Having blood in the stool of your pet cats can signify health-care issues that need to be addressed immediately. Presence of bright red blood in your cat’s stool is usually referred to as hematochezia. This is different from melena, since the later is the presence of black or tarry stools.
Blood in stool can mean almost anything. When the bloody discharge only happened one and you only saw a few droplets of blood, then it can be constipation. Although to make sure, you need to consult your veterinarian for proper diagnosis.
Causes of blood in cat stool
Constipation is very common among animals as well, especially if you have recently introduced a new brand of cat food to your pet. It takes a while for the digestive system to process the new food that is why stools will usually come out hard and dry. The pressure in passing of stool can infect the anus of the cat that in turn will result to blood in stool.
Intestinal parasites can also be blamed for bloody stool. Some of the usual parasites that live in the system of cats include giardia and coccidian. If your cat has acquired these two, they promote bloody diarrhea. There are also other bacteria types that infect the gastrointestinal system of the cat. These cases should be addressed and seen by the veterinarian as soon as possible.
Also, it is also important to note that any trauma in the lower intestine or in the anus can promote bloody stool. Meanwhile, if your cat is already old, there are certain instances wherein blood in bowels may signal cancer.
Signs and Symptoms
Blood in your cat’s stool can mean anything from food intolerance, to colitis, to bowel syndromes, and so on. Aside from seeing blood, most cats will also have vomiting episodes if there are problems in their gastrointestinal system. They are at risk for dehydration too if they have diarrhea which can make them lethargic.
Other possible symptoms include the following:
Loss of appetite
Increased water intake
Addressing and treating blood in cat stool
Of course, it is your primary role as the pet owner to guarantee that your pet cat will get the proper care. During your visit to the veterinarian, it is highly recommended that you discuss the issues that you have. This will help the vet suggest possible treatment options to cure your pet. For example, if your pet has ingested spoiled food or non-food item, tell it to the doctor. Let him also know about changes in the diet of your cat.
Before your visit, try to collect sample of bloody stools from your pet. This is the best way for the veterinarian to check what the possible causes of it are. He will most probably administer stool examination and other tests such as:
Complete blood count
When it comes to treatment options, the best medical intervention depends on the cause. For example, if your cat is suffering from constipation, the veterinarian will prescribe increased water intake to let the stools pass freely and lessen friction in the anus area.
On the other hand, parasites can be addressed easily with the help of certain drugs. For bacterial infection, antibiotics will cure your pet. Another thing that you need to remember is that you should always give the right food for the cat. If you plan to switch from one pet food brand to another, then do it gradually and slowly. This will keep your pet’s system from getting “shocked”.