What is megacolon in dogs? Causes, symptoms, and treatment options.

Question

I want to know more about megacolon in dogs. I just put my dog to sleep with this desease.

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

I am so sorry for your loss. Megacolon is not particularly common in dogs. There is usually an underlying disease process that causes the colon to become larger than normal, making it difficult to impossible for pets to have a bowel movement. Some of the possible underlying causes include Myasthenia Gravis, severe chronic constipation, disease of the rectum or anus, and injury to the spinal cord or pelvic bones. If a pet is very young with megacolon, it can be a congenital deformity. Occasionally, we never discover the underlying cause; this would be an idiopathic case of megacolon. There are several different treatment options that can help manage mild-to-moderate megacolon, including enemas, medications to stimulate colon contraction, or laxatives or stool softeners, as well as directly treating the underlying cause if known. I am a veterinary acupuncturist and have had moderate success in treating megacolon cats with acupuncture as it is another modality that can cause colon contraction and decrease pain. Abdominal massage can also aid in comfort and stimulating the colon. Occasionally, you have to physically express the stool from the colon if the pet will allow. As I mentioned above, megacolon is not common in dogs. It can be much harder to manage than megacolon in cats simply due to size of the pet. I hope this information has answered your question. If there is anything more we can discuss about megacolon or problems specific to your pet, or tips on handling grief after the loss of a pet, please choose a consult and we can discuss things further.

What is megacolon in dogs? Causes, symptoms, and treatment options.

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