We changed him to a duck and green pea diet and he got so much better just from a food change. With all the chemical pollutants in our environment that are affecting human's immune system, our pets are going through the same thing. A food change may fix everything!!!!
I realize I am replying to a pretty old question. But I wanted to put this out there in case someone else has the same issue.
Posted by D.A. Daly (Jacksonville Beach, FL) on 04/18/2022
I grow organic cat grass in a pot outside for my cat and bring it inside and she loves it. Begs for it. But need to know does it help with constipation or make worse? She was just diagnosed with constipation for the first time and Nosey is 4 yrs old. Currently giving Miralax but looking for something more natural.
Since aloe vera is one of those remedies that can cause some confusion, here is a clear explanation that I find helpful:
"When you open an aloe vera leaf, you will see that it has a clear center which is the aloe gel. The plant also has a white or yellow colored substance located around the edges, beneath the aloe leaf's surface. This portion of the plant is the aloe latex, and the latex contains a natural chemical named aloin. Aloin can be toxic to animals. It has a laxative effect, so it can cause diarrhea and irritate the intestines, leading to electrolyte loss. Also, if an animal has a latex allergy, aloin can cause skin irritation. When this occurs, the skin will turn red after coming into contact with the aloin.
To reap the benefits and avoid any possible toxic effects, pet owners just need to make sure the latex part of the aloe vera plant has been removed during processing. To ensure a product is free of aloin, the label should state that it contains only the gel of the aloe vera plant I.e. the inner fillet. Avoid labels stating “whole leaf” since products would then include the latex substance that contains the aloin. Fortunately, most products on the market have removed the latex part of the plant."
Look into giving your cat Triphala. It is an Ayurvedic combination of herbs that can be used long term safely for digestive, colon, and bowel issues. Dosage is between 100-250 milligrams twice a day for cats.
I am aware this is an old post, but hoping someone see it anyway. My 10 yr old cat is suffering from Megacolon and she is in the throws of a severe constipation issue. Your Diesel sounds just like my cat's story, exactly. I just ordered Lax Eze in hopes that this may save her.
My cat gets constipated. She will not eat pumpkin and other suggestions for dealing with this condition, so I have had her on Royal Canin Gastrointestinal food. This works great and she is actually, finally, losing some weight. The problem? This food is now out of stock everywhere! So, does anyone have a recipe for food for a cat that includes plenty of psyllium that she'll actually eat? Or know of another brand that works well? I've got her on urinary/hairball food now that says it greases the skids, so to say. But she goes outside and I don't see her poops anymore, I just see that she's 'wider' than before, so I know she's backing up. I do feel that losing weight will help with transit issues, but we have to get there first to know.
Any suggestions? so far, she won't eat any wet/canned food, only the dry. She'll eat some yogurt, but dairy isn't good for her. I'm putting miralax in her water, but who knows how much she's actually getting. Thanks
Posted by bodulica (Barrie ON) on 05/13/2019 ★★★★★
I have an old cat with constipation problem. Two enemas, drugs, pumpkin... nothing worked. Then I found out about Lax-eze.{prebiotic natural fiber supplement} No problems any more. Sometimes he skips a day, but that's all. Very happy with results.
Posted by Susanne (Springfield, Illinois) on 11/11/2019 ★★★★★
Pumpkin for constipation works wonders in my cat. I buy it by the can and freeze it in ice cube trays. Yadi begs for it every day and dances around meowing until I get it thawed out. He knows the word pumpkin. AND it works! His stools are larger and softer now yet not runny. Finally I am seeing "normal" stools.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Re: getting your cat to take coconut oil, you might try slathering it on her front leg - she will have no choice but to lick it off and consume it while grooming.
Thank you for your reply Wendy. I have tried the pumpkin and the coconut oil and cannot get her to eat them in her food. As I said, she is a picky eater. I have been able to get her to eat her food with olive oil in it but the olive oil is not giving her any relief. I'll go back to the coconut oil and try it again. She 'sneeks up' on her food now like she's saying "OK, what is Mom putting in my food today! " Thanks again Wendy.
