My Cat Had Megacolon – Here’s What I Did

Understanding megacolon in cats: The causes, the symptoms, and the treatment.

Megacolon is a serious gastrointestinal condition that can affect cats of all ages and breeds. It is characterised by a significant enlargement and decreased motility of the colon, leading to severe constipation and potential complications.

What is the reason I write today about megacolon?

Well you see, last November,in 2023, one of my cats (Blacky) was diagnosed with megacolon. The reason for my writing about it here, is because I want to share with you all the things I learnt, all the thing they don’t tell you, all the wrong things they tell you. And what to expect for future care with your cat if ever they are diagnosed with megacolon.

I will explain the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for megacolon in cats, providing valuable insights I learned along the way.

First, let me explain what it is:

Megacolon is a complex and potentially life-threatening condition that requires prompt recognition and intervention. By understanding the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for megacolon in cats, pet owners can work closely with their veterinarians to provide appropriate care and improve the quality of life for affected feline companions. Early detection and proactive management are essential for mitigating complications and optimizing long-term outcomes in cats with megacolon.

Understanding Megacolon:

Megacolon occurs when the muscles of the colon become weak or dysfunctional, resulting in an inability to move fecal matter through the digestive tract effectively. As a result, stool accumulates and becomes impacted, causing severe constipation. Over time, the colon may become distended and enlarged, further exacerbating the condition.

Causes of Megacolon:

There are several underlying factors that can contribute to the development of megacolon in cats:

1. Idiopathic: In many cases, the exact cause of megacolon remains unknown, leading to a diagnosis of idiopathic megacolon. It is believed to be a combination of genetic predisposition, dietary factors, and abnormalities in colonic motility.
2. Chronic Constipation: Cats that suffer from recurrent episodes of constipation may develop megacolon over time. Chronic dehydration, inadequate fiber intake, and lack of exercise can all contribute to constipation and subsequent colon dysfunction.
3. Neurological Disorders: Certain neurological conditions, such as spinal cord injuries or abnormalities, can disrupt the nerve signals that control bowel movements, leading to megacolon.
4. Pelvic Fractures: Traumatic injuries, such as pelvic fractures, can damage the nerves and muscles responsible for proper bowel function, resulting in megacolon.

Symptoms of Megacolon:

Recognising the signs of megacolon is crucial for early intervention and treatment. Common symptoms include:

1. Infrequent or absent defecation
2. Straining in the litter box
3. Small, hard fecal pellets or no feces produced
4. Pain or discomfort while defecating
5. Abdominal bloating or distention
6. Loss of appetite
7. Lethargy or weakness
8. Vomiting (in severe cases)

Diagnosis:

If megacolon is suspected, a thorough physical examination and diagnostic workup are necessary to confirm the diagnosis and determine the underlying cause. This may include:

1. Palpation of the abdomen to assess for distended colon or fecal masses.
2. X-rays or abdominal ultrasound to visualize the size and condition of the colon, as well as identify any obstructions or abnormalities.
3. Blood tests to evaluate for underlying medical conditions or electrolyte imbalances.
4. Rectal examination to assess the consistency of the stool and check for impactions.
5. In some cases, additional tests such as contrast studies or colonoscopy may be recommended for further evaluation.

Now that the science is out of the way – let me tell you the the signs I experiences that something was wrong with my cat.

1. Her belly was incredibly swollen. At first I thought it was parasites, so I treated her. That night however, she there up, and it smelt like faeces, and that’s when I knew something was wrong. Vomit should smell like voimit, not feral matter. It’s is absolutely a sign of blockage.
2. After a visit to the vet the next morning, she was given some tablets to help with nausea, and given fluids for hydration, and I was sent back home to see if she could pass her stool, after giving her a laxative.
3. The of course got me nowhere, and she got worse. I went back to the vet the next day, and she was given an enema to help loosen up all the stool, with more laxatives and then more fluids.
4. We went home, and she seemed okay for 24 hours, until she threw up again. Back to the vet.
5. This time, she had an X-ray and it was found she had megacolon.
6. She had to spend 3 days at the vet staying in house so she could have daily enemas and laxatives to clear the bowels, be on fluids the whole time, and of course for monitoring to make sure she was also drinking water and eating when she could.

What I wish I had done on the first trip the vet – I wish I got the X-ray on the first vet visit. This would have cleared up the reasons why she was unwell. And it may have also been easier to clear the bowels and she may not have ended up with megacolon.

