What causes a cat to have a megacolon?
Megacolon is a dilation of the colon that can be caused by prolonged constipation or damage to the muscles in the wall of the colon. It tends to be a very chronic problem and cats that have it usually have weight loss and poor hair coats. They don’t feel well so they don’t groom their coats much.
Can a cat with megacolon be euthanized?
Uncommonly, constipation is chronic and is associated with a marked increase in the diameter of the colon. When megacolon is present, constipation responds poorly to medical therapy. Without surgical treatment, megacolon may become an intolerable problem, with euthanasia of the cat as the probable outcome.
Is there a cure for idiopathic megacolon in cats?
It can be a curable disease with early surgical intervention. Cats should never receive an enema during the preop period. Otherwise, it dramatically increases the risk of fecal leakage during the anastomosis. Fibers may help in the early stages of idiopathic megacolon when the colon still has some ability to contract.
Can you give an enema to a cat with megacolon?
Cats should never receive an enema during the preop period. Otherwise, it dramatically increases the risk of fecal leakage during the anastomosis. Fibers may help in the early stages of idiopathic megacolon when the colon still has some ability to contract.
How does megacolon affect a cat’s bowel movement?
The difference between the two is that when a cat has megacolon the colon will no longer function properly ever again. If there is simply constipation then once the cause of the constipation is resolved the cat should be able to defecate normally again. Cats with megacolon have lost their ability to move stool through the large intestine.
Can a cat with feline megacolon be cured?
Feline Megacolon is a serious condition that can affect cats. As the name sounds, the disease causes a very large colon. While cats with this condition can not usually be cured without surgery, there are several things that can be done.
How can I tell if my cat has a megacolon?
Most of the time a vet will diagnose megacolon by taking an xray. A radiograph of a cat with megacolon will show a very dilated colon filled with firm stool. The colon in this diagram to the right shows a colon that is at least twice the size of that of a normal cat.
Cats should never receive an enema during the preop period. Otherwise, it dramatically increases the risk of fecal leakage during the anastomosis. Fibers may help in the early stages of idiopathic megacolon when the colon still has some ability to contract.
Causes of Megacolon in Cats Megacolon can have multiple causes, including narrowing of the pelvic area (due to a pelvic fracture), nerve injury, or spinal cord deformities. Rarer causes include cancer and inflammation. In nearly two-thirds of all cases, the condition is termed “Idiopathic Megacolon” because the cause cannot be found.
Can a cat be diagnosed with megacolon or constipation?
The radiographic findings of colonic impaction cannot be used to distinguish between constipation, obstipation and megacolon in idiopathic cases. First or second episodes of constipation in some cats may be severe and generalized, but may still resolve with appropriate treatment. Ancillary studies may be indicated in some cases.
Can a feline take erythromycin for megacolon?
Erythromycin has no effect on feline colonic smooth muscle; therefore, is it not indicated in the treatment of feline constipation, obstipation, or megacolon. Metoclopramide and domperidone enhance gastric motility, but they have no effect on colonic transit times, therefore making them useless for megacolon.
It can be a curable disease with early surgical intervention. Cats should never receive an enema during the preop period. Otherwise, it dramatically increases the risk of fecal leakage during the anastomosis. Fibers may help in the early stages of idiopathic megacolon when the colon still has some ability to contract.
Why does my cat not have a bowel movement?
Megacolon causes severe constipation, or what veterinarians call obstipation. This is a large build up of feces in the colon, and sometimes rectum, such that the cat cannot have a bowel movement.
Can a feline megacolon cause vomiting and vomiting?
Feline megacolon is most commonly seen in middle aged male cats, and any breed can be affected. It is the result of dysfunction of the colonic smooth muscle. Most obstipated cats strain to defecate and produce little or no stool. If obstipation is severe, it can result in vomiting,…
What should I do if my cat has megacolon?
Medications to help treat megacolon in cats may include: Prokinetic medications that stimulate movement of feces out of the colon, such as Cisapride Laxatives that make stool softer, such as Polyethylene glycol or lactulose Probiotics that support gut health
Which is the best stool softener for cats with megacolon?
MiraLax™ (polyethylene glycol 3350) may be replacing lactulose as the stool softener of choice for cats with megacolon and obstipation. It has virtually no flavor and can be easily sprinkled on or mixed with wet food. The starting dose is 1 / 8 to ¼ teaspoon BID, and this dose is titrated upwards depending on desired stool consistency.
What does it mean when your cat can’t poop?
If your cat is pooping less frequently and having some difficulty, she may be constipated or obstipated. Constipation and Obstipation in Cats Constipation is a condition characterized by infrequent, incomplete, or difficult defecation, with passage of hard or dry bowel movements (feces).