As someone else posted, add melted coconut oil to about 2 - 3 teaspoons of pumpkin and also add some ground-up flax seeds (about 1/4 tsp). The flax seed is to add fiber, which will help to clean out the intestines.
Warm up a Tablespoon of water to the mix in as well; the pumpkin is more appealing when it has been warmed. You can also add about 1/4 teaspoon of ground Slippery Elm instead of, or along with, the flax seed. It supplies mucilage which is soothing to the intestines and will help push things along. If she still won't eat the mix, try pouring 1 tsp or so of tuna fish liquid over the top of it.
Give the oil/pumpkin/flax/Slipper Elm mix to your cat 3 - 4 times a day until she poops. If she is an indoor/outdoor cat, keep her inside so you can see when she has pooped.
My cat was having constipation and would only eat only tiny amounts for 4 days. It took that long of me giving her this same mixture to her before she finally let out a long, dry turd.
Others may have suggestions, too, but in the meantime add a 1/4 teaspoon organic UNrefined virgin coconut oil to her food. Do not microwave coconut oil! To easily melt it, put the entire glass jar into a saucepan filled with hot tap water. In about 5-10 mins enough of the oil will melt so that you can spoon out a 1/4 teaspoon. Then, just mix it into your cat's food.
I just found this site today and have read, read, read the posts until I'm 'post crazy'! I have a 9 year old rescue cat who is obese and is having big problems with constipation. The vet has her on Lactulose and Cisapride but it is not working. Since I am a natural healer with my own body I decided to look into natural healing for my cats.
Has anyone had a cat who is obese (need to lose a cat still) and has had problems with the intestinal system? The meds worked for about 9 months but are no longer working. I am thinking about trying the pumpkin and the coconut oil. Whatever I do, I have to put it in her food but she is a picky eater and I don't know if she'll like the taste of pumpkin. She will not take it from a 'tube'! I tried that and it was like fighting a lion or a cougar!
We do every day....the food we eat is poisoned now due to the approval of the FDA...monsonto is the king of culprits and even the Organic in grocery stores has been labeled safe, yet all they did was lower the regulations to put the label "Organic " on foods....lets not EVEN get into the chemical sprays Roundup....on food
Hi Ron, please do not use castor oil or molasses on/for your cat (or any animal). Cats are missing an important enzyme for detoxification, Glucuronosyltransferase (sp?) it is a major phenol detoxification enzyme. Most cats become lactose (dairy) intolerant when they have stopped nursing. Things given may seem fine at the time however down the road you end up with your cat in renal failure, a build up of toxins in their kidneys. Molasses has lots of sugar and that is bad for cats & dogs. Most of the OTC hairball treatments have petroleum jelly used in it, would you eat petroleum jelly? Milk of magnesia is not safe as you need be extremely careful with magnesium and cats, very low dose can be helpful but more could be toxic, how would you know how much to give.
Mama to Many, I like much of the advice you give, however I just had to step in (respectfully) this time. I do work with cats and I keep learning so much as time goes on. Please do much needed research before giving anything to your pets.
With that all said, coconut oil (1/4 - 1/2 tsp.) is safe and for most also effective, give it time, also pumpkin (for both constipation and diarrhea) work for most (1/4 -1 tsp.) and plain, no sugar added or anything else not needed in plain yogurt (organic) in small does (upto 1 tsp.) a few times a week to help gut flora. Yogurt when cultured has broken down the lactose and is fermented and full of good enzymes for the intestinal flora. Always start low dose. Hope this helps you Ron and anyone else in need. Keep up your good work Mama to Many.
I've taken aloe every day for years ..it is gods medicine and repairs alot of problems in the body...I cant see why it wont work on a pet as well as it has treated my hepatitis...After 40 years with hep "c" my liver enzymes are still normal..
