CONSTIPATION
A CONSTIPATED PET EXHIBITS INFREQUENT OR DIFFICULT EVACUATION OF THE STOOL. The feces are usually hard and dry. There are many causes of constipation in pets. Some are not serious while others can be life threatening. Correct treatment depends on identifying the cause of your pet’s constipation. Constipation is most often caused by dietary or environmental factors.
. Fiber in the diet is important for normal defecation, just as with people. A pet food with high fat and gravy levels may be deficient in fiber. Substances such as hair, bones, or other indigestible foreign matter can mix with the stool and cause constipation. Hairballs in cats are a very common cause. Dogs can also develop abnormal stools if they ingest too much hair, especially if they are licking at themselves because of an itchy skin problem.DIETARY
ENVIRONMENTAL. Changes which affect an animal’s daily routine, such as removal of a cat’s litter box (or changing the type of litter), a hospital/boarding kennel stay, or lack of exercise can also cause problems.
HEREDITARY. In some cats the problem seems to lie with abnormal nerve function within the intestinal walls. Affected cats are born with an abnormal nerve supply to the intestines and they slowly worsen with age. In these cats the large intestine does not contract properly, causing stool to sit too long in the colon. It becomes dryer and more difficult to pass with time. Repeated episodes of constipation cause stretching and further damage to the intestine, eventually leading to a large, distended and barely functional colon. This condition is called “megacolon.”
OTHER CAUSES OF CONSTIPATION:
HOME CARE MANAGEMENT. Diets rich in fiber can be used to aid in the control of constipation just as with people. The fiber increases water retention in the stool and softens it. The increased bulk also increases propulsive movements of the intestines to help with eliminations.
Twice daily, feed your pet a diet containing at least 10% fiber. Recommended foods for both dogs and cats include Prescription Diet r/dÒ or w/dÒ. These diets can significantly reduce mild constipation.
Keep your pet well groomed. This reduces excess hair that is consumed due to the pet’s normal licking.
Regular exercise, especially about 1 hour after a meal will help stimulate the bowels to empty.
Keep the cat’s litter box clean.
Use mild laxatives or stool softeners as recommended by the DVM. VetasylÒ is a product available at the clinic that works well for both dogs and cats that tend to have problems with mild constipation.
Stronger laxatives are needed in more severe cases.
Surgery is the last resort for serious megacolon cases.
