Treating Blood In Cat Poop
As mentioned above, eliminating stress and a quick tweak in your cats diet can provide fast results when the blood in cat poop isnt that serious. Your animal medical professional will provide the prescriptions required to tackle parasites and infections.
Unfortunately, tarry stools can mean inpatient treatments and ongoing care. In some instances, surgery will be needed, like for a blockage. The most critical factor you can control is how soon you get your kitty to the veterinarian once you notice blood in cat poop. Only your veterinarian can determine the best treatment for the range of illnesses causing this discovery.
Our cats rely on us to be their health advocates . Inspecting their litter box gifts is one of the surest ways to thwart any medical issues like blood in cat poop before they become irreversible.
This post was originally published in 2018.
Treatment Of Blood In The Stool In Cats
Treatment of blood in the stool of your cat will depend on the underlying condition causing the signs. If food is the suspected culprit, your veterinarian may recommend a bland or prescription diet to help eliminate irritation. Food changes should generally be done gradually to eliminate additional digestive upset. For stress related colitis, you and your veterinarian should discuss ways to eliminate stress for your cat, up to including prescription medication for anxiety or nervousness.
For parasites, your veterinarian will administer appropriate medications and will also recommend a regular parasite prevention treatment. For more serious infections such as coccidia, giardia or panleukopenia, your cat may need temporary veterinary hospitalization in order to stabilize their condition and treat with strong antibiotics. In any case of extreme dehydration or diarrhea, your veterinarian may administer IV fluids to help stabilize your cat while they undergo treatment.
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What Causes Intestinal Bleeding In Cats
Diarrhea can cause irritation of the lining of the lower gastrointestinal tract, leading to bleeding. If your cat has diarrhea or soft stools, they may start to appear bloody after a couple of days. Constipation often makes a cat strain to defecate. This sometimes leads to ruptured blood vessels in the lower GI tract.
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Is Blood In A Cats Poop Normal
In short, no. Blood indicates inflammation. Trusted SourceAmerican Animal Hospital Association Nonprofit organization for small animal hospitals. Go to source There are many potential causes, some more serious than others. Your cat will need to be seen by a vet to determine whats going on and how emergent the health issue is.
What Symptoms Should You Look Out For
Take careful note of the color of the blood in your cats stool. If its bright red, that means the bleeding is most likely occurring in the rectum or lower intestines. If it looks dark or more like black tar, that means its older blood and comes from bleeding in the upper GI tract. Your vet will want to know this information.
Any notes you take of visible symptoms will be a tremendous help to your vet.
In addition to the blood, you may see any of the following:
- Difficulty or crying while pooping
- Frequent urination or drinking
- Bloody diarrhea, or mucus in the diarrhea
Make good notes of all of the visible symptoms carefully so you can tell the vet when you visit. Your observations will be of tremendous help in the diagnosis since your cat cant talk! Its also a really good idea to take a sample of the stool with you to the veterinarian. The stool sample can assist in the diagnosis of your cats issue.
Try as best you can to differentiate between blood in the stool and blood in the urine. If your cat has blood in his urine, thats a different set of issues.
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Blood In Kitten Stool: Causes And Treatments
Raising a pet, especially cats, is not as easy as most people think. Under mistreatment, your lovely friend may suffer from health hazards, ranging from minor indigestion to even cancer. One of the most common phenomena is bleeding upon defecation.
It could come as a shock to spot specks of blood in kitten stool, but there are some things you can do to improve the situation. Getting a good grasp of possible causes and effective medical attention including first-aid care is likely to come in handy.
Preparing Cat Stool Samples
At each annual visit, your vet will ask for a stool sample so the lab can perform tests on the fecal matter. Samples are best collected in approved plastic containers, which your vet’s office will provide. But you also can pick up a container at the office before your appointment, or purchase one online or at a pet supply store. Just remember: The lab will need a fresh sample, so it’s important not to collect your treasure from the litter box until the day that you drop it off at the vet. Once you scoop the fecal matter into the approved plastic sample container, refrigerate is its possible and make sure to jot down the date and time of collection so the vet’s office has accurate information.
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What Should You Do If Your Cat Has Blood In Its Stool
Even if there is no blood in the stool, but your cat’s bowel movements are abnormal for a few days, you should contact your veterinarian. Taking care of the GI issue can help prevent blood from appearing in the stool.
If your cat’s poop has been normal and you see some blood once, keep an eye on them for the next day or two. If your cat shows any signs of illness or if you see blood the next day, it’s time to take them to the vet.
