What to feed a cat for constipation: a list of healthy foods

Gastrointestinal disturbances occur for various reasons. Colonic stasis can be triggered by poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, drug therapy, pathology of the digestive system and other factors. Constipation often occurs during pregnancy, after childbirth and surgery.

Chronic problems with bowel movements require a full medical examination. After identifying the causes of constipation, treatment is prescribed. Therapy may include medications and a special diet.

Most often, for constipation, doctors recommend a third dietary table. Diet number 3 is prescribed to patients who do not have gastrointestinal diseases, or whose diseases are in remission. The therapeutic diet was developed by gastroenterologist Manuil Pevzner. The diet helps prevent diseases of the colon and rectum and other complications arising from chronic constipation, as well as improve the quality of life.

The effect of diet on the intestines

Proper nutrition helps maintain normal internal balance of the intestines. Diet number 3 for constipation is aimed at improving and stimulating the basic functions of the intestinal microflora, such as:

• synthesis of amino acids and vitamins K and C, as well as B vitamins;
• local immune defense of the body;
• enzymatic processing of dietary fiber;
• neutralization of toxins;
• maintaining the secretory activity of the gastrointestinal tract.

Diet number three restores the functional activity of the intestines, normalizes metabolic processes, improves motility and secretion of intestinal glands. The diet prevents fermentation and the formation of gases, promotes the elimination of toxic compounds, and also normalizes fluid exchange. The healing table ensures normal digestion and timely bowel movements.

When to talk about constipation

The normal frequency of bowel movements for adult animals is once or twice a day. But minor delays are also acceptable - up to 36 hours. In older dogs and cats, intestinal contractions are more sluggish - accordingly, they may not visit the litter box as often as before. On the contrary, puppies and kittens are characterized by more frequent bowel movements.

A situation where there is no stool for two days or more, and the pet clearly feels discomfort, is considered a cause for concern. For example, a dog whines and asks to go for a walk at an inopportune time, and a cat sits in the litter box and pushes, but to no avail. Sometimes during constipation, a little feces still comes out, but they are very dry and small.

If you ignore this condition, the animal will soon become lethargic and depressed, lose appetite, and may experience increased body temperature and vomiting. All these symptoms indicate that toxins have already accumulated in the body - waste products of pathogenic bacteria and the animal needs help.

Principles of dietary nutrition

To normalize intestinal function and prevent constipation, you need to adhere to the rules of a balanced diet:

1. Maintain drinking regime . Drink at least two liters of clean water per day. Drink water in the morning on an empty stomach, and before each meal. The liquid helps soften stool and improves the passage of food through the intestines.
2. Eat small meals . Eat food often: 4 to 6 times a day, in small portions. Fractional meals facilitate the process of digesting food and do not burden the gastrointestinal tract.
3. Eat more fiber . Dietary fiber affects intestinal receptors and enhances peristalsis. This promotes better movement of feces through the intestines and facilitates the process of defecation.
4. Avoid harmful foods . Excluding fast food and food containing preservatives from the diet has a beneficial effect on the condition of the intestines during constipation.

The basis of table number 3 includes products with a laxative effect. They enhance peristalsis and accelerate feces excretion. The dietary table excludes the consumption of foods that contribute to the activation of decay processes. These include, for example, fried foods, as well as foods with a high concentration of essential oils.

Constipation in cats: signs

Cats fed SUPERPET usually have dry, hard stool. These cats may only defecate a couple of times a week. If there are no other warning signs, your pet is fine.

You should worry if

• the cat often goes to the litter box, but to no avail;
• the cat defecates less than 1-2 times a week;
• the cat has difficulty defecating;
• The cat has lost her appetite and is vomiting;
• the cat has become restless or has decreased activity sharply.

If these symptoms appear, you should immediately contact your veterinarian. Constipation in cats is not always caused by diet. The veterinarian will determine the cause and help eliminate it. In acute cases, the doctor may prescribe an enema and prescribe a laxative.

Features of diet No. 3 for constipation

The weekly dietary menu is designed taking into account the balance of proteins and carbohydrates in the diet. At the same time, there is an increase in the amount of fat due to the inclusion of vegetable oils. The diet involves consuming 100–120 g of fat, 85–100 g of protein, 450–500 g of carbohydrates.

Table No. 3 does not provide for the obligatory chopping or grinding of food. It is allowed to consume boiled and baked dishes, as well as carbonated mineral water in moderate quantities. You can cook porridge with milk diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio.

Drinks and foods whose temperature is below 15 °C increase peristalsis and reduce the production of gastric juice. Therefore, for constipation, it is recommended to drink chilled drinks. Before breakfast, it is advisable to drink a glass of cold water, and at night - compote or kefir. In addition, to soften the stool, it is useful to take 1-2 tablespoons of unrefined vegetable oil on an empty stomach. The oil coats the intestines and improves the movement of feces.

You can follow the diet for a long time. With this diet, the frequency and consistency of stools are normalized. This diet is indicated for constipation caused by an unbalanced diet and a sedentary lifestyle.

Prohibited Products

Like other diets, “Table No. 3” involves excluding certain foods from the diet. These include:

• flour products from yeast and puff pastry;
• fatty fish and meat, strong meat broths;
• radish, horseradish, garlic and other spicy vegetables;
• spicy sauces, mustard, hot pepper;
• strong tea, coffee and other caffeinated drinks;
• canned foods, fried eggs;
• legumes, mushrooms (mushroom broths are allowed);
• bananas, dogwood, blueberries, nuts;
• drinks with tannins: jelly, cocoa, drinks made from quince, bird cherry and blueberry.