Constipation is a potential side effect of turmeric in people and pets. It is a remedy for diarrhea in the same. When there is constipation in someone/pet in my house, I do tend to avoid turmeric for that reason. In general though we don't find it causes constipation when taken with adequate water.
How about milk of magnesia or pumpkin? Is kitty getting enough water? Cats who eat dry cat food rarely get enough water, which can cause bladder stones and constipation.
Is it possible your cat has a hairball? My cats and pet rabbits both had trouble with this. We used an OTC hairball gel for that.
Blackstrap molasses and slippery elm are also good for constipation.
What about massaging kitty's abdomen with castor oil? It absorbs through the skin and helps the bowels to move.
I hope kitty feels better soon - please keep us posted....
I've read many times Tumeric is good for peristalisis, and indeed it has helped me. Hence I was stopped short when I read on your site that it causes cats to be constipated. I was going to give it to my constipated cat. Just 10 days ago, I took her to the vet for being unable to have a bowel movement, and now she's constipated and suffering again. I give her cisapride, lactulose, and miralax, right now every day, and am afraid I'm going to hurt her, especially with too much cisapride. Are you sure Turmeric causes constipation rather than relieving it? Very important, as I seem to be running out of options for her. I hate that I might have to euthanize her because of this.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Just an FYI: black, tarry stool is indicative of bleeding farther up in the GI tract. It may be related to parasites and worms or a very upset tummy/distemper. Super stinky stools can indicate poorly digested food and/or bacterial or viral infection. Kudos for nursing your kitten to good health!
Yes, I have used probiotics on my cats. I rescued a kitten 13 yrs ago and he had the worst poop. Black, tarry and way stinkier than a normal cat and he was so tiny ... I don't know what this poor little guy had been eating but it took about 2 weeks of good food and probiotics to get him back to normal. He grew to be a big, beautiful cat and very healthy too :)
Double Helix - friend said it saved her dog with kidney failure 3 1/2 yrs ago. She uses it as well - Got it from: Pure Earth Products (FL) 352-459-4178
Posted by Maggie (Idaho) on 06/13/2017 36 posts ★★★★★
I'd read that pumpkin is good for constipation in pets but I don't usually have pumpkin on hand. I do however always have frozen winter squash. I tried the winter squash and it works. I think pumpkin, sweet potato and the winter squashes are high in fiber which is what's needed for constipation.
Posted by Sandra (Seattle, Wa) on 05/22/2017 ★★★★★
My elderly cat suffered from extreme constipation. She would strain and nothing would pass. I found two things that worked well. Canned pumpkin - 1/2 teaspoon each day. It takes a couple of days to work through the system, but it did the trick. Also, my holistic vet recommended slippery elm. I opened a capsule and put about 1/4 capsule in some liquid, dissolved it, then gave it in a syringe. This also worked very well.
ABOVE ALL...find yourself a good holistic vet. You don't want to manage kitty's symptoms with toxic drugs in the cut, poison, burn method. You want to get to the root of the problem and help the kitty regain good health.
Posted by Denise (Massachusetts) on 04/24/2017 25 posts
Yes. Doctors are so ready to stuff pharmaceuticals into you. I would rather listen to people's actual experiences like here on earthclinic than go to any vet or doctor who has a vested interest in getting you onto their drugs.
