Feline Impacted Colon Disease

Constipation is horribly uncomfortable--even for cats. If left untreated, feline constipation can progress into the more serious condition of impacted colon disease, or megacolon. This disease is not only painful for the feline, but may also prove fatal. As such, cat owners should pay particular attention to the signs of constipation. Early detection of difficulty might help prevent the feline's constipation from turning into a chronic disease.

  1. Expert Insight

    • When fecal matter builds up in the large intestine and the feline cannot pass it, the feline's colon becomes impacted. The cat may not be able to pass the fecal matter because its colon has enlarged to the point of being bigger than the rectum. When this happens, the stool builds up in the colon because it cannot be passed out through the rectum, explains website Vetinfo.

    Causes

    • Many factors, either singularly or combined, cause an impacted colon. Dehydration is a common cause that exacerbates the problem by drawing water from the impacted fecal matter, drying it out and making it even harder to pass. Foreign material, bones or hair may affect the colon. If the cat is stressed, inactive or lacks a desirable place to defecate, it may refuse to go to the bathroom causing unnecessary stool build up. Injuries to the pelvic area or unrelated illness, such as a rectal tumor, might also be the culprit.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of an impacted colon include frequent attempts to defecate with no results, painful and strained bowel movements, bloody stool, fecal matter that is small, dry and hard, appetite loss, vomiting, abdominal pain and collapse, reports website Vetinfo.

    Treatment

    • The key in treating an impacted colon is removing the fecal matter from the cat's large intestine. If the colon is not too impacted, the veterinarian may be able to cleanse it with an enema; however, if that does not work, surgery might be required. The veterinarian will also give the cat IV fluid therapy to rehydrate its body. If the feline is already susceptible to constipation, a high fiber diet and/or the prescribed stool softener, Lactulose, may be in order.

    Effects

    • It is important to monitor the increased fiber in the cat's diet to ensure it does not begin to suffer the opposite problem of diarrhea. Diarrhea can dehydrate the animal and, as discussed above, exacerbate the colon's tendency to become impacted. If the veterinarian prescribes Lactulose for the cat, common side effects include bloating, gas and stomach cramps, which should subside as soon as the cat gets used to the medication.

    Considerations

    • Impacted colon disease is chronic and the cat will not recover from it. Therefore, it is critical for owners to work with the cat's veterinarian to determine the appropriate treatment regimen of diet, exercise and medication, and stick to it. Enabling the cat to move fecal matter through the colon and out of the body in a normal manner is vital in making certain the colon does not become impacted again.