Constipation in kittens: how to deal with it?

This term in medicine refers to all kinds of difficulties with bowel movements. The problem can rightfully be considered the most common factor affecting the health of a pet. Constipation in kittens, for example, occurs in every third four-legged. Veterinarians claim that a healthy cat must perform a bowel movement at least once a day. If you notice that your pet’s stool has become dry and sparse, you should contact a veterinary clinic.

So, what signs indicate that the animal has digestive problems? Firstly, sitting down on the tray, he will meow loudly and piteously. Secondly, the excrement will be dry and hard, among the filler you can find traces of blood and mucus. Constipation in kittens is usually accompanied by loss of appetite, a sharp decrease in weight, lethargy. Sometimes the pet vomits, he stops licking himself. If you notice at least two manifestations from this list, immediately show your four-legged friend to a specialist.

Possible reasons

Constipation in kittens can be due to a lot of reasons. The most common veterinarians call a low-protein diet and dehydration. Think about it: is your cat abusing dry food? You should also make sure that he drinks enough fluids. The factor that provoked constipation can be the so-called “hair ball” (a ball of wool that has accumulated in the stomach).

Diseases

In some cases, constipation in kittens is one of the signs of the disease. Depending on the situation, the doctor may diagnose the presence of a cyst in the intestines of the animal, a neurological disorder, a tumor in the esophagus, obesity, an enlarged prostate, or problems with peristalsis. In addition, the cause may be a foreign object (bone, small toy, piece of tissue, etc.) that has entered the stomach.

Treatment

The treatment process depends a lot on the cause of the constipation. The veterinarian may prescribe a softening stool, laxative, or enema. You can carry out the last procedure yourself, but it is better to entrust it to the doctor. Do not forget that the cat is likely to react to your attempts extremely negatively, in addition, some enemas can be toxic to animals. Constipation in a newborn kitten can be eliminated with medications that increase motility. In some cases, manual bowel cleansing or even surgical intervention is indicated (it is necessary in order to remove the obstruction that prevents the passage of feces). A sick cat is recommended a diet with a high content of fiber and fiber.

Folk remedies

If you pick up a kitten on the street, and he refuses to go to the toilet for several days, do not worry: constipation may well be caused by stress from an unusual environment. Try to give the animal a little condensed milk - most cats love it very much, and besides, it is an excellent laxative.

Risk group

In which case will your pet be prone to constipation? Firstly, if he is over ten years old, and secondly, if he is lazy and does not get enough physical activity.