Blood in your cat's poop... blood on the floor? Cats sometimes have blood in their stool. In this article, we will tell you about the causes of blood in the stool, how to check it, and how to treat it. If you have blood in your cat's poop, don't be afraid to read it.
What is bloody stool in cats?
Hematochezia is stool that contains blood. Blood in the stool varies in color depending on the part of the digestive tract that bleeds. In bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract, such as the mouth, stomach, and duodenum, the hemoglobin in the blood changes color due to the action of digestive enzymes, and dark stools are excreted. On the other hand, bleeding in the anus or the large intestine near the anus produces bright red bloody stools because it takes a short time for blood to be discharged. Therefore, even if it is simply called "bloody stool", you may have dark stools, so you need to be careful. Blood in the stool may be one-time or it may linger for weeks or even months.What causes a cat to vomit blood?
Causes of bloody stools in cats- Food changes, food incompatibility, food allergies, etc.
- Infections caused by bacteria or viruses
- diseases such as lymphoma and inflammatory bowel disease
- stress
- Ingestion or poisoning
Food changes, food incompatibility, food allergies, etc.
If you have bloody stools at the timing of changing the food, it is possible that the food is not suitable for your body and is causing bloody stools. First of all, let's go back to the original meal and see the progress. It is also possible that you are having an allergic reaction to the food. In that case, in addition to imaging tests such as blood tests, echo examinations, and X-ray examinations, an elimination diet test and a food tolerance test will be performed. An elimination diet test is a test to confirm whether or not symptoms can be reduced by giving a diet that does not contain food allergens. In the case of food allergy, an elimination diet test improves digestive symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, etc.) and skin symptoms (itching, redness, etc.). If the elimination diet trial shows improvement in symptoms, the person is put back on the original diet to see if the symptoms recur. This is called a food tolerance test, and when a person eats a meal containing the allergen, symptoms usually reappear within two weeks, and the allergen can be identified.Infections caused by bacteria or viruses
Blood in the stool may be caused by infection with microorganisms such as bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Microorganisms can sometimes be identified by in-house microscopy or kit testing, but sometimes diagnosis is made by outsourced genetic testing. Among them, there is "feline parvovirus infection" as an infectious disease with a high fatality rate by infecting kittens. Infected cats can experience an extremely low white blood cell count, loss of appetite and severe diarrhea. It is a highly contagious disease that can lead to death, but fortunately it is possible to prevent it through vaccination.diseases such as lymphoma and inflammatory bowel disease
Disorders such as lymphoma and inflammatory bowel disease can occur in the digestive system and show bloody stools. In order to make a diagnosis, it is necessary to perform an endoscopic examination under anesthesia to detect abnormalities visually, and to resect a portion of the digestive tissue and conduct a pathological examination.Ingestion or poisoning
When a string or toy is mistakenly eaten, the gastrointestinal tract may be damaged or clogged, resulting in bloody stool. In addition, by mistakenly ingesting painkillers or poultices, strong inflammation may occur in the stomach and intestines, and black bloody stools may be excreted.stress
Cats can have blood in their stools due to stress. If there is no improvement despite various tests and treatments, stress is suspected.- new families increased, decreased
- New pets increased, decreased
- moving or redecorating
- Loud noises such as construction or thunder
- the toilet is dirty
- No place to rest
can be stressful for cats. Also, when the seasons change, you may get sick and have bloody stools.
When a cat has bloody stools, it is often diarrhea
If your cat has blood in its stool, it is likely that they are also having diarrhea. It may also contain a thick, jelly-like mucus. On the other hand, because the stool is hard, the anus may be damaged and the stool may be bloody.Tests to do when your cat has bloody stools
In the case of bloody stools, a stool test is mandatory. In addition, blood tests and imaging tests may be used in combination to check for dehydration and whether other diseases are hidden. If blood in the stool is prolonged and the cause is unknown, contrast imaging or endoscopy under anesthesia may be done. It may also be diagnosed by the reaction to dietary changes.What to do if your cat has bloody stools
If you have a healthy appetite and a little red blood in your stool, you may want to see how it goes at home. however,- lack of energy or appetite
- Other symptoms such as vomiting
- You may have eaten something foreign
- continues for days or repeats
- For kittens and senior cats
diet change
Bloody stools may be improved by changing the diet. For example, changing to a high-fiber diet often improves stool consistency, diarrhea, and bloody stools. Also, in the case of constipated children, hard stool may damage the intestines and cause blood in the stool. In that case, giving a soluble fiber diet may soften the stool and improve bloody stool. In the case of bloody stools due to food allergies, you will be given a diet that corresponds to it.administration of drugs
Various types of drugs are prescribed according to symptoms. In some cases, an antiflatulent such as Biofermin is prescribed, and in some cases, a combination of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory agents, and mucosal protective agents is prescribed. Usually, the condition will improve after about a week. Therefore, there are some owners who say, "I got the medicine yesterday and gave it to me, but it doesn't get better...", but it doesn't mean that it will get better with just one or two doses, so keep an eye on it and take it as prescribed. let's In addition, if the condition is not good, you may be hospitalized and treated with a drip.When going to the animal hospital
When visiting a veterinary hospital, it is recommended that you bring your pet with you. In the hospital, by looking at the stool under a microscope, it is possible to see the state of bacteria, inflammation, digestion, etc. Also, by submitting the stool to an outside testing center, a more detailed examination can be performed, so if you find blood in the stool, bring it with you. It doesn't matter if it's not on the same day, so keep it in a cool place such as the hallway or entrance and bring it with you the next day. If you throw away the stool, you can collect it by inserting your finger into the anus at the hospital, so there is no problem.
