Introduction
Diagnosis of colitis in cats is dependent on the cat’s symptoms in addition to an examination of the cat’s feces. In order to pinpoint the cause of the colitis, and eliminate any other possible cause of the symptoms, blood, urinalysis, and x-ray tests may also be performed.
Diagnosing Colitis in Cats
Once a veterinary suspects that colitis could be causing the cat’s symptoms, a complete fecal test is immediately performed. This test will check for the presence of intestinal bacteria, and a microscopic examination of the feces will help the veterinarian to see if any harmful protozoa are in the feces or if the bacteria count of the feces is out of control. If any of these tests turn up positive, the cat is treated and then examined again at a later date before any additional tests are performed.
If a veterinarian suspects that the symptoms, or colitis, could be due to an underlying medical condition, then additional tests are performed. A urinalysis will help to check for conditions such as diabetes and chronic renal failure. X-rays, ultrasounds, and extensive blood tests will also check for any underlying medical conditions. Specialized tests for hyperthyroidism, pancreatitis, FIV, and FeLV may also be performed as these conditions can cause colitis or colitis-like symptoms to occur.
In cases where tests are inconclusive, or the veterinarian wants a closer look at the intestines, a colonoscopy may be performed. This type of test is performed when the cat is sedated, and it uses a small camera, which is passed through the cat’s anus, to get a close look at the health and appearance of the intestines. If the veterinarian wants a biopsy of the intestine, than a specialized tool at the end of the camera can be used to grasp a small piece of intestinal tissue.