Feline intestinal obstruction is a common digestive system disease in cats. It refers to a disease in which the intestinal lumen is blocked due to physical or functional factors, preventing the intestinal contents from passing smoothly. The main location of disease is in the small intestine, which can be divided into complete obstruction and incomplete obstruction according to the degree of obstruction.

Introduction to feline intestinal obstruction

Feline intestinal obstruction is a common digestive system disease in cats. It refers to a disease in which the intestinal lumen is blocked due to physical or functional factors, preventing the intestinal contents from passing smoothly. The main location of disease is in the small intestine, which can be divided into complete obstruction and incomplete obstruction according to the degree of obstruction.

Causes of intestinal obstruction in cats

1. There are foreign bodies in the cat’s small intestine, such as bones, fruit cores, hair balls, and a large number of parasites.

2. Cats suffer from intussusception, which causes intestinal impaction.

3. Cats develop secondary intestinal adhesions after abdominal surgery.

4. Tumors, granulations, etc. grow in the cat’s intestines, causing intestinal lumen stenosis.

5. Cats often lick their fur, causing hairballs to block the intestines.

Symptoms of intestinal obstruction in cats

Cats will vomit. The initial vomitus contains undigested food and mucus, and later bile and intestinal contents are found in the vomitus. Cats will have symptoms of abdominal pain and will not want people to touch their abdomen. The cat gradually shows symptoms such as anorexia, weakness, depression, etc. Eventually, the cat develops dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and various organ failures in the late stage, leading to the cat's shock and death.

Treatment of intestinal obstruction in cats

The options are generally divided into conventional conservative therapy and surgical therapy. The conventional method is to give cats cooking oil, etc. to expel the blockage in the intestines. The surgical method is to crush the obstruction in the intestine or cut the intestinal tube to remove the obstruction through surgery.