🐾 Vet First Aid 2025: What to Do If Your Cat or Dog Is Straining to Eliminate 🐶🐱

By Dr Duncan Houston BVSc

It’s a common emergency room call: “My cat is straining in the litter box,” or “My dog keeps trying to poop, but nothing comes out.” Many pet owners initially think it’s constipation—but straining can be caused by multiple, very different, and sometimes life-threatening conditions. ⛑️

🚨 Why Straining Isn’t Always Constipation

Straining can occur during attempts to urinate or defecate, and it's often difficult to tell which one your pet is struggling with. What looks like constipation could actually be a urinary blockage, especially in male cats. In these cases, delayed treatment can be fatal. 🕐

🔍 Common Causes of Straining

In Cats:

• 💥 Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD)
• ❌ Urethral blockage (a male cat emergency!)
• 🧪 Crystals or mucus plugs
• 💩 Constipation or inflamed colon
• ⚠️ Urinary tract inflammation or stones

In Dogs:

• 🪨 Bladder or urethral stones
• 🧬 Tumors or prostate enlargement (especially in older males)
• 🔥 Inflammatory bowel disease or rectal irritation
• 🚫 Urinary tract infection or inflammation

Since symptoms can look identical—don’t guess. An accurate diagnosis is crucial to giving the right treatment. 🎯

⚠️ Signs Your Pet Needs Emergency Care

• 😿 Repeated, unproductive straining in the litter box or outside
• 😖 Crying or vocalizing in pain
• 🐾 Frequent trips to the litter box or door without results
• 🤢 Vomiting, weakness, or collapse (especially in cats)
• 🧊 A hard, distended abdomen

If your male cat is straining to urinate and nothing is coming out—get to a vet immediately. Urinary obstruction is a life-threatening emergency. 🆘

✅ What to Do

• 🚗 Transport your pet to a veterinary clinic as soon as possible
• 🏥 If vomiting, painful, or lethargic, head to an emergency hospital
• 🛏️ Handle your pet gently—keep them calm and secure

❌ What NOT to Do

• ❌ Don’t delay or “wait it out” if symptoms persist
• ❌ Don’t apply pressure to your pet’s abdomen
• ❌ Don’t give over-the-counter meds unless advised by a vet

🔬 Diagnosing the Cause

Veterinary teams use a combination of:

• 🧪 Urinalysis and bloodwork
• 🩻 X-rays or ultrasound
• 🧫 Rectal or prostate exams (in dogs)

This testing helps differentiate between urinary vs. digestive causes and guides emergency treatment. 🧬

💉 Treatment Varies Widely

• 🧪 Urinary blockage = immediate catheterization under anesthesia
• 💊 Infection = antibiotics, pain relief, fluids
• 💩 Constipation = enemas, hydration, stool softeners
• ⚙️ Tumors or polyps = surgery or biopsy

📅 Prevention & Monitoring

• 💧 Keep your pet hydrated
• 🥫 Feed high-quality, appropriate diets (wet food for cats often preferred)
• 🏠 Minimize household stressors for cats prone to FLUTD or FIC
• 🧼 Keep litter boxes clean and accessible
• 🩺 Get regular veterinary check-ups

📍 Final Thoughts

Straining is never a “wait and see” symptom. Whether it’s constipation, colitis, or a life-threatening urethral blockage, your vet is the only one who can make that call. Don’t assume. Don’t delay. Be safe and act fast. 💨

Need advice about what to do when your cat or dog is straining? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app to connect with Dr Duncan Houston or a licensed vet now. 🐾📱