If your cat has had diarrhea for more than a day or two, contact your veterinarian to determine the cause and assist in resolving the problem. This is the best course of action whether or not you see blood.
If your cat hasn’t had a bowel movement in a few days, contact your veterinarian. Constipation is also indicated by your cat straining to defecate. Your veterinarian can help relieve your cat’s discomfort and may be able to identify the source of constipation. Keeping your cat on a fiber-rich diet can help prevent constipation and alleviate it once it occurs. However, if you notice straining and blood, it is likely that veterinary care is required.
Make sure you follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for parasite screening on a regular basis. This is usually recommended once a year, but it should be done more frequently if your cat has unusual stools. This is especially critical if your cat ever goes outside.
How Often Should A Cat Poop
The number of times your cat goes No. 2 daily depends on several factors. The amount of food and treats consumed, hormones, amount of exercise, metabolism, and stress can all influence bowel movement frequency.
Most healthy cats will poop once or twice a day. Older cats may have less frequent bowel movements. If your cat is pooping more than that regularly, you might want to call your vet to ensure theres nothing awry.
If your cat goes more than two days without producing stool, you should consult your vet in case your cat has an obstruction or other serious condition.
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How Can Constipation And Megacolon Be Treated
Treatment varies depending on the cause of constipation. If an obstruction such as a colonic tumor is present, surgery may be required.
Initial treatment of a cat with constipation may involve administration of enemas and manual extraction of feces by a veterinarian. Removal of feces from the colon often requires an anesthetic or sedative. Intravenous fluid therapy is usually required to correct fluid imbalances and dehydration that worsen the constipation. If the constipation recurs or becomes a long-term problem, dietary management or medications may be needed to prevent recurrence. A number of treatments are available to soften the feces and promote regular bowel movements. In mildly affected cats, high fiber diets, lubricating laxatives, or stool softeners may prevent recurrence.
Those more severely affected may need drugs that stimulate contraction of the colon. The dose of these drugs is adjusted as needed to produce the desired effect. Ideally, cats should defecate at least once every other day. Over time, resistance to the treatment and medications may develop, necessitating an increase in the drug dosage or a change in therapy. You should not make changes to your cat’s treatment protocol without consulting your veterinarian.
“You should not make changes to your cat’s treatment protocol without consulting your veterinarian.”
What If I See Mucus In My Cats Poop
While blood in a cats poop appears as fresh red streaks or dark brown coffee grounds, mucus in a cats poop is a slimy, slippery discharge. Generally the more mucus you notice, the worse the condition.
In a healthy cat mucus is no cause for alarm its a normal secretion from the intestinal tract to help aid along feces. It is not unusual to observe either greasy or slick coatings in the feces of your cat. What is abnormal, though, is an excess of slimy, clear or pale yellow-green liquid in your cats feces.
It is not uncommon for a cat to excrete mucus with blood in poop.
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How Will The Vet Treat The Problem
Your vet may prescribe antibiotics or other medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and/or laxatives for hematochezia.
Cats who are diagnosed with hematochezia are usually treated on an outpatient basis. If the underlying condition is severe enough, such as dehydration or internal bleeding, the vet will need to get those under control before releasing your cat back into your care.
Depending on the underlying cause that is diagnosed, your vet may prescribe antibiotics or other medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and/or laxatives.
In many cases, where the problem was caused by changes or problems related to the cats food the vet may prescribe a change in diet .
Conditions like condyloma, fistulas, hemorrhoids and fissures are classified as anorectal diseases. Some anorectal diseases may require surgery to cure.
Recovery Of Blood In The Stool In Cats
Prognosis for a cat experiencing blood in its stool will depend on the underlying cause, but for most cases is good. In the case of severe infections, your veterinarian may choose to allow your cat to recover at their office where it can receive around the clock medical care. In many cases, blood in the stool will resolve shortly after treatment or altering of diet. If your cat has been diagnosed with sensitivities to types of food you should develop a plan to avoid accidental consumption of the irritating ingredients.
For most cases of blood in the stool, your cat will heal with time and appropriate care and will have a normal happy and healthy lifespan.
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What To Do If Your Cat Is Pooping Blood
If you notice your cat has bloody stools, contact your veterinarian. Although this could be the result of something very minor, such as constipation or hardened stools, it still is a good idea to let a veterinarian check it out. Your vet may do blood and physical tests to determine the cause of your catâs bloody stool. He was also do a thorough examination of the rectum. He may also perform imaging techniques to take a more detailed look at the colon.
