Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Constipation and large intestine nerve problem in a young kitten
By Roe, Kirsty A M et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2010·Royal Veterinary College, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Congenital large intestinal hypoganglionosis in a domestic shorthair kitten.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 11-week-old female domestic shorthair kitten was brought in because she had been constipated since weaning. During the exam, the vet noticed her abdomen was swollen, and X-rays showed a large amount of stool in her colon. Unfortunately, after further testing, the kitten was diagnosed with a rare condition called large intestinal hypoganglionosis, which affects the nerves in the intestines. Sadly, the owners chose to euthanize her due to the severity of her condition. This case highlights that congenital issues may be a more common cause of constipation in young cats than previously thought.
People also search for: kitten constipation treatment · why is my kitten not pooping · large intestinal problems in cats
Abstract
UNLABELLED: CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND INVESTIGATIONS: An 11-week-old female domestic shorthair kitten presented with a history of constipation since weaning. Abdominal distension was noted on physical examination and abdominal radiographs revealed a large volume of faeces in the descending and transverse colon. Colonoscopy was unremarkable and euthanasia was performed at the owners' request. DIAGNOSIS: The histological diagnosis of large intestinal hypoganglionosis was made post mortem. SIGNIFICANCE: This appears to be the first reported case of congenital hypoganglionosis in a kitten with histopathological confirmation of the diagnosis. It may potentially be a more common cause of constipation in kittens and young cats than has previously been suspected.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20417903/