Poopy butt cleaning

[mia]

This is about my elderbun / end-of-life / illness

So I’ve done butt baths for other buns but problem is not a large area to really do butt baths. Basically he’s getting poopy butt every two days or so. He gets meds 2x/day so I check every time. The problem is, it dries up and sticks (maybe worse because there’s a heat lamp). The last time it stuck to to skin and maybe he worked at it? that the skin got irritated. It was quite difficult to get out. I worked at it with a little bit of Aquaphor on a Q-tip and then toilet paper with warm water. Obviously I was very careful and gentle but skin was already inflamed/red so it was difficult for him. I clean dried CC off his chin and weepy eye crusts around his eyes so he’s used to me cleaning him (eyebrow brush/comb is amazing)

Any tips for poop cleaning and removal?

Also, he sits in a little cushion, like a donut with a bottom that’s perfectly his small size, most of the day so he’s just basically on top of the poop most of the day. He does get up to use the little box and eat frequently but I wonder if there’s so way to alleviate the poop stuck on butt issue as often there’s poop stuck to the bottom of his cushion too.

[LBJ10]

Yeah… I had this problem. Is it possible to line the cushion with something? Like faux sheepskin?

As for poopy butt cleaning, I would place a towel on the bottom of the bathtub and use the handheld shower head (turned down) to just get his rear wet. I would support his front half with one hand and his feet would be on the towel. Then I would use liquid castile soap to loosen the poop and break it up.

[BrunosMama]

I was thinking something similar to LBJ – if you could line the cushion with something soft, yet disposable, you could maybe just toss the cloth when it gets icky or when he gets up to eat. Maybe cut pieces of fleece or a bed sheet? I know paper towels would be too rough on his little bum.

When I have had to do butt baths in the past, I did them in the bathroom sink. It was a good size for the bun (their butt lined up well with the faucet) and I put a wash cloth or hand towel in the sink and also on the side of the sink. It worked well for me because I could prop my elbow on the edge of the sink and support the bun, while using the other hand to wash with and the water just did its own thing. I could also set all the stuff within reach on the side of the sink.

I think letting the clumps soak in warm water for a few seconds helps in breaking them up. Also, for stubborn ones, rubbing them gently between your fingers with a wash cloth can help, too (as long as you don’t rub directly on their skin).  Dawn dishsoap (the kind with no anti-bacterial stuff in it) is safe for washing, just be sure to get it fully rinsed. <!–/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_250403_111016_347.sdocx–>

[mia]

Thank you both!

A towel in the sink helps so much 😀 .

[Author]

Messages