Straining
Straining is a frequent and sometimes exaggerated effort to have a bowel movement or to urinate.
What to Do
** Transport the pet to a veterinary facility for examination and diagnosis.
What NOT to Do
** Do not delay getting the pet examined.
** Do not administer medications unless instructed to by a veterinarian.
It is often difficult to tell if the pet is having trouble urinating or defecating. Most owners feel their pet is constipated when they notice him straining. Straining produced by constipation may be identical to straining produced by diarrhea. Therefore, treatment of an assumed cause of straining may be the opposite of what is actually needed.
In cats, straining is often indicative of urinary tract infection. Cats sometimes develop a condition called FUS (feline urological syndrome) or LUTD (lower urinary tract disease) in which tiny crystals develop in their urine. When there are too many crystals, the
crystals can plug the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder) and prevent the bladder from emptying. The bladder becomes distended and the pet strains to relieve himself. Without help, this pet may be in critical condition within 24 hours. Dogs may also have obstructed urinary tracts.
Many other conditions can cause straining in cats and dogs: an enlarged prostate gland; irritated bowels; cancer of the bladder or bowel; intestinal or bladder polyps; and more. This is why the simple act of straining should not be assumed to have a simple solution.