#megacolon

[talesfromtreatment]

.... that is the most severe megacolon I have ever seen. 5 week old kitten. This is not compatible with life.

[drmannimal]

Constipation in Cats

A cat with constipation may present to you for a number of different reasons - straining to defecate, crying out at the litter box, vomiting, loss of appetite. A thorough physical exam can lead you to diagnose constipation (palpable firm feces in the abdomen, difficulty passing rectal thermometer). 

Constipation is a sign that is not pathognomonic for any one disease.

Possible causes include: 

Dehydration (increased water loss, decreased water intake)

Painful defecation (including orthopedic disease)

Reluctance to defecate (fear, undesirable litter box)

Mechanical obstruction 

Functional obstruction (megacolon, ileus)

Metabolic disease

A thorough history will help differentiate between possible causes. Inquire about water intake, litter box habits, interaction with other animals in the household, and expression of pain in other aspects of their life.

Diagnostics: First episode - may not pursue further diagnostics, treatment (hydration) may be adequate. Recurrent - CBC, biochem T4, UA. Digital rectal exam. Depending on what other clinical signs are being displayed, rads, US, neuro exam etc. may also be performed.

Five steps are involved in treatment:

Rehydrate  - IV/SQ fluids

Feces Removal - enema or manual extraction - In my experience, this is not usually pursued for a first-time offender.

Diet - High fiber, wet-food diet 

Laxative

Promotility drug - Consider after other therapies have been tried and failed. - Cisapride is a good option.

Bonus step - enhance the environment. - ensure duplicates of water, food, and litter boxes. - make sure litter boxes are large, uncovered, clean and easy to access. - make sure water sources are fresh daily; possibly try a water fountain to encourage water intake.

What to do if medical treatment is not working (>6 months)?! The last resort treatment is a subtotal colectomy. This is a procedure with significant potential complications and should therefore be performed by a soft tissue surgeon when possible.

[twinkiespot]

Twinkie update (TMI for some folks): Kitteh constipation (megacolon) is now under control, with 2x a day doses of lactulose and vegasyl. She gets a mix of prescription Hills ID and WD canned food, with the meds mixed in. She seems to enjoy getting fed in the computer room, separately from HoHo, so that helps. She runs in there and waits for me, when she sees me mixing stuff up. The prescription kibble that was suppose to help her poo didn't, but when HoHo knocked the bag off the counter in the middle of the night and noshed away... yeah... I get why the vet chuckled when she said I'd know it if HoHo got some. Didn't know the little dude could poo so much. A prescription food with a clear result. ;)

[strangebiology]

TIME FOR SUPERBOWELL SUNDAY (x)

[prometheus-ghost]

Can I leave celebratory posts on this site that my (newly) chronically constipated megacolon cat pooped? Because we're both just so happy about it 😸

[frettedzetaplushball]

[drhitendrakgarg]

Ignoring constipation for too long can lead to a serious condition called megacolon! 🚨 When the colon becomes abnormally enlarged due to chronic stool buildup, it can cause severe bloating, pain, and even life-threatening complications.

💡 Watch out for warning signs like persistent constipation, abdominal swelling, and difficulty passing stool. Early intervention is key! . . . Schedule a consultation: Dr. Hitendra K Garg

📲 8920361841, 8920632657 📲 Follow us: @drhitendragarg Visit: www.drhitendrakgarg.com . . .

[emilioalessioloiacono]

Megacolon tossico: cause, sintomi, trattamento, anatomia patologica

Il megacolon tossico è una patologia dell’apparato digerente, caratterizzata da un’abnorme distensione del colon che causa il