Twisted Colon in Cats

Twisted colon, or bloat and torsion, is a devastating condition most commonly seen in large dogs, though it is a rising killer in the house cat population. It arises suddenly, with symptoms often benign at first. A vigilant owner must act quickly to avoid its long-term effects and keep a beloved pet alive.

  1. Understanding Twisted Colon

    • Bloat and torsion are the two conditions that make up what is commonly known as "twisted colon." Bloat (gastric dilation) is the filling of the stomach with gas, food or liquid, which causes it to be abnormally enlarged or distended. Torsion (volvulus), the second element of the condition, is the twisting of the stomach brought on by its enlarged state because of the bloat. The condition usually occurs in larger dog breeds, though has been known to occur in cats in later stages of life.

    Symptoms

    • Early signs of bloat will appear before torsion sets in, but all symptoms tend to occur quickly. The "Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care" reported a 12-year-old female cat presenting with "one-day history of lethargy and anorexia" in issue 2 of its 6th volume in 2007. The animal also had a history of chronic bowel disease. Many cats will refuse food because of bloat and will move around less. Lethargy is an important early symptom of twisted colon, as is mucus discharge or foam from the mouth. if these symptoms are observed, the cat should be taken to the hospital as quickly as possible.

    Treatments

    • Surgery is painful but often the only recourse for twisted colon. The stomach must be attached to a solid part of the cat's body, usually the ribcage. If necrosis (cell death) is found during the operation, the animal is usually euthanized. According to kifka.com, an online resource of compiled research and accounts from veterinarians, "There is a 5 percent chance of recurrence following gastropexy. Most of the recurrences are simple dilation (bloat without torsion), and respond well to decompression ... a full blown recurrence of GDV may cause or follow the breakdown of the gastropexy."

    What You Can Do

    • If a hospital is too far away to get to quickly, a well-lubricated tube may be inserted through the animal's mouth into the stomach to facilitate decompression. The tube should never be forced down the throat; this can cause severe damage to internal organs. Once the tube is down, pressure will ease off the stomach, though this will only be a stop-gap for the larger problems of caused by torsion. The animal must be taken to a veterinary hospital as quickly as possible.

    Warning

    • The survival rate for twisted colon is 40 to 85 percent depending on when the symptoms are caught. Early detection is key to the survivability of cats, who are much smaller animals than the larger breeds of dogs usually afflicted with this condition. Be prepared for a long recovery process from surgery to repair torsion and new dietary needs should the animal survive.