Cats are often constipated. It is usually mild and you can help your cat's constipation with simple home remedies.
But sometimes constipation in cats can indicate a more serious health problem, and it can become very serious and unpleasant. So how do you know if it's a serious problem that requires your veterinarian's attention?
Here's what you need to know about the symptoms and causes of constipation in cats, what you can do to help your cat, and when to worry.
Causes of constipation in cats
Anything that causes dehydration in a cat can cause constipation. Some problems are mild and can be treated at home with diet and lifestyle changes, while some can be serious.
Constipation can occur when the bowels do not move normally, causing the stool to remain soft and moist. Constipation can be caused by things like stress and anxiety, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, nerve disorders, and even some types of cancer.
Chronic conditions that can lead to constipation in cats include kidney disease, diabetes, and hyperthyroidism. Torn or damaged anal sacs can also cause your cat pain when defecating and lead to constipation. Cats that eat dry food are also prone to dehydration and constipation.
If your cat holds stool for longer than usual, constipation may occur as the intestines reabsorb too much water when stool sits in them for too long.
Reasons for this include obesity, stress and anxiety, pain from arthritis or anal gland problems, blockage or even some types of cancer.
When does Duphalac start to work?
This medicine is not an instant-acting medicine. It works gently without disturbing your overall well-being. For minor digestive disorders, the effect occurs within 4–8 hours. For persistent constipation, relief may take 1 to 3 days.
Positive signs:
- reducing the feeling of heaviness in the intestines;
- disappearance of spasms;
- softening of stool;
- defecation without difficulty.
Veterinary treatment of constipation in cats
Constipation is common in cats, but can indicate a serious medical condition and should be discussed with your veterinarian.
Constipation should be treated as soon as possible to reduce the risk of permanent damage due to prolonged distension of the colon. Effective treatment includes identifying and correcting the underlying condition (if possible), removing affected feces, and preventing recurrences.
For immediate relief of constipation, your veterinarian may give your cat fluids and/or an enema. Giving a cat an enema is a veterinary job and should not be attempted at home. Some types of enemas intended for humans are actually very toxic to cats.
Veterinarians may also prescribe medications or recommend over-the-counter medications to help manage your cat's constipation symptoms.
More importantly, your veterinarian can help identify the underlying problem causing constipation so it can be treated rather than just trying to manage the symptoms.
Some cats with long-term constipation may have megacolon, an enlarged intestine caused by a defect in the muscle strength of the colon. Cats with chronic constipation or megacolon that do not respond to treatment may respond to removal of the affected area of the colon.
Who is Duphalac contraindicated for?
Treatment with the drug is excluded:
- in case of individual intolerance to components;
- rectal and other internal bleeding;
- intestinal obstruction;
- acute pain syndrome of unknown origin;
- suspected development of appendicitis;
- galactosemia.
The medicine is used with caution in cases of carbohydrate metabolism disorders and diabetes mellitus.
Home Remedies for Constipation in Cats
Here is a list of things you can do at home to relieve your cat's constipation.
Increase your water consumption
Since dehydration contributes to constipation, drinking more water and staying well hydrated helps prevent constipation.
Cats do not drink standing water very well, so the best way to increase their water intake and keep them hydrated is to feed them wet food. This significantly increases your water intake and significantly reduces the risk of constipation.
You can also encourage your cat to drink more water by placing more bowls in different parts of your home, trying pet water fountains, letting the faucet drip, and adding additives to the water that cats like, such as clam juice, tuna juice, or beef juice. bouillon.
If you flavor your cat's water, always leave a plain source of water in case she doesn't like flavored water.
Try a new diet
Food allergies can cause intestinal inflammation and constipation in cats. Changing the source of protein in your cat's food (chicken, lamb, etc.) can reduce inflammation and allow the bowels to move more normally, reducing constipation.
Special limited ingredient and hypoallergenic diets are also available for cats that may be allergic to multiple things. However, it takes about 8-12 weeks for a diet change to work, so it is part of long-term treatment.
Follow the recommended transition period by mixing old food with new food as directed on the cat food package.
Help your cat maintain a healthy weight
Obesity causes intestinal inflammation, which slows down bowel function. Too much water is then absorbed through the stool, causing constipation. In severe cases, there is so much fat in the abdomen that it physically makes it difficult for stool to move.
Your veterinarian can help you figure out whether your cat needs to lose weight and work with you to come up with a diet plan.
Increased exercise and enrichment
Exercise promotes normal bowel movement, which helps treat and prevent constipation.
Encourage your cat to be more active with things like cat toys, cat trees, window seats, and more time to play with you. Exercise will also help keep your cat enriched and reduce his anxiety, as well as help him lose weight.
