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Overview:
Constipation is not a disease,
but a symptom of an underlying problem. It is defined as the infrequent passage
of small, hard & dry stools. There is no set number of bowel
movements a cat must take in a day, but one to two is fairly average. It can
affect cats of any age although it is seen more commonly in middle aged to
elderly cats.
Chronic constipation lead to a
condition called megacolon, in which the colon becomes
abnormally dilated & enlarged
& lose it's ability to contract. This may
ultimately lead to obstipation, which is a complete blockage.
What are the
causes of constipation?
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Dehydration: Water is
re-absorbed from the colon & if the cat is dehydrated, the body will try to
conserve water by removing additional water from the stool.
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Reluctance to defecate due to
behavioural issues. Dirty litter trays, not wanting to share a litter tray
etc.
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Obstruction of the colon.
There are many possible causes of obstruction including birth defects,
hairballs, tumours, polyps, ingestion of a foreign object.
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Dietary: Diets which are low
in fibre can cause constipation. Ingestion of food containing hair & bones
which cause a blockage.
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Drugs & medications:
Antihistamines, diuretics & antibiotics are some drugs which can cause
constipation in the cat.
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Painful defecation: Causes
include impacted anal glands or perianal bite abscess.
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Neurological: Including
damage to the nerves in the colon & anus, spinal cord injury, paralysis.
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Hypothyroidism.
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Pelvic injuries from car
accidents which lead to fractures narrowing the pelvic canal.
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Metabolic/hormonal: Low
potassium, kidney failure, diseases of the thyroid & parathyroid glands.
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Idiopathic. Sometimes it is
not possible to find a cause of the constipation.
What are the
symptoms of constipation?
As one would
expect, the most obvious sign of constipation is straining. After a period of
straining, the cat may pass a small amount of watery feces, or small hard/dry
feces, it may cry in pain as it attempts to defecate. As the condition
progresses other symptoms may include:
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Crouching & straining for
prolonged periods in the litter tray, with either no feces being passed or
small, hard, dry stools
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Defecating
outside the litter tray
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Lethargy
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Vomiting
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Depression
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Hunching
over, due to discomfort
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Loss of
appetite
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Weight loss
How is
constipation diagnosed?
Your
veterinarian will perform a physical examination of your cat & obtain a medical
history from you.
Abdominal
palpitation will reveal a hard & full colon.
X-ray of the
abdomen & pelvis to asses the size of the colon & to evaluate for
abnormalities of the lumbar spine & pelvis.
If cancer is suspected,
endoscopy & biopsy may be performed.
Blood chemistries & urinalysis
to check for metabolic reasons for dehydration such as kidney disease or
diabetes mellitus.
How is
constipation treated?
If possible,
find & remove the cause of the constipation.
For mild constipation, your
veterinarian may recommend bulk-forming laxatives. These may include wheat bran
or Metamucil.
Rehydration with intravenous
fluids & prevention of future dehydration.
Lubricants & or
stool softening products may be recommended in the case of mild constipation.
In more severe cases your
veterinarian may wish to perform an enema on the cat. It is extremely important
that you do not attempt this at home.
Ensure the litter tray is
cleaned every day.
How can I
prevent constipation?
Removing the
cause if at all possible is the best course of action. This includes:
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If your cat
is prone to hairballs, you should speak to your veterinarian about special
hairball diets available for cats.
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Frequent
brushing to reduce the amount of hair swallowed.
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Regular
treatment for parasites.
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If the cause
is diet related, try mixing in some canned pumpkin for added fibre.
FLUTD is a life threatening
condition in which the cat struggles to urinate. Symptoms of FLUTD include
straining in the litter tray & may be confused with constipation. FLUTD is
extremely serious & requires urgent veterinary attention, so if you do notice
any symptoms which point to constipation, always seek veterinary help
immediately.
Please note:
The medical
articles on this site have not been written by a
veterinarian & should not be considered a replacement for a
veterinarian visit. The articles are provided for
informative purposes only.
Always seek
immediate veterinary advice for any problems (health or
behavioral) in your pets.
While great
care has been made in the creation of these articles, we
cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages.
If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical
advice.
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