Changes

==Description==

==Description==

Colonic impaction is intractable constipation which can occur in all species, including the dog and cat. There are hardened faeces in the colon and a delayed or failure of faecal passage. The slower transit time allows more salt and water to be reabsorbed, leaving drier faeces in the colon which are more difficult to pass. Peristalsis may increase initially but is then significantly reduced or even absent due to chronic distension. Chronic cases may progress to Obstipation, the faeces become so hard and dry that defecation is no longer possible and ultimately there is secondary degeneration of the colonic musculature.

'''Colonic impaction''' is intractable constipation which can occur in all species, including the dog and cat. There are hardened faeces in the colon and a delayed or failure of faecal passage. The slower transit time allows more salt and water to be reabsorbed, leaving drier faeces in the colon which are more difficult to pass. Peristalsis may increase initially but is then significantly reduced or even absent due to chronic distension. Chronic cases may progress to Obstipation, the faeces become so hard and dry that defecation is no longer possible and ultimately there is secondary degeneration of the colonic musculature.

There are numerous causes which can be categorised as follows:

There are numerous causes which can be categorised as follows:

'''Dietary'''<br>

'''Dietary'''<br>

An abnormal diet with insufficient water content, scavenging or ingestion indigestable material such as plastics, certain plants, hair and bones can all cause problems.  

An abnormal diet with insufficient water content, scavenging or ingestion of indigestable material such as plastics, certain plants, hair and bones can all cause problems.  

'''Mecanical obstruction'''<br>  

'''Mecanical obstruction'''<br>  

An obstrucion of the colon or rectum will cause faecal material to become impacted and dry. The obstruction may be intraluminal such as a foreign body, polyp, mass or stricture. Extraluminal obstruction can be due to a mass, abscess, and prostatic disease such as prostatic cyst, mass and prostamegaly.  

An obstrucion of the colon or rectum will cause faecal material to become impacted and dry. The obstruction may be intraluminal such as a foreign body, polyp, mass or stricture. Extraluminal obstruction can be due to a mass, abscess, and prostatic diseases such as prostatic cyst, mass and prostamegaly.  

'''Colonic weakness'''<br>

'''Colonic weakness'''<br>

A systemic disease causing abnormalities in electrolytes, such as hypercalcaemia, hypokalemia can affect peristaltic contractions, Hypothyroidism also results in colonic weakness.   

A systemic disease causing abnormalities in electrolytes, such as [[Hypercalcaemia - Small Animal|hypercalcaemia]], hypokalemia can affect peristaltic contractions; the endocrine disorder [[Hypothyroidism|hypothyroidism]] also results in colonic weakness.   

   

   

'''Problems with defaecation'''<br>

'''Problems with defaecation'''<br>

Environmental and behavioural factors are also important; a change in routein or household or excessive stress can prevent animals from defecating normally. Animlas also avoid defacation if it is painful due to anal sac disease, trauma to the perineal area, or they are unable to aaume a normal position to defecate because of a fractured pelvis or another orthopaedic condition.  

Environmental and behavioural factors are also important; a change in routein or household, or excessive stress can prevent animals from defecating normally. Animals also avoid defacation if it is painful due to anal sac disease, trauma to the perineal area, or they are unable to assume a normal position to defecate because of a fractured pelvis or another orthopaedic condition.  

==Signalment==

==Signalment==