|
|
|
 |
Cats Symptoms Cure |
 |
| |
|
Symptoms Cats
> Cats Constipation Symptoms
|
|
|
Constipation Symptoms
Constipation is the difficult or infrequent passage of feces. This sign
does not occur often in healthy young cats, but is relatively frequent in sick
and/or old ones. Although constipation may be caused by simple things
such as improper diet or excessive hair ingestion during self-grooming,
when a well-fed and well-cared-for young cat has recurrent bouts of
constipation it is a reason to be concerned and may require diagnosis and
treatment by a veterinarian. Serious causes of constipation include rectal
tumors, spinal cord dysfunction, and reduced colonic muscle function. Most
normal adult cats have one or two bowel movements each day, but since
each cat is an individual and diet has a great influence on stool frequency,
you must learn your own cat’s daily routine. One day without passing a
bowel movement is not normally a crisis situation, but any change in an
individual cat’s normal bowel movement frequency, especially if
accompanied by other signs such as straining to pass a stool, dehydration,
sitting in a crouched or hunched-up position, loss of appetite, or vomiting
warrants your investigation and possible veterinary evaluation.
Cats Diet Change May Help Mild Constipation
If constipation is mild, a change in diet may relieve the problem.
Canned foods containing large amounts of ground bone should be
avoided; they can sometimes produce rock-hard stools only a veterinarian
can remove. Feeding dry cat food will help some cats who tend to have
trouble with mild constipation since dry products contain more bulk-forming
fiber than canned foods. A meal of fresh liver is very laxative, and older
cats who frequently do not drink enough to keep up with their obligatory
water losses often benefit when extra water is added to their foods.
Bulk-Forming Agents May Also Be Needed
Commercial preparations containing psyllium fiber have been
designed for humans to add bulk to the diet and hold water in the stool.
These products are sold in health food and drugstores. They may be used
to help treat recurrent mild constipation in cats. Give 1 to 3 teaspoonfuls (5
to 15 ml) mixed in the food once or twice a day. Bran is also an effective
fiber laxative when mixed with a cat’s canned food. Use up to 4
tablespoons (120 ml) a day. Some cats accept canned pumpkin added to
their diets (up to 4 tablespoons [120 ml per day]) more readily than
psyllium fiber or bran, and it can also be an effective laxative. If you find that
you must add bulk-forming preparations to your cat’s diet frequently,
discuss the constipation problem with your veterinarian.
Enemas Are Best Given By A Veterinarian
An enema may be necessary to relieve impaction of the colon
(hardened stool lodged in the lower bowel). This is best performed by a
veterinarian who should give your cat a thorough physical examination
before treatment. DSS-containing pediatric enemas can be purchased in
drugstores if the services of a veterinarian are unavailable. To administer
an enema, insert the lubricated nozzle into the rectum and administer the
liquid slowly at a rate of 1 ounce per 10 pounds (about 1.5 ml/kg) body
weight. Avoid enemas containing sodium phosphate. They are dangerous
for cats and their use can cause death.
Cats Anal Hair Mats
In long-haired cats, straining to defecate is occasionally associated
with hair matted over the anus, not constipation. The cat sometimes cries,
especially when making attempts to defecate. If you have a long-haired cat
who makes repeated attempts to pass a bowel movement without
success, be sure to examine his or her anus before concluding that the
problem is internal constipation. Clip away any matted hair with scissors or
clippers and wash the anus gently with an antiseptic shampoo. If the anus
is very inflamed, a soothing antibiotic-steroid cream or ointment may help
relieve discomfort. Prevent recurrent problems by keeping the hair around
the anus clipped short.
Straining to eliminate associated with bladder problems and with severe
diarrhea and intestinal inflammation is often confused with constipation. Be
sure you know what the problem is before attempting to treat it.
Veterinarians must often perform rectal examinations by inserting a gloved
and lubricated finger into the lower bowel to be certain a cat is
constipated. In other cases X-rays must be used for diagnosis.
Times to Seek Veterinary Help
If your cat vomits more than a few times; if the vomitus is ejected
extremely forcefully (projectile vomiting); if there is blood in the vomitus or
obvious abdominal pain; if your cat seems particularly depressed, weak,
or has a fever, or retches unproductively, do not attempt to treat the
condition at home. Even simple gastritis cannot always be treated
successfully without the help of a veterinarian, and there are many other
serious causes of vomiting—among them foreign objects in the digestive
tract, stomach ulcers, inflammation of the pancreas, panleukopenia, and
kidney failure. Expect your veterinarian to perform diagnostic tests such as
complete blood counts, biochemical analysis of the blood, and
radiographs (X-ray pictures) of the abdomen when the cause of vomiting is
not immediately evident. Even more sophisticated tests are necessary in
some cases, including endoscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract
and biopsy (removal of tissue for a pathologist’s examination.)
| |
| | | | |
|
 |
|
 | | |
