Cat Enema's

[emerald42]

Is mineral oil toxic to cats when administered anually via an enema? What can happen? I have searched the internet only to find it may be deadly when inhaled but nothing about an enema.

[Butter1]

I used Pet enema but my cat was so constipated.  I needed to give him another but did not have any more.  I used very slight warm water with a little bit of mineral oil.    That did not work so I used a very little bit more of warm water and squeezed 3 tablets of Docsulate in the enema.  That did the trick and he emptied a lot.  
My question is:  the residual of the mineral oil - will that hurt him and if absorbed what will that do?

[Thomas Dock, CVJ, Vet. Technician]

A little more information....mineral oil enemas should not be used in conjunction with DSS (dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate) as the DSS will promote absorbtion of the mineral oil

[Thomas Dock, CVJ, Vet. Technician]

Hi there...I did a little research and found that mineral oil enemas do not apear to be toxic to cats.  BUT...there is an enema out there (phosphate enema) that is very toxic to cats.  I think some of the confusion comes from the fact that a brand name enema (Fleet) makes both mineral oil enemas and phosphate enemas.

Hope that helps!