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8.5-year-old Male Neutered Domestic Shorthair
9.4 kg
Presenting complaint and brief history
Defecating outside of the litterbox, with firm and painful stools. Owner is unsure of the last normal urination or defecation. The patient has been anorexic for the last few days and vomited once last night. A similar episode occurred last year, which resolved after switching to a new diet.
Diagnosis
Hides the diagnosis, imaging findings, outcome, take-home points and correlation photos so you can read the images blind.
Megacolon
Highly suspected
Imaging findings
- The maximal colonic diameter measures 2.1 times the length of L5. The descending through transverse portions of the colon are markedly distended with mineral opacity feces. There are a few small regions that contain gas. A portion of the ascending colon is also markedly distended with similar feces.
- Markedly distended colon nearly completely filled with mineralized feces. The degree of distension is compatible with megacolon.
What happened with the patient
Received IV fluids and started on oral stool softeners. Discharged with pain medication and stool softeners.
Key take-home points
- Check the pelvic canal on every study.
- Make sure to include a ventrodorsal pelvic view when you can, so an obstructive cause isn’t missed behind the feces.
Contributed by
- Oren Ofer
DVM, DVSc, DACVR
52 cases
Educational use only — not clinical advice.
Cite this case
Ofer O. Megacolon. Radabase case 784ae922. Retrieved 2026-11-08 from https://www.radabase.vet/case/784ae922-cd23-449d-9c3f-dd5c8ce7a73a
Discussion
Questions and observations from colleagues. Never post identifying patient or owner information.
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