Ask Dr Claire

Kitten with severe diarrhoea and secondary prolapse, help?

With rectal prolapse in kittens, first thing is to treat the cause, which is the diarrhoea. This may require worming, other medication and certainly dietary change to a bland but highly digestible diet.

Rectal prolapse treatment depends on how bad it is, prolapses that are significant and not reducible (can’t be put back into place) often need surgery. This surgery is performed by a veterinarian under anaesthetic, which involves a suture to keep the prolapsed tissue inside where it should be, the suture is removed a few days later without anaesthetic.

Sometimes keeping the prolapsed tissue moist and clean, and trying sugar on the tissue as a treatment (sugar can have an osmotic effect which draws out fluid to help reduce the swelling), together with the treatment of the cause – the diarrhoea, will allow it to resolve without surgery.

Best thing is to get her booked in with your local vet for a hands-on examination as soon as possible.

If you’d like to chat in person, you can book a live video call or start a chat to discuss in more detail, as soon as possible.

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Chat soon,
Dr Claire