Minimize stress and anxiety
Cats can become stressed easily if their daily routine is disrupted. This could be a more obvious reason, such as adding a new pet to the house or moving, or a less obvious reason, such as a change in your schedule, construction noise nearby, or a new dog barking in the neighborhood.
Sometimes a cat just needs time to adjust to changes. But you can help reduce stress and anxiety by using calming pheromones (Feliway), supplements (Zylkene and Solliquin are commonly used), herbs and/or medications.
Add more trays
Cats are very picky about their litter boxes. If they don't like the placement of the litter box or even the type of litter box or litter, they may not use it as often, which can lead to constipation.
You should have at least one more litter box than cats, and there should be at least one litter box on every floor of your home.
You may need to experiment with different types of crates and litter to find what your cat likes.
Try fiber or probiotics
Probiotics are “good bacteria” that help support gut health. A healthy bowel will move stool normally and keep it soft, preventing constipation.
Fiber feeds beneficial bacteria and promotes normal bowel movement. It also helps retain more water in the intestines, which helps treat and prevent constipation.
There are different types of fiber, so what works best will depend on the cats. Some common sources are psyllium husk (Metamucil) and wheat bran.
Canned pumpkin is often used, but it actually contains very little fiber and a lot of sugar, so it's not a good choice for most cats.
However, cats have a slightly different gastrointestinal tract than humans, so a high-fiber diet may not always help with constipation.
In fact, sometimes a low-fiber diet works better. This largely depends on the cause of the problem. It is important to understand that there is usually an underlying cause for constipation, and your cat should be taken to a veterinarian to help determine it.
Ask your veterinarian about over-the-counter laxatives
The following over-the-counter products may treat symptoms of constipation, but be sure to consult with your veterinarian before giving your cat any new supplements or medications.
There are several types of laxatives that work in different ways. Most over-the-counter medications cause the body to pull more water into the intestines, which helps soften the stool and make it easier to pass.
Because they draw water into the intestines, laxatives can worsen other symptoms in cats with chronic illnesses by causing dehydration. You should ask your veterinarian if they are suitable for your cat.
Miralax (PEG 3350) is commonly used in cats with constipation, and Colace (docusate) can also be used. Other laxatives intended for humans may cause problems in cats.
Oil- or fat-based laxatives, such as laxatone, should only be used if recommended by a veterinarian and should not be used long-term as they may affect your cat's ability to absorb nutrients from food.
Monitor your cat for constipation
Monitor your cat's bowel frequency and stool consistency at least twice a week initially, and then weekly or biweekly.
Contact your veterinarian if you notice very hard, dry feces or if you notice your cat straining during bowel movements.
Watch for any other signs of constipation and contact your veterinarian if you notice diarrhea, especially since it can quickly lead to dehydration.
How to take Duphalac correctly
The syrup is recommended for oral use: ingested, diluting with water if necessary. It is undesirable to retain the substrate in the mouth; you need to drink it quickly, in one sip, at regular intervals. Usually - 1 time per day.
Dosages depend on the severity of the physical condition. General recommendation: 15–45 ml of product per day. In this case, the initial dose is usually higher: 30–45 ml, and the maintenance dose: 15–25 ml. During the treatment period, you should drink at least 2 liters of liquid.
First aid
Usually, at 2 months, kittens try their first complementary foods. It is the appearance of new foods in the diet that contributes to disruption of the functioning of the digestive organs. This disorder is not dangerous if you help your child cope with it in time. A universal remedy to alleviate the condition of a small cat is Vaseline oil, which is useful to drip into the mouth at the rate of 1.5 ml/kg of body weight. Any vegetable oil is immediately absorbed by the intestines, but this does not happen with Vaseline. The product lubricates the inner wall of the rectum, causing constipation to quickly go away.
To prepare a laxative, you can use condensed milk.
Sunflower oil added to dietary food also contributes to its quality digestion. In addition, you can make a portable drink from cold water and condensed milk. However, you should be careful with the amount of the drug, since in large quantities it negatively affects the condition of the liver. If these methods do not help, the baby’s belly is very swollen and the cat is in pain, you can use a microenema based on chamomile infusion or insert a small piece of laundry soap into the anus. If the condition does not improve and other pathological signs appear, it is better not to delay visiting a doctor.
What types of enemas are there?
Enemas can be divided into:
- Medicinal
These include cleansing and medicinal enemas. Cleansing enemas are used to treat constipation. They are oil (with an oil solution), hypertonic (with a saline solution) and microenemas (Microlax enema). Medicinal enemas can contain various drugs and be used for different purposes. For example, they may use herbal infusions with anti-inflammatory properties. Cold enemas are used to reduce body temperature, and enemas with an anticonvulsant drug are used for epileptic seizures.
- Diagnostic
Such enemas can be used to inject a contrast agent into the rectum to diagnose tumors, ruptures, and diverticula. These enemas are also used in preparation for endoscopic examination of the rectum.
