Constipation is the infrequent, incomplete or difficult passage of feces from the colon. Constipation does not necessarily indicate loss of bowel function. While constipation is more common in cats than in dogs, the clinical signs are the same. Affected animals will strain to defecate with little if any fecal output. They may vocalize, “scoot” their hind end across the floor and lick or bite at their anal area. Any feces that is successfully passed typically
Every day cats groom themselves extensively and swallow large quantities of hair in the process. Normally, the hair mixes with food and passes in the stool distributed evenly throughout the feces. Sometimes however, hair will remain in the stomach and begin to form clumps. As these clumps increase in size they begin to irritate the stomach and eventually cause the cat to vomit them up. The usual shape of a hairball is a tube approximately
Cats, like people, can periodically suffer from constipation. The condition is often caused by diet or medications, but sometimes constipation can be a result of an underlying condition that your cat may be suffering from. The symptoms of constipation in cats is much like the symptoms that people experience when they are constipated, and your cat will be thankful for a quick and effective treatment.If your cat is constipated, one of the most common symptoms
Mild cases of constipation in cats can usually be treated through diet and increased fluid intake. Moderate to severe cases of constipation may require prescription medications and/or enema treatments in addition to diet and increased fluid intake therapies.The severity of a cat’s constipation is based upon the cat’s history, (such as appetite, behavior, and last known stool movement), physical examination, and x-ray. If a cat is found to have a mild case of constipation, veterinarians