Stomach And Digestive Disorders In Cats

The digestive system of the cat includes organs from the mouth to the anus. This system is responsible for taking in food, breaking it up into nutrients, absorbing them for the needs of the body and preparing the waste products for excretion. The organs that form the digestive system include the mouth, the salivary glands, the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine and the large intestine. Since the digestive system is made up of so many organs, the number of diseases that can afflict them are also numerous. In this article we shall deal with the stomach and digestive disorders.

Common Diseases

Some of the common diseases that afflict the cat stomach and digestive system are as follows:

• Acute Gastritis

This is a kind of inflammation of the stomach caused when the cat eats what it is not used to, for example, spoilt food, grass, toys, feces or drugs. At times bacteria and parasites within the cat may also cause acute gastritis. Symptoms of the disease include vomiting, pain in the abdomen, dehydration and lethargy. The treatment would include anti-vomiting medications and if required, antibiotics. If the cat has become dehydrated, fluids may need to be given.

• Chronic Gastritis

A cat may be suffering from chronic gastritis when it regularly vomits and does not respond to treatment for the same. The disease could also be due to some chronic inflammatory process in the stomach. The vomit of the cat may be thick and may contain mucous and blood. Other symptoms include loss of appetite, dark stools, abdominal pain and abnormal thirst. Tagamet or Zantac are used when the disease is due to acidity and Cortisone-like drugs in case of inflammation. Pepto Bismol may be used to provide relief to the stomach. Anti vomiting medications may also be prescribed.

• Pyloric Hypertrophy

The pylorus is the part of the stomach that is responsible for emptying the contents of the stomach into the small intestine. In this condition, the pylorus thickens consequently making the transfer difficult. It usually occurs in kittens and is congenital in nature. Symptoms include repeated vomiting, dehydration and weight loss. Correcting the pylorus surgically can help to cure the problem.

• Gastrointestinal Foreign Objects

Foreign objects in the stomach and digestive system may cause disturbance. The most common foreign objects found are hairballs and string. Usually these objects are vomited out. But at times the hairballs form a solid ball and cause an obstruction in the stomach and digestive system. The symptoms include vomiting, dehydration, abdominal pain, weakness, loss of appetite and bloating. The treatment would involve hospitalization of the cat, restoring the fluids in its body and then removing the obstruction surgically.

• Gastric Ulceration

This disease is uncommon in cats. It is usually a secondary disease caused by acute gastritis, chronic gastritis, foreign objects, tumors, stress, drugs and infections by Helicobacter amongst others. It can be treated by giving easily digestible foods, antacids or Tagamet. The Helicobacter infection can be treated using antibiotics.

The most common symptoms in case of disorders of the stomach and digestive system are vomiting and dehydration. If your cat displays these symptoms, consult a veterinarian to find the underlying cause and get it treated.