Russian Blue Cat

　　【Causes】

　　1. Rectal injury caused by foreign bodies: There are many causes of rectitis, however, the most common is foreign bodies inside the rectum. Undigested bone fragments, wood chips, or other sharp-edged foreign objects can directly damage the rectal mucosa causing rectitis. In addition, severe constipation with hard fecal masses can also cause rectitis.

　　2. Poisoning and infectious diseases: When poisoning from rodenticides (An Du Shu, Warfarin, etc.) or heavy metals (mercury, arsenic, etc.) occurs, or when infectious diseases characterized mainly by gastroenteritis (such as feline parvovirus infection) happen, secondary rectitis often develops. However, in such cases, pathological changes in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract are usually more severe than in the rectum, and most cases exhibit clinical symptoms due to these causes.

　　【Symptoms】

　　1. Straining, pain, and difficulty during defecation: In mild cases, straining often occurs but only small amounts of feces can be passed. In severe cases, straining recurs with painful howling. Due to difficulty in defecation, only small amounts of feces mixed with blood, mucus, or pseudomembrane can be passed.

　　2. Congestion, bleeding, and edema occur on the rectal mucosa and inside the anus, with heat and pain present. Therefore, inserting a thermometer into the anus causes howling. Additionally, when accompanied by anal sacculitis or perianal inflammation, frequent actions such as rubbing the buttocks on the floor, mats, or carpet are observed.

　　3. General symptoms: Reduced or complete loss of appetite, restlessness, and sometimes vomiting. When the condition is severe and defecation is not possible for over a week, toxic symptoms such as increased pulse and visible mucosal cyanosis appear.

　　4. Sometimes secondary anal sacculitis, perianal inflammation, rectal prolapse, or rectal stenosis occur.

　　【Treatment】

　　1. Removal of foreign bodies in the rectum (1) Enema: Infuse warm water, 5% sodium bicarbonate solution, olive oil (appropriately diluted with warm water), or glycerin (diluted twice with normal saline, 10–20 ml depending on the cat’s weight) into the rectum. Administer enemas 2-3 times daily as needed. (2) Removal of foreign bodies and medication instillation: Use fingers to crush and push foreign bodies backward via the abdominal wall or use forceps to crush and remove them through the anus. Be careful to avoid rectal injury during this procedure. Sedatives should be given before the operation if severe straining occurs. After removal, instill 5–10 mg olive oil containing 5% sulfonamide into the rectum. (3) If the above methods fail to remove foreign bodies, administer oily laxatives orally (castor oil or liquid paraffin 5–10 ml), isovalerylphenolphthalein (50–200 ml), or senna leaves (5–10 mg);

　　2. Local therapy: After rinsing the rectum and anus with normal saline, hydrogen peroxide solution, or 0.1% Livano solution, apply compound iodine glycerin or skin-relaxing ointment three times daily.

　　3. Infusion and antibiotic use: For severe cases, intravenous drip of glucose and Ringer’s solution along with oral tetracycline (20 mg/kg) every 8 hours.

　　4. Dietary therapy: Feed small frequent portions of easily digestible milk, vegetables, meat broth, congee, etc. Additionally, as digestive and intestinal regulators, orally administer a mixture of starch, lipase, lactase, and pepsin three times daily, 0.3–0.5 g each time. Alternatively, give commercially available digestive stomach tonic tablets three times daily (one tablet each time).(Source：PetsZone)