Posted by Jeb1 (New York City) on 12/04/2016 ★★★★★
Recently gave aloe vera from the inner filet to my 16 yr. old female cat who is now having Kidney issues and after the first dose, she had a BM. Very impressed because it had been 3 days since she had a BM. Now if I could find something to reverse her Kidney issues, life would be perfect :)
Hi there do u still give it to her when she is not constipated n doing fine pooping? My cat won't eat wet food at all... I started putting it on my finger n he licks it off... How much do u out in a syringe? Tx
I can tell you the inner part of Aloe contains a latex and we use it in Chinese medicine to aid in constipation. It works fast but I would not recommend it long term and while degreed in Chinese medicine I am not a Vet. That said, if it is safe for pets, as some have tried, just be careful as long term can lead to electrolyte imbalances and irritation of the GI at least in humans.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
There is no conflict in the reports. Pumpkin has fiber which adds bulk to loose stool which firms it up; it also has antimicrobial properties which help fight certain parasites which cause loose stool. The same fiber also works to help with constipation because it retains moisture, which softens the stool and the bulk helps the stool pass quickly. As for toxicity, pumpkin is not toxic but too much will cause large and excessive stool production.
There seems to be some confusion about the use of pumpkin with dogs. Some websites claim that Pumpkin is good for dogs with diarrhea while other websites claim that Pumpkin is good for dogs with constipation.
Pumpkin cannot control both constipation and diarrhea....they are opposites.
Also, is there a toxic amount of pumpkin for Chihuahuas?
I don't believe there is any such thing as pure pumpkin in a can. I can't find pure pumpkin anywhere. I have tried the canned pumpkin that claims to be pure on the outside marketing but in the ingredients there is sugar in it. Could it be the sugar count is natural sugar? I tried the cat food made with pumpkin, and they hate it, won't touch it. They don't always eat the pumpkin I add to their wet food. I make little drops of it on a plate then freeze them and then put them in a baggie for quick pre measured little drops read to microwave one second to defrost then add to their dinner. But as I said they don't always eat it then. Will Baby food sweet potato help with constipation?
The part of the aloe vera plant that is toxic to cats is in the fibers of the plant. If it is juice fit for human consumption it should be fiber free and ok for pets. Or so I was told. Always good to double check any information from a stranger!
Read this online.....can't vouch for it as I'm not a vet, just a concerned pet owner like you all...I HATE taking cat to vet as it seems to usually make him 5x worse from stress (might get the initial problem resolved, but then he'll get a URI or UTI or a number of other issues.
Anyway, here's what I'd read elsewhere:
Give your dog or cat 1/4 to 1 tsp of magnesium citrate powder dissolved in some very hot water. Cats small amounts - larger pets higher dosages - Very large dogs can have 2 tsp. After it dissolves you can add a little cooler water so it is easy to drink. It dissolves beautifully and quickly. You can also syringe feed the magnesium citrate to your pet if need be. The magnesium can be given 2 or 3 times the first day.
Saw the remedy using pumpkin and I wanna tried .... look at the result! Picture says it all!!! We have our chihuahua some canned pumpkin, took him out to poop and within an hour the big lump was gone!!!
I've done that, and it works well. This is something that should only be considered with larger breeds such as the kuvasz, maremma sheepdogs, and great pyrenees, and any similar sized or larger breeds. Home enemas should never be attempted on a dog smaller than 70 lbs, as it is easy to get the dosage wrong and overfill the colon in smaller breeds, which can cause all sorts of problems as well as perforation.
Large, XL, and giant breeds, tolerate enemas well, and provided you use common sense (never use otc phosphate enemas), it is perfectly safe on these dogs.
Our poor old, ancient cat was so constipated, he only passed concrete hard poops, a couple of times per week. He is on kidney K D special canned cat food. He ate very little.
I thought one day how unappetizing the cold food was coming out of the fridge so started adding about 50% very hot water and smashing with a fork, I also gave him about 1 level teaspoonful of plain canned pumpkin to a 1/4 can of food. This makes almost a gravy consistency. He just laps it up (has also lost some teeth). He is now eating this 4-5 times per day, and pooping normal, soft poops every day. It took several days to get the hard stuff passed so don't be surprised if you don't get instant results. I also gave only 1/2 teas. pumpkin to start as I didn't want to cause major gas, tummy ache, etc. He seems to be much more active and eating regularly, comes running when he sees his dish. Poor old guy!!!
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