Megacolon

The gastrointestinal tract ends with the colon, which stores the feces and then contracts to push the feces out of the body. If the nerves stimulating the colon are not working, the muscles stretch and the colon enlarges. It fills up with hard fecal material, and results in extreme constipation.

CAUSES:

More than half of cases are idiopathic (the cause cannot be found).

Some possible causes include:

Narrowing of the pelvic area
Nerve or spinal cord injury
Spinal cord deformities
Blockages (tumors, hairballs etc.)
Recurrent constipation
Colon cancer

SIGNS:

Common signs that may show megacolon in cats are:

Hard, dry, bloody feces
Severe constipation
Involuntary urination
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Vomiting and dehydration
Lethargy

DIAGNOSIS:

To properly diagnose your cat with megacolon, your veterinarian may perform the following:

Abdominal examination
X-rays
Digital rectal exam
Neurological exam
Blood and urine tests
Colonoscopy
Biopsies

TREATMENT:

Most veterinarians will recommend the following treatments for cats with megacolon:

Enemas: to flush out the hardened fecal material
IV Fluid therapy: for dehydration
Oral medication: to stimulate the colon to contract and to soften the stool
Diet change: more fiber and water

For cats that do not respond to treatment, your veterinarian may recommend surgery to remove the colon or widen the pelvic area.

PREVENTION:

Megacolon is difficult to prevent. Cats prone to constipation may benefit from a fiber-supplemented diet, laxatives and/or enemas. You should make sure there is fresh drinking water available at all times.

PROGNOSIS:

Surgery is generally successful, and most cats will recover with treatment.

Recurrences may occur, and some cats will have diarrhea for a few months after recovering.