Constipated cat may need more fluids

While it is easy to see that there is too much of something, sometimes we miss when there is not enough.

The same could be said for cats and constipation: Since this represents an absence of normal stool, it can be hard to notice.

But “hard” is the crucial word here, because for a cat with rocklike feces, life can be very hard indeed.

“Diarrhea and constipation are both common reasons for cats to be brought to my veterinary practice, with diarrhea being the far more common complaint,” explains veterinarian Dr. Arnold Plotnick, the owner of Manhattan Cat Specialists in New York City.

Diarrhea is pretty easy to notice. But what about when nothing, or very little, comes out of the rectum?

Constipation is most commonly seen with older cats and may result in discomfort and a decline in appetite.

Often the constipation is a result of dehydration as the body tries to provide adequate water for its cells, says veterinarian Dr. Margie Scherk, editor of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery and owner of Cats Only Veterinary Clinic in Vancouver, B.C.

If the cells are dehydrated and the kidneys have already reabsorbed or reclaimed as much water as they can, then the only other way that the body can get water is to reabsorb it from the colon, i.e., from the feces.

Because cats evolved in the desert, they do not have very sensitive thirst centers. Scherk says this means that they often function in an underhydrated mode.

Even when (in fact, especially when) a cat has a decline in kidney function and has an increase in thirst, it still may be operating in a water deficit.

Similarly, diabetic cats drink and urinate more than normal, and this often results in a state of dehydration as well.

Whatever the cause of dehydration, constipation can be a result. Before correcting the stool consistency, the most important thing is to correct the dehydration and determine what caused it.

Supplements such as fiber often help in the management of both diarrhea and constipation.

The fiber attracts water and absorbs the excess water in the diarrhea, firming it up. For constipated cats, the fiber helps draw water into the firm stool, softening it up.

However it can be detrimental in a dehydrated kitty to draw the water into the colon, which is why it is important to correct the dehydration first.

To diagnose what’s causing the intestinal problems, a thorough medical history is very important. Depending on what your veterinarian finds after taking a history and doing a complete physical, she may need to run additional diagnostic tests.

Because dehydration is such a common component of constipation, it is very important to evaluate blood tests and a urinalysis to try to identify why the kitty became dehydrated.

Whereas radiographs will show the backup of feces as well as possible fracture of the pelvis, with ultrasound there is a better chance of determining if there is an obstruction (tumor, foreign body) within or outside of the bowel resulting in the accumulation of the feces.

How do you figure out who “did the doo” in a multicat household?

Plotnick says that in a multiple-cat household, one cat may go several days without defecating, and it might escape the notice of the cats’ owner.

Occasionally an observant owner might catch the cat in the act and notice the cat straining to defecate.

However you can add 1/4 cup of the juice from a can of cooked beets to the food of the cat you think is the affected individual to see if the red color shows up in the abnormal stool, says Scherk.

While waiting for the lab tests or ultrasound, some veterinarians might recommend changing the diet to one that is a low residue diet, especially one that has a higher water content (i.e. canned,), but some cats are unwilling to cooperate.

For them, Scherk will try a semimoist food, as it has more water than the dry diets.

Getting dehydrated cats rehydrated is especially important, so subcutaneous fluids may be given. Some cats are so dehydrated that hospitalization and intravenous fluid therapy is needed.

Once the constipated cat has been rehydrated, then use of a stool softener, a laxative or drugs that improve the contractility/motility of the bowel can help.

When should you be concerned about feline intestinal problems?

“Cats are very subtle in communicating pain or illness” said Diana Nelson, a cat breeder from Milwaukie, Ore.

“You have to watch them very carefully.

“If a happy cat becomes grumpy, go to the vet. If an active cat becomes sedentary, go to the vet.

“Even if you’re not sure, you just have a gut feeling that there is something wrong, go to the vet.”

We heartily agree with this advice.