Megacolon and High White Markings

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lilspaz68

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Jul 21, 2007
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Location
Toronto, Canada, Earth
This is just an informational post on a dreaded genetic disease. Some people may never have heard of it, but the ones who have experienced it will never forget it. :sad:
Genetic megacolon occurs as a result of faulty cell development in the embryo stage. The nerve cells in the wall of the colon and/or rectum are either missing or are non-functioning in affected animals. These nerves are necessary in order to move stool along and out. In rats, this means that the stool will back up, and they will bloat. This is most likely painful and eventually results in the death of the animal from malnutrition or bacteremia. Though this condition can occur in any rat, it is very often seen in rats with what are called "high-white" markings. The same relationship occurs in a certain type of Waardenburg syndrome in humans where there is either odd-eyes or a white patch of hair or pigment accompanying the digestive involvement. Lethal white foal syndrome in horses occurs in the overo types (white or mostly white) and causes death from megacolon within a few hours or days of birth.

From ratguide.com
Megacolon can be either early or late (delayed) onset.
With early onset megacolon the signs will usually begin to show as soon as the baby begins eating solid food (around 2 weeks) although sometimes it is not apparent there is a problem till they are 3 or 4 weeks old. Some babies will show a distinct failure to thrive even though they are eating well. This occurs due to the lack of proper absorption of nutrients in the damaged digestive tract. Early onset signs such as bloating, diarrhea, and severe constipation typify the quick advancement of the disease. It is recommended to consider euthanasia rather than to let the disease follow its ultimate lethal course.
Late, or delayed, onset megacolon appears to have the same genetic origin as early onset and is seen in the same lines as early onset. It may be a milder form of the disease, but unfortunately it does progress in severity until it becomes lethal. Often the first sign of delayed onset megacolon is shown by the baby rat’s failure to thrive. Gastrointestinal problems may not become apparent until the rat is 2-5 months old. At that time you may see bloating, diarrhea, constipation, or alternating bouts of diarrhea and constipation. Stools passed may be hard, fibrous, foul smelling, dry, oversized, oddly shaped, blunt on the ends, and have blood or mucus in or between them.
Late onset can also be even more delayed, sometimes not becoming symptomatic until the rat has reached a later age of 4-10 months. With no early warning signs of a problem (such as failure to thrive, unusual stools, or chronic diarrhea) the very late onset type may often be too far advanced, by the time the owner notices a problem, to treat.


2 case histories of early onset megacolon

http://ratguide.com/health/figures/mega ... ure_1c.php
http://ratguide.com/health/figures/mega ... ure_1b.php

Late onset megacolon

http://ratguide.com/health/figures/mega ... ure_2a.php

And here is the wonderful article on high-white rat markings and how to determine high white (lots of cute baby pics too as well as comparison marking pictures)

http://www.spoiledratten.com/highwhitecont.html
 
Excellent information! Seriously, I had only heard of MC but had no idea what it was before now. Thanks for putting such valuable information up for us! :clapping:
 
In cats with megacolon, we remove the colon (a subtotal colectomy) and the small intestines adjust to difference.

Too bad this procedure can't be done on rats. (Jo, you should ask your exotic specialist if she has heard of it ever being done.) I hope I never have to experience megacolon firsthand.
 
I had a boy, Atticus, with late-onset megacolon. It's a terrible disease, and he passed away at a little over a year old.
 
While nursing and/or drinking formula, their digestive tract is able to process and then excrete the waste because it's nothing but liquid. As they eat solid foods, the body is no longer able to excrete the much more bulky waste.

While a litter may have some that fail to thrive, it's generally not the entire litter. There are usually atleast a couple of the litter that are 'normal' rats. The other babies tend to be half the size of a normal rat at the same age. Also, did either of the parents have any of the calling cards of megacolon? High white markings, did their litters have several deaths?

