What does megacolon cat poop look like
Megacolon in Cats
What Is Megacolon in Cats?
Yes, you read that word correctly. Megacolon is a chronic condition that occurs most often in cats and is basically a mega-sized, stretched-out, weakened colon.
Megacolon in cats can cause devastating health consequences as the colon fills with old, hardened feces, and the colon is not strong enough to pass the cemented stool.
Symptoms of Megacolon in Cats
The most common clinical signs of megacolon in cats include:
You may also see watery diarrhea when the liquid stool is forced around a stuckfecal ball or mass.
As megacolon progresses, your cat may:
Causes of Megacolon in Cats
The most common cause of feline megacolon is unrelieved or recurrent constipation.
Constipation can be caused by a number of things:
An abnormal narrowing of the pelvis (either congenital or resulting from injury, such as a car injury)
Paralysis of the anal region
Chronic gastrointestinal (GI) diseases
Diseasethat results in dehydration
Physical obstruction (tumors, foreign bodies that get stuck along the intestinal tract, hairballs, and naturally occurring strictures in the colon)
With all of these causes, if constipation is not relieved, the distended colon loses normal muscle strength, which exacerbates the constipation.
Another cause of megacolon begins when a cat loses proper nerve function within their colon. This prevents the muscles of the colon wall from functioning properly to pass along stool.
The muscles become stretched, and the colon gets wider. Fecal material accumulates and does not get pushed out, resulting in severe constipation, or worse, obstipation, where the cat stops defecating altogether.
How Vets Diagnose Feline Megacolon
On physical examination, your vet may be able to feel the enlarged colon unless your cat is overweight. Radiographs, or x-rays, of your cats abdomen and spine are frequently recommended to look for underlying problems and to assess the degree of constipation.
Radiographs with contrast dye can allow your veterinarian to see the flow of food through the GI tract and thoroughly evaluate the condition. Routine laboratory tests will give a wider picture of your cats overall condition, and an abdominal ultrasound may be recommended as well.
Treatment for Megacolon in Cats
Treatment of megacolon in catsdependsupon the cause and severity. A medical approach is usually tried first, but surgery may be necessary for severe or chronic cases.
A medical approach involves the use of laxatives, colon-wall stimulants, enemas, and high-fiber diets or low-residue diets. While these dont correct the underlying cause, they will hopefully allow fecal material to pass so the cat does not become further constipated. If megacolon is caught early, this may be enough to return the cat to normalcy, but theres a high chance of recurrence.
More severe constipation often requires anesthesia and administration of enemas combined with manual extraction. It may take several attempts to relieve your cats constipation.
If the problem continues for months or years, a cats colon may eventually stop functioning. Surgical removal of the affected area of the colon is often necessary to return these cats to health.
Recovery and Management of Feline Megacolon
Recovery for cats with megacolon that are treated medically is uncertain and best evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
If muscle function returns and constipation resolves with therapy, the prognosis is fairly bright; however, recurrence is common in many cats. For these patients, pet parents must be diligent in monitoring stool output to prevent severe recurrence. If a cat is otherwise healthy and has a functional colon, they may benefit from targeted or prescription diets and medications.
When the condition has progressed to the point of requiring surgery, the prognosis doesnt necessarily worsen, but the road to recovery can be longer. The cat will likely have increased bowel movements and loose stools for two to three months following surgery.
If no complications occur after surgery, most cats do quite well. Unfortunately, megacolon seems to be a devastating condition for many young kittens who develop the condition.
Megacolon in Cats FAQs
How long can a cat live with megacolon?
There is no expiration date attached to a diagnosis of megacolon, but the disease is serious and should never be ignored. Early intervention is the key with megacolon in cats. If you see the symptoms and go to the vet early on, your cat can go on to lead a basically normal life.
Can cat megacolon be cured?
Treatment of megacolon in cats depends upon the extent and severity of the condition. The longer it continues, the more aggressive the treatment must be. Chronic treatment may be required in any case.
How does a cat get megacolon?
Under normal circumstances, the colon or large intestines absorb water and store fecal material. When the movement of feces is delayed and feces remains in the colon for prolonged periods, the colon continues to absorb water from the feces.
This causes the delayed stool to dry out and harden, making it more difficult to pass. This can lead to more feces piling up, which stretches the colon out, and the cycle becomes harder to break as the stool is harder to pass.
Image: istockphoto.com/Mironmax Studio
What Should My Cats Poop Look Like?
As gross as it might seem, keeping close tabs on what your kittys stool looks like may actually help you catch health problems early.
While most of us try to clean out the litter box as quickly as possible and be done with it, taking just a few seconds to learn whats normal for your cat and noting when there are changes is actually very importantand extremely helpful for your veterinarian.
Read on to learn what is considered normal for most cats and what some of the changes in your cats poop might mean.
Monitoring Your Cats Poop
There are a number of things to look to when trying to determine if your cats poop is normal. The most important factor is getting a feel for what the stool usually looks and smells like when your cat is not having any issues.
The first factors to consider include the color and consistency of the stool. Although a cats stool is often covered in cat litter, simply breaking it in half as you scoop it will help you get a good look at the color and a feel for the texture without any extra effort.
