Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Gastrointestinal obstruction.
- Journal:
- Clinical techniques in small animal practice
- Year:
- 2002
- Authors:
- MacPhail, Catriona
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
When a cat shows signs of gastrointestinal (GI) problems, one major concern is a blockage in the intestines. There are several reasons why this can happen, especially in cats, such as swallowing string-like objects, hairballs, tumors, infections, or a condition called megacolon, where the colon becomes enlarged. Common symptoms of a blockage include vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, straining to poop, not eating, or losing weight. To diagnose a blockage, vets often rely on the cat's symptoms and may feel for a mass in the belly, but they also use tests to confirm the blockage and find out where it is. Treatment usually involves surgery to remove the blockage and prevent it from happening again.
Abstract
For cats that present with signs of gastrointestinal disease, obstruction is a primary differential. There are numerous reasons of gastrointestinal obstruction in small animals, yet there are several specific causes that are more commonly associated with the cat. These include linear foreign bodies, trichobezoars, focal intestinal neoplasia, feline infectious peritonitis, and megacolon. Clinical signs related to gastrointestinal obstruction consist of vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, tenesmus, anorexia, or weight loss. The course and onset of disease depends on the rate at which the obstruction develops and whether the obstruction is partial and complete. The diagnosis of obstruction is typically suspected based on clinical presentation and palpation of an abdominal mass. Diagnostics tools are used for definite diagnosis and determination of location within the gastrointestinal tract. Surgical treatment is dependent on the etiology of the obstruction and various techniques are employed to remove the obstruction and prevent recurrence.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12587284/