A stool sample may need to be acquired by you before the veterinarian visit. He can also test this sample to gather more information as to the cause of the bloody stools. This may also show parasites. Also, the shade of the blood will show possibly where the bleeding is coming from either from the rectum or the lower intestine.
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What Do The Different Colors In Cat Poop Mean
Any color besides shades of brown can indicate a health issue, and you should discuss it with your veterinarian.
- Brown: It can vary from light to dark brown and is a normal and healthy stool.
- Green: Green cat poop can signify that food is moving through the gastrointestinal tract too quickly, possibly because of a bacterial infection. Also, it can be caused by a cat eating grass.
- Yellow: Like green poop, yellow poop is a sign of abnormally fast transit of food through the GI tract. It can also indicate problems with the liver or gall bladder. If it has a foul smell , it could indicate coccidia, an intestinal parasite.
- Orange: Likely a liver or gall bladder problem.
- Black: Black cat poop indicates bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract caused by disease or something ingested.
- White or yellow mucus: Clear or white or slightly yellow slimy mucous could mean colitis , bowel irritation, or possible parasites or infection.
- White spots: White spots about the size of grains of rice indicate tapeworms. They may be moving.
What does blood in the stool mean?
Sometimes, blood in your cats stool is caused by a minor issue that is easily treatable, or it may pass on its own. However, many causes of bloody stool are concerning and should be checked out.
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What To Do About Blood In Cat Poop
For bright red or pinkish blood droplets, waiting a day can alleviate the issue. Colitis caused by stress can subside without intervention by removing the stressors. If the kitty has eaten something slightly disagreeable, it will usually pass quickly. Chicken broth, chicken-based baby food, or wet cat food can soften stools. However, if your cat is acting abnormal or sick, get him to the veterinarian right away. If hes acting normal but hes still got blood in his poop for more than 24 hours, get him medical attention. Dramatic weight loss also requires a medical exam.
If there are dark or tarry blood spots in the cat poop, thats an immediate cause of alarm. Get to your vet ASAP. A battery of tests will most likely unearth the underlying issue. Your vet will determine which tests to run first blood work, x-rays and sonograms should illuminate the issue. A seasoned veterinarian will be able to recommend which tests to run, and in which order, from the initial exam.
Dont forget to take a stool sample to the vets office!
How Cat Owner Should React To Bloody Diarrhea In Kitten
Kittens, adult cats that are small in size, and geriatric cats are at different threat of ending up being dehydrated from even a single episode of diarrhea.
If your kitten appears OK after a single bout of diarrhea, it may be safe to monitor him. However, if you observe any sleepiness, fever or modification inhabits, call your veterinarian for an appointment as quickly as possible.
If your kitten appears fine yet has frequent episodes of diarrhea that do not seem to be resolving, it is also time to call your veterinarian for a non-emergency visit.
If your kitten is passing blood in his stools or if you notice any weakness or other signs of debilitation in addition to diarrhea, call your vet right away and have your kitten viewed as quickly as possible.
Red blood in the poop generally suggests a problem with the lower intestine/colon or rectum.
Black blood in the poop usually indicates a more significant problem greater up in the gastrointestinal tract.
Your vet, based upon a total physical and possibly some laboratory evaluations, might offer you showed medication and a prescription diet.
If there is no blood, call your vet and ask about over-the-counter medications or choices for at-home treatments for your cat. Since there are many causes of diarrhea, the treatment will vary.
Acquire veterinary help if the cause isnt evident or it is an ongoing issue. Food with fewer irritants or treatments for a disease may lower or remove diarrhea.
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Other Indicators To Observe
Unless your cat looks weak and in pain, you can observe it before you schedule an appointment to its veterinarian. Its pooping behavior is among the things you should monitor. You should check out other possible signs such as:
Keep a record of all the signs youve observed and relay them to your vet later on. By doing so, your vet can make a diagnosis more quickly.
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Top 6 Causes Of Blood In Your Dog Or Cats Stool
Blood in the stool of your dog or cat can be a very scary thing to see. In humans, this is often a serious issue. However, bloody stool of dogs or cats can be from a variety of causes, not all of them serious. It is helpful to determine if the stool has blood mixed within it or is only streaked on the surface, and if it is normal or soft. These clues will help your veterinarian determine what may be happening. The following is a list of the six most common causes of bloody stool in dogs and cats.
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