After reading the threads you've made about the litter and the mother, and the previous posts about what sounded like SDA, I believe that's what happened to your litter, Bati.
 
I don't know much about high white, mum being roan and dad being albino is much white in my eyes (but might not be in genetic eyes) - I want to make sure it's nothing genetic as some others might try breeding siblings of the mother
 
The babies don't usually show signs and die of MC until 3 weeks plus, when they start eating solids. The babies would show signs of not thriving in the beginning, and then would develop the horrible swollen bellies. Your babies just passed unexpectedly and at a young age. I would say almost definitely SDA.
 
The first post in this thread has the information on megacolon, how it's associated with high white, and how to tell high white markings... If you think you may have megacolon in your lines, you should read the information given.
 
That's so depressing and scary. It's too bad that high whites carry it, 'cause I think they're so cute! *sigh* It's so hard to be a rat owner.
 
I hope it's ok to post this here.

I had a boy with MC who lived to be 22 months old. We were very lucky with Willie, because he had a milder form, still giving him the ability to digest his food ok. He did lack the appropriate muscles in his anus to actually "go" on his own. Where other babies would back up and bloat, or have horrible diareeha, Willie couldn't go at all on his own. Luckily for us, he would be ready to go, and we just had to help him a bit to guide the poo out. Willie was pretty easy to tell when he had to go, because you could feel under his tail and above his "torpedos". I'd just gently feel in that area and help guide the poo out. He would also sit in the litter box, and I could tell he was trying, so I'd always pick him up and help him. Over time, we just had a system that worked for both of us. I bonded with Willie like no other rat I've ever had. He passed away several years ago...but I still miss him so much. Sadly most MC ratties aren't so lucky and need to be euthanized to save them from a horribly painful death. :sad3:

My husband and I were never away from Willie longer than 12 hours (while we were both at work) one single day in his life. If we went camping, Willie came with us...he had to. He relied on us for his survival. I had to travel for work a couple of times...so I was forced to teach my husband how to help Willie. Bless his heart, he loved our boy as much as I did.

Although most dear babies, don't make it past a few months old from this horrible disease, Willie was the oldest living rat with MC that I know of. Second was Bella's rat Woody (who I learned a lot from on proper diet etc) who lived to be 19 months.

Having a rat like Willie was HUGE commitment. We didn't give him hard to digest foods like Broccoli, corn or even cooked pasta. We gave him baby food each night with his other foods, we made sure he had a lot of watery things in his diet. If either my husband or I had to work later than usual...the other HAD to get home on time to "help" Willie. We didn't go away for weekends, unless we could take him with us. First thing in the morning when I woke up......I helped Willie. First thing when I walked in the door.....go help Willie. Last thing before bed, and when I woke up in the middle of the night, I always checked on Willie.

Willie lived with the help of us and Cisapride. It was actually some sort of heart related issue that took him from us. One night, he just suddenly looked ill, within 2 hours he was gone. I believe it was a stroke. :sad3: The next morning when I woke up....I was lost...I had been helping him for almost 2 years...it was the first thing I thought of, then realized he was gone. :cry4:

Ok, sorry to divert....but MC is just the worst!! Out of Willie's litter, one baby died at 6 weeks old, and Willie's sister Raisin, lived to be 4 months. All three of them had MC....yet 5 others in the litter were just fine.

Here's a picture of Willie....you can see what they mean by "high white".
Wills.jpg
 
That's an amazing story! I'm glad Willie had a good life, and that he was in the hands of people who'd cater to him special needs.
 
That is an incredible story, I'm glad you posted it.

I've been meaning to post these pictures a member here took of another megacolon baby. The baby was in extreme pain and Cait helped her even though it was just for a very short time.

IMG_1485.jpg


IMG_1497.jpg


IMG_1498.jpg
 
That's a beautiful story. Willie was so blessed to find the perfect family and I know you were blessed to have him. He was so beautiful.

Melissa :hugs:
 
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