A quick look at the surface of the stool will help you to determine whats a normal amount of mucus (that shiny coating on the surface of the poop) for your kitty. You should also check for any unusual objects (like hair ties or milk jug rings!) in your cats poop.
Next, try to determine approximately how often your kitty defecates. Are you finding stool in the box once a day? Twice? More than that? If the frequency changes over time, thats very important to note.
And perhaps the last factor to take daily note of is the hardest to misswhat is the normal smell for your pets stool? This may vary from day to day, but if it suddenly becomes much more pungent, there may be some cause for concern.
Changes in one or more of these parameters, especially if theyre combined with alterations in your cats attitude or appetite, can be critical in diagnosing an illness early.
If you are noticing any changes, ask these questions:
Is there a reasonable explanation?
Did you change your cats food or treats?
Is there something that could have caused your cat stress (recent move, new people or guests in the house, construction noise, stray cats, or different schedules)?
Is your cat not acting normally? What is normal will also be different for each animal and can depend on things like age, exercise level, or diet.
Cat Stool Guide
Use this guide to determine what normal cat poop should look like and when there might be an issue.
Normal Cat Poop
Knowing whats normal for your kittys poop is key and will quickly help you determine when things arent right. This is a general guideline for normal stool in cats, but you should also go by what youve found to be normal for your cat.
Color(s):
Typical stool will generally be a chocolate brown to a deep brown color.
Consistency:
The most common shape is like a large Tootsie Roll, with some segmentation (lumps) present. It is usually easy to break open and will continue to hold its shape once broken or moved.
Smell:
The English language is quite deficient in describing smells (how does one describe the smell of popcorn or pizza?), and the same is true for describing the smell of normal cat poop! It certainly does have an odor, as cats use their stool as part of a territory-marking routine, but it shouldnt stink up the entire house. After a few minutes, the smell associated with normal cat stool should be limited to the immediate area around the litter pan.
Frequency:
Most cats will pass stool at least once per day. Some cats will pass stool more or less frequently, but on average, once a day is to be expected.
Abnormal Cat Poop
If you notice any of the following signs, take a photo of the stool in the box and put the stool into a container in case your veterinarian would like to examine it.
Colors:
Red, especially if its bright red and seemingly on the surface of the stool, may indicate fresh blood coming from the colon or end of the digestive tract. This should be investigated quickly.
Black/TarryIf the entire stool looks black and tarry when you break it open, this is often a sign of digested blood coming from higher up in the intestinal tract, such as the stomach or small intestine. This should also be investigated quickly.
Light Brown/Tan color often means that the food is not completely digested.
Orange/Yellow coloration often indicates that the liver or gallbladder is not functioning as well as it normally should.
Green color can be caused by eating plants and grass, but it can also indicate the presence of bacterial infection.
Consistency:
Hard Pebbles often indicate some degree of constipationor dehydration.
Soft/Mushy Stool that is still able to hold its shape often indicates a short-term upset in the digestive tract that should be monitored closely. If it doesnt resolve within a day or so, or any other signs of illness are present, consult your veterinarian.
Liquid stools or diarrhea means that you should consult your veterinarian right away.
Smell(s):
Very smelly stools usually mean that somethings out of balance in the digestive system. This can range from not tolerating the diet well to inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, liver disease, parasites, stress, or other systemic disease.
Metallic smells usually indicate that iron is in the stool, which can be a sign of blood in the stool.
Frequency:
If your cat is defecating more often than once a day (if this is their usual frequency) or the stool does not look normal, there is cause for concern.
Something in the Poop:
Mucus may be normal in small amounts and often indicates that there is some inflammation present in the lower intestinal tract (colon).
Hair often means that your kitty is grooming more than normal, and since it is not digested, hair will pass through the intestinal tract and into the stool. In small amounts, this is considered normal.
Tapeworms are a very common parasite usually transmitted to cats by fleas. They often appear like rice-like grains under the tail or in the poop that might be alive and wiggling.
String/floss may be present either in the stool or hanging from the cats rectum after they defecate. If you notice anything coming out of your cats rectum, do not pull it out. Call your veterinarian for guidance. Pulling on the item could potentially cause significant damage to your cats intestinal tract.
Other objects that your cat eats may also come out in their stool. Some common finds include hair ties, bits of toys, and even plastic milk top twisties. If your cat seems to be acting normally and the item has fully passed, everything should be okay, but its always wise to call to your veterinarian to make sure additional treatment isnt needed.
What to Do if Your Cats Poop Isnt Normal
Call your vet right away if your cats poop looks abnormal and you notice any of the following:
Blood in your cats stool
Your cat is acting strange or seems unwell
Your cat is lethargic
Stool that is pure liquid
Black or tarry stool
Something hanging out of your cats rectum
If you notice that your cats stool isnt normal but your cat doesnt have other symptoms, monitor the litter box carefully to see if things resolve within a day or two. If the stool is still not normal over the next 24-48 hours, its time to call the vet.
It is usually helpful to take a photo of the stool in the litter box and save the poop in a bag or container for your veterinarian to look at as well.
Many say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. This may be true, but it is also very true that your cats intestinal tractparticularly the stoolis the window to their overall health. Monitoring your cats stool closely is a very effective and easy way to help your vet identify and diagnose problems early.
Featured Image: iStock.com/CasarsaGuru