Whole milk, smoked meats, fried and pickled foods are not recommended. You also need to exclude alcoholic drinks, chocolate, pasta, and legumes. Prohibited foods include rice, semolina, sweets with cream, and margarine. There is no need to eat foods that are difficult to digest: mashed potatoes, canned food, hard-boiled eggs, slimy soups.

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When and how to give cats Royal food. How the food works

Since Royal Canin Fiber Response is a preventative food for constipation, it is not recommended to be given to your cat on a regular basis. Its purpose is to treat and prevent digestive problems.

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If you notice problems with your cat's stool, perhaps bowel movements have become less frequent than usual or have a dry consistency, then it's time to think about changing something in her diet or lifestyle. You should not wait for constipation to become more serious or even chronic.

How much and for how long should I give this food for constipation to my cat? Depending on weight, lifestyle, age and general health, the dosage of food is calculated. The main condition is to give food for 2-4 weeks, no more. If the problem does not change dramatically, you may need to take your cat to the veterinarian to determine the cause of the constipation and prescribe treatment.

Although it has a number of advantages, Royal Canin Fiber Response still has a significant drawback. It is contraindicated in cases of intestinal obstruction or when constipation is chronic.

Authorized Products

Diet No. 3 for constipation is aimed at increasing the proportion of foods that enhance colon motility, namely:

• containing organic acids in large quantities: sauerkraut, citrus fruits, fruit drinks from sour berries and fruits, fermented milk drinks;
• with a high content of plant fiber: dried fruits, bran, cereals, wholemeal bread, raw vegetables (spinach, cabbage, radishes, carrots, etc.);
• cold first courses and desserts: okroshka, beetroot soup, ice cream;
• stringy lean meat: veal, rabbit, turkey, beef;
• lean fish: hake, cod, as well as any seafood;
• compotes, weak tea, chicory, rosehip decoction, natural juices.

The diet includes the inclusion in the diet of products with a laxative effect, as well as those that stimulate intestinal motility, such as honey, grapes, sweet apples, peaches, pumpkin, dates. Softening stool is facilitated by eating foods that swell in the digestive tract and facilitate the process of bowel movement.

Dietary fiber contained in cereals, vegetables and fruits is not digested. They absorb toxins and other harmful substances and activate peristalsis. Organic acids inhibit the growth of pathogenic microflora, increase the contractility of the intestinal muscles and normalize stool.

Diet No. 3 involves eating beets, cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, cauliflower, and broccoli. For constipation, it is allowed to add green peas and white cabbage to the diet. It is advisable to include fresh cottage cheese, sour cream, as well as fermented milk drinks in the five-day or seven-day menu: yogurt, kumiss, fermented baked milk or drinking yogurt.

If you have problems with bowel movements, you need to eat more berries and fruits containing plant fiber and sugar. For example, nectarines, apricots, plums, melons, watermelons. It is allowed to eat mild cheeses, scrambled eggs, and cream. For sweets, it is better to choose marshmallows, marmalade, jelly, and marshmallows.

You can and should add parsley, dill, cilantro and other greens to your food. Food must be cooked in vegetable or butter. Table No. 3 is quite diverse.

Causes of IBS with constipation

When self-treating irritable bowel syndrome, you should know the factors that lead to it.

• Psychological - emotional tension, stress. IBS in this regard is a vicious circle. Irritation that does not find a rational explanation and solution leads to the syndrome. The disease reduces the quality of life, provoking negative emotions.
• Social - unfavorable conditions, for example, poor nutrition.
• Biological - intestinal infections.

Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation is recognized by most researchers as a psychosomatic disease. Indeed, past infections can aggravate the condition, but the main cause of the disease lies in other mechanisms. What distinguishes IBS from other types of disorders is that it does not occur due to structural changes in the intestinal walls.

The mechanism of its development is a violation of the nervous regulation of intestinal motor function. Thus, Sheptulin notes in his work that “IBS is in many cases a unique clinical form of neurosis, in which intestinal disorders become the leading clinical symptoms” (Sheptulin A. A., 1999, p. 8).

People with IBS have a higher sensitivity of the intestinal apparatus to stretching, since the threshold for receptor excitability is lower. This leads to pain and discomfort. In this case, constipation can be associated with both a weakening and an increase in propulsive intestinal motility. Propulsive peristalsis ensures the movement of intestinal contents to the anus.

The leading causes of the syndrome are psychosocial factors. We can talk about both chronic stress and high workloads, social unsettlement, one-time peak loads and shocks. Scientists talk about a certain genetic predisposition to the disease.

The condition for the appearance of visceral hypersensitivity can be certain factors: +

• past infections;
• stress, trauma,
• operation, etc.

These factors change intestinal motility. As a result, a stimulus of normal intensity (for example, a small volume of gases moving through the intestine) leads to an increased pain response.

Exercise and physical activity

It is important to increase physical activity: make it a habit to take morning and evening walks, jogging, play sports to the extent physically possible, and swim. If atonic constipation is the result of an injury or a disease of the musculoskeletal system that requires long-term immobilization, then it is important to consult a doctor.

The specialist will develop an exercise program individually, taking into account capabilities and general health. Constant bed rest and complete abstinence from exercise are not indicated in almost any case, except for the most severe ones, so movement is a necessary component of improving the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Exercises such as “bicycle”, leg lifts, and walking are useful. If it is impossible to perform the exercises, you should resort to a kind of passive activity - do a light abdominal massage. Movements should be soft, careful, clockwise.