As I had to X-ray to compare from the first appointment too the 3rd appointment, there is a 50% chance, when I first took her, she did not have megacolon. And they could have helped clear the bowels and she would have been good. But after a week passing, it is possible, the increased build up of the stools in her system then caused her to develop megacolon.

Recommended Treatment Options:

Treatment for megacolon in cats aims to alleviate constipation, manage symptoms, and improve colonic motility. Depending on the severity of the condition and underlying cause, treatment options may include:

1. Dietary Management: The vet will recommend you feed your cat a high fibre diet. The problems with this however is that fibre creates a lot of residue in the gut – meaning, a lot of stool can develop. And when your cat is already experiencing issues trying to poop, a lot of fibre (in my opinion) is not good.
2. Low Residue Diet: A low residue diet is a high protein diet, which creates smaller and less poo, making it easier for the cat to push out. Raw meat is optimal, but if your cat doesn’t like that. Then a very clean meat cat food can work also.
3. Laxatives or Stool Softeners: Veterinary-prescribed laxatives or stool softeners may be administered to help soften impacted stool and promote evacuation. However, these should only be used under the guidance of a veterinarian, as improper dosing can lead to complications.
4. Enemas or Manual Disimpaction: Only to be conducted by the vet, in severe cases of constipation or impaction, veterinarians may perform enemas or manual removal of fecal material under sedation to relieve obstruction and restore normal bowel function.
5. Medications: Prokinetic medications that stimulate colonic contractions may be prescribed to improve motility and facilitate fecal transit. Pain management medications or anti-inflammatory drugs may also be recommended to alleviate discomfort and inflammation.
6. Surgery: In refractory cases or when conservative measures fail, surgical intervention may be necessary. Surgical options include subtotal colectomy (removal of a portion of the colon) or colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis (removal of the colon with reattachment of the small intestine to the rectum).
7. Ongoing Monitoring and Management: Long-term management of megacolon may require regular monitoring, dietary modifications, and medication adjustments to prevent recurrence and maintain bowel function.

I treated my sweet little girl with laxatives and a drug called Cisapride for 7 days to help her get back to a regular routine.

Now it is recommended you then go back for an X-ray and then check to see how everything is going, and whether continued treatment is necessary. I opted not to go back. She was pooing without the help of any laxatives or cisapride, and made the choice to switch her diet to low reside and monitor her very closely.

For 3 months straight, she was almost 100 percent. Of course she had good days and bad days, like the rest of us. But through careful monitoring and the placement of 20 water bowels everywhere to ensure there was plenty of water wherever she went, she was good for 3 months, posing regularly and had a good appetite.

And then everything went wrong. Sadly we lost our sweet girl early February, and it had nothing to do with her megacolon.

She developed a terrible condition rapidly, in the space of a couple of hours, where massive gas deposits forms inside causing her intestines to fold in. Operating is the only way, however, due to her megacolon condition, it is not good to operate, as the megacolon takes up a lot of space in the digestive tract, leaving little to no room to unwrap and re-place the intestines.

No one told us that there could be future health complications with megacolon, and no one ever said that if she ever needed surgery for anything else, it would not be possible.

We were, I was devastated. She was in a lot of agony, crying out a lot in the space of an hour, as I attempted to get her to the emergency vet, as my vet has shut up shop for the day.

They put her on morphine whilst diagnoses, she would be a semi comfortable state, and after seeing the X-ray and how bad things were, and being told the most humane thing was to let her go – was the hardest thing to hear and broke my heart in 2.

Especially after 3 months of care, and she was doing so well.

And the hardest part of all, when the vet showed me the X-ray. Her guts were clear of any feral matter. Meaning, she was pooing and weeing. No blockage at all. It was so difficult to know that she was great with the megacolon, and in the end, another more genetic health complication, most likely passed down from the mum, was what did it in the end.

What do I take from this, and how can I help anyone else?

All in all, it was not megacolon that ended her life, but it did cause complication with something else entirely different that she developed. If I were to teach anything to anyone about this situation, is tread carefully with the health of your cat. If you can afford it, take them for regular trips to the vet to check in with X-rays to make sure all is going well inside.

Perhaps if I had taken her to the vet to help with the gas issues, I may have prevented what happened to her. Despite the vet saying it’s something she developed very fast, within the space of an hour and I would not have known about it. There is always that what if. She did seem flat that morning. I regret not taking her for a check up.

Despite her having good days and bad days, and not wanting to stress her taking to the vet every bad day. At the back of my mind, I will always question, what if I just taken her to the vet on the bad days. To make sure.

I miss her every day, and always will.