Rectal prolapse

From Felipedia

Rectal prolapse in a 16-week-old Singapura kitten with ventral deviation of the lumbar vertebrae causing mechanical interference with lower bowel function. This kitten was eventually stabilized on a tinned-food diet and daily administration of oral coloxyl. Courtesy Dr Jim Euclid

Rectal prolapse is an eversion of several layers of the rectum through the anus caused by persistent straining because of urogenital or intestinal disease. The most common cause is severe enteritis/proctitis due to endoparasites, most often affecting kittens under 4 months of age. Additional causes include intense straining associated with queening, urinary obstruction and secondary rectal/uterine prolapse, rectal foreign bodies (often fishing line or cotton), chronic constipation or pelvic malformations.

Neoplasia of the colon, rectal polyps, rectal tumours ^[1] or urinary neoplasia^[2] have also been recorded as causes of rectal prolapse in cats.

Treatment

Acute cases can be digitally corrected while the cat is sedated (medetomidine). A purse string suture is usually placed to close the anus for 1-2 days, to allow swelling of the rectum to resolve.

A low-bulk diet is recommended, such as tinned food to minimise fecal straining in the first week post-op. Long-term management of pelvic deformities may require oral medication with Coloxyl, Lactulose or other proprietary fecal softeners.

Recurrent cases may require colopexy diversion of fecal material^[3].

References

1. ↑ Demetriou JL, Welsh EM. (1999) Rectal prolapse of an ileocaecal neoplasm associated with intussusception in a cat. J Feline Med Surg 1(4):253-256
2. ↑ Barrand KR.(1999) Rectal prolapse associated with urinary bladder neoplasia in a cat. J Small Anim Pract 40(5):222-223
3. ↑ Popovitch CA, Holt D, Bright R. (1994) Colopexy as a treatment for rectal prolapse in dogs and cats: a retrospective study of 14 cases. Vet Surg 23(2):115-118