Changes

'''Dietary'''<br>

'''Dietary'''<br>

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.  

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

'''Mecanical obstruction'''<br>  

'''Mechanical 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 diseases such as prostatic cyst, mass and prostamegaly.  

An obstruction 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 - Small Animal|hypercalcaemia]], hypokalemia can affect peristaltic contractions; the endocrine disorder [[Hypothyroidism|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 defecation'''<br>

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.  

Environmental and behavioural factors are also important; a change in routine or household, or excessive stress can prevent animals from defecating normally. Animals also avoid defecation 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==

Animals most commonly affected depend on the cause of the impaction. Significant risk factors include metabolic disease causing [[Dehydration - Pathology|dehydration]], inapproaprate diet, and drug therapy affecting gastrointestinal motility such as [[Opioids|opioids]] and anticholinergics.   

Animals most commonly affected depend on the cause of the impaction. Significant risk factors include metabolic disease causing [[Dehydration - Pathology|dehydration]],inappropriate diet, and drug therapy affecting gastrointestinal motility such as [[Opioids|opioids]] and anticholinergics.   

==Diagnosis==

==Diagnosis==

* Anorexia

* Anorexia

* Lethargy  

* Lethargy  

* Vommiting

* Vomiting

On abdominal palpation the colon is filled with firm faecal material.  

On abdominal palpation the colon is filled with firm faecal material.  

Digital rectal examination will reveal hardened faecal balls, there may be a palpable mass or sticture, anal sac disease or perineal hernia depending on the cause.

Digital rectal examination will reveal hardened faecal balls; there may be a palpable mass or stricture, anal sac disease or perineal hernia depending on the cause.

===Ultrasound===

===Ultrasound===

Abdominal ultrasound shows a colon imapacted with faecal material. It may also reveal the cause in some cases such as foreign body, colonic mass, enlarged prostate or stricture.

Abdominal ultrasound shows a colon impacted with faecal material. It may also reveal the cause in some cases such as foreign body, colonic mass, enlarged prostate or stricture.

===Radiology===

===Radiology===

Abdominal radiographs reveal a colon filled with faecal material. Radiographs are not normally needed to make a diagnosis of colonic impaction as it can usually be identified on clinical exam, however in certain cases it can identify the cause. A fractured pelvis, dislocated hip, enlarged prostate and colonic or rectal mases can be found on radiographs.  

Abdominal radiographs reveal a colon filled with faecal material. Radiographs are not normally needed to make a diagnosis of colonic impaction as it can usually be identified on clinical exam; however in certain cases it can identify the cause. A fractured pelvis, dislocated hip, enlarged prostate and colonic or rectal masses can be found on radiographs.  

===Endoscopy===

===Endoscopy===

Owners should be educated with regard to management. An appropriate wet diet should be fed, dietary supplementation with bran is helpful in some cases, fresh water should be freely available and activity should be encouraged.

Owners should be educated with regard to management. An appropriate wet diet should be fed, dietary supplementation with bran is helpful in some cases, fresh water should be freely available and activity should be encouraged.

Anitduirectic and anticholinergic drugs should be avoided.  

Antiduirectic and anticholinergic drugs should be avoided.  

===Surgery===

===Surgery===

Surgical removal of faeces under general anaesthesia is neccessary in severe cases where enemas and laxitives have been unsuccessful. A colectomy is required in cases of obstipation or recurrent cases.

Surgical removal of faeces under general anaesthesia is necessary in severe cases where enemas and laxatives have been unsuccessful. A colectomy is required in cases of obstipation or recurrent cases.

    

    

==Prognosis==

==Prognosis==