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Your cat may be lethargic, and have a painful abdomen and/or a fever. He may have no bowel movements, thick mucus in the rectum, vomiting, and lack of appetite. she may also adopt a hunched-up stance.
Has your cat recently ingested a small object or a poisonous substance? Has he been diagnosed with a hernia, an abdominal tumor, or intestinal parasites? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, your cat may have blocked bowels. This condition typically occurs when a small portion of the intestines becomes obstructed (most often where the small and the large intestines meet, although it could occur anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract). The ailment can be traced to a severe gut-area inflammation, a foreign object, a hernia, a tumor, trichobezoars (hair balls) or parasites.
What To Do When Your Cat Has a Blocked Bowel
Take your cat to the vet immediately. If left untreated, a blocked bowel can kill the intestinal tissue and, eventually, the cat herself.
To reach a diagnosis, your vet will perform both plain and dye-contrast radiographs. If there is an obstruction, emergency surgery will clear the blockage and remove any dead tissue. Post-op care includes 2 days of intavenous feeding (requiring a hospital stay) and 1 week's worth of antibiotics. To produce a good bowel movement, replace half of your cat's regular amount of food with fresh raw meet (a natural laxative) and fresh raw vegetables (to provide bulk), and mix her food with either powdered psyllium (such as metamucil) or mineral oil 2 times a day.
If these recommendations still do not produce a significant bowel movement, an enema can be given several times a day (your vet will teach you how) until one is produced. Veterinary specialists do not recommend Fleet (sodium phosphate) enemas for cats or small dogs, because they may cause severe electrolyte imbalance [1], [2], [3]. Enemas designed for humans should never be given to cats; they cause dehydration.
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Preventing Bowel Block
Watch what your cat puts in her mouth. Pets should NEVER be given cooked bones from leftover meals from their human companions. While raw bones are easily digested and utilized for important calcium and minerals, cooked bones are dangerous and can cause blockage and/or bowel perforation.
Topics to Explore
References:
1. Janet Amundson Romich. Fundamentals of pharmacology for veterinary technicians
2. Stephen I. Bistner, Richard B. Ford, Robert Warren Kirk. Kirk and Bistner's Handbook of veterinary procedures & emergency treatment
3. Douglas H. Slatter. Textbook of Small Animal Surgery
4. John M. Simon, Stephanie Pedersen. What Your Cat Is Trying To Tell You
Go Pets America recommends seeking the advice of your local veterinarian for the most appropriate vaccination program and for the diagnosis and treatment of your pet's health problems. For vaccination requirements please contact your state and local licensing authorities.
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