What Causes Colitis in Cats?
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Causes
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Colitis is an irritated colon and large intestine. This can happen to any cat, whether it is young or old, male or female.
Colitis can be caused by any number of things. Bacteria, parasites, fungi or a virus that the cat has contracted can cause an inflammation and colitis.
Colitis can also be caused by food allergies, colon exams done with a telescope inserted into the large intestine, cancer, pancreatitis, and any physical damage caused by trauma to the stomach and intestine area. Trauma could be caused by a fall, a fight or physical abuse.
Sometimes, colitis is caused by common diseases that your cat might already have contracted, like hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.
Symptoms
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If your cat starts to act differently than usual, then she is probably sick and needs to be taken to your local veterinarian. If your cat is constipated or has more frequent bowel movements than normal during the day, then he might have colitis. If your cat is acting more lazy than usual and is losing weight, then you should take your cat to the vet. Weight loss is a sign that something is wrong with your cat--even if it is not colitis, it is a symptom of many feline illnesses. If your cat is vomiting and has bloody feces, then you should take your cat to the vet right away, because she probably has a serious problem, and might have colitis or another illness that is equally as serious. The main symptoms of colitis are bloody feces and weight loss, but if your cat is acting abnormal in any way, it is a good idea to take him to the vet and have an exam.
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Treatments
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Colitis in cats is a curable illness. The best way to treat the illness is to take your cat to your local veterinarian for an exam. Follow any instructions your vet will give you. Your vet will probably recommend an anti-inflammatory drug to help with the pain involved with an inflamed colon, a dewormer to rid your cat of parasites that might be causing the inflammations, or an antibiotic to kill any bacteria that might also cause the colitis. Your vet might also recommend a diet change, since dietary elements can irritate the colon and cause colitis in cats.
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