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Constipation
Constipation is a sign of large bowel problems and is not a disease itself. Factors that predispose a cat to this condition are dehydration, ingestion of hair or other foreign material, inactivity, unclean litter box and resulting litter box avoidance, pelvic injuries, breed predilection (Manx cats), and tumors.
Clinical signs include:
- Failure to defecate over a period of days or making frequent attempts to defecate, but producing little or no stool.
- Straining to defecate – your cat may cry out or walk around anxiously and make repeated attempts to defecate.
- Some cats appear to have diarrhea due to passage of mucous and fluid secretions around the impacted fecal mass.
- Anorexia, lethargy, vomiting, dehydration, a “hunched-up” appearance and defecating or urinating outside litter box is also commonly seen.
Symptoms of constipation can be confusing and an examination, sometimes under sedation is needed to make a diagnosis. It is very important to differentiate straining due to bladder obstruction from straining related to fecal retention. Constipation is diagnosed by symptoms seen at home, abdominal palpation of hard feces in the colon (this may require sedation), and radiographs of the abdomen. Determining the cause of the constipation often requires bloodwork or other tests. There are many causes for constipation, and often various tests and examinations are necessary to find the underlying cause.
Treatment:
Mild constipation may be treated simply with diet change and stool softeners, while more severe cases may require hospitalization. Hospitalized cats will be evaluated and treated for dehydration and given enemas and oral laxatives until the fecal mass is soft enough to be passed. Medical therapy for treatment and prevention of constipation includes the following products. The exact protocol must be individualized for each patient, but may include:
- Enemas
- Laxatone 1-5 ml orally daily
- Psyllium (Metamucil) 1- 4 tsp. mixed with food 1-2 times daily
- Canned pumpkin 1-4 tablespoons mixed with food daily
- Wheat bran 1-2 tablespoons mixed with food daily
- Lactulose .5ml/kg 1-3 times daily
Prevention:
- Regular grooming will remove loose hair from your cat’s coat.
- Provide clean litter at all times to encourage regular defecation.
- Provide access to fresh, clean water at all times.
- Give oral laxatives as directed since constipation tends to be a recurrent problem.
- Make necessary dietary changes to control weight and provide your kitty with frequent exercise time.
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