It can be frightening to find that your cat has blood in its stool. The existence of blood in the stool, or “hematochezia” can be a result of a small digestive upset, or a symptom of much more severe medical conditions. Bleeding in the lower intestinal tracts, such as the colon and the rectum, typically causes hematochezia. It is characterized by the existence of bright, frank blood in the feces. Hematochezia should not be puzzled with melena, the passage of dark, tar-colored feces, triggered by bleeding that takes place greater up in the intestinal tract.
Normal Acting Cat with Blood in Poop
If your cat has blood in its stool on just one event, and otherwise seems consuming, drinking and acting typically, the cause may simply be a small intestinal upset, such as eating too much, eating an unknown food, or consuming something that does not agree with him. Some cats are especially sensitive to stress, and any unexpected change in environment, such as including a new family pet to the home, having a baby and even a schedule change can induce colitis. Altering food brand names unexpectedly can likewise cause this condition, as cats often need a gradual change of food in order to change without complications.
What Causes Blood in Cat Stool?
However, if your cat has any repeated episodes of blood in the stool, if he appears sluggish or depressed, or the blood is accompanied by diarrhea or vomiting, it can be a sign of a severe medical issue requiring veterinary support.
1. Colitis
The most common cause of blood in the stool in cats is colitis, or inflammation of the colon. Colitis is a symptom of numerous gastro-intestinal disorders, and determining the reason for the inflammation can be difficult.
When colitis takes place, inflammation of the colon causes the cells in the lining of the intestines to separate, ending up being permeable and allowing water and secretion to leak out. Motility of the gut is affected, as is the ability of the colon to absorb water and store feces. This leads to regular diarrhea, frequently with mucous and blood, as the food in the intestinal tracts goes through the colon prior to nutrients and water are made use of by the body.
Aside from blood in the stool, cats with colitis will defecate often, with very little stool in fact being passed, and strain repeatedly in the litterbox. Since the biggest issue of colitis is fast dehydration, veterinary attention must be sought anytime your cat has blood in its stool and diarrhea. Your veterinarian can treat the dehydration, along with help to determine and treat the underlying causes.
2. Parasites
Parasites are a common reason for colitis and bloody stools in kittycats. Kittens generally get roundworms through the milk of an infected mother. Adult cats can get the parasite by eating a rodent or other animal that was affected with the parasite. These long, spaghetti like parasites can cause severe signs in young animals, consisting of vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, coughing and gagging. If left unattended, the worms can cause pneumonia, intestinal tract blockages and death.
3. Giardia or Coccidia
Protozoa infections, such as Giardia and Coccidia, happen when a single-celled parasite is ingested through contaminated soil, food or water. This parasite can cause a variety of intestinal problems, from an occasional bout of soft stools to a severe episode of vomiting, diarrhea and hematochezia.
4. Panleukopenia
In unvaccinated cats and kittycats, feline Panleukopenia can be a terrible disease. Also known as feline distemper, Panleukopenia is brought on by the parvovirus and is extremely contagious from cat to cat. It is of especially excellent concern in shelters, catteries and boarding centers where it can stay active and infectious in the environment for months or perhaps years. The virus is specifically dangerous to kittycats who have not totally established their immune systems, and can cause a high fever, vomiting, nasal discharge, breathing signs, diarrhea, hematochezia, dehydration and death.
5. Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Older Cats
In older cats that establish hematochezia, one of the primary concerns is inflammatory bowel disease. Cats with IBD develop a chronic level of inflammatory cells in the gastrointestinal tract, and can impact the mucosa of different areas: the little intestine (enteritis), colon (colitis) and stomach (gastritis).
Unlike colitis that occurs due to a temporary digestive upset, cats with IBD establish an inflammatory reaction in their intestinal tracts that does not deal with. The precise causes are unknown, but its origin has actually been connected to food sensitivities, bacteria in the intestinal tract, and body immune system dysfunctions.
Left neglected, in the short run IBD can cause bad digestion and nutrient absorption, along with abdominal pain. Over time, the chronic inflammation can cause terrifying of the mucosa, and research studies have shown that the scaring frequently results in the development of lymphoma, a kind of cancer, in the intestinal tracts.
6. Other Reasons
Blood in the stool can likewise be attributed to more external causes, such as trauma to the anus, anal gland abscesses, or tumors and polyps in the anus.
Diagnosis
If your cat has actually had more than one episode of blood in its stool, a veterinarian needs to examine them to rule out possible causes. Routine fecal screening can assist to discover and eliminate internal parasites before they have the ability to cause severe damage to your pets’ digestive tract. In addition, a fecal cytology can find the existence of bacteria such as salmonella in the feces. A total blood count (CBC) and blood chemistry analysis can assist to access your cats basic level of health, and may supply hints to possible viral or other causes.
Radiographs might be recommended to rule out an intestinal obstruction or clog, and an ultrasound examination can help to detect any possible tumors, along with gain access to the condition of the intestinal tracts. If the bowel appears thickened, scarred or unusual on the ultrasound, your vet might advise additional tests to see if IBD, or even lymphoma may be triggering your cats symptoms.
Treatment
No matter the cause of the blood in the stool, cats that are having actually duplicated episodes of diarrhea or vomiting may need to be hospitalized so that their dehydration can be corrected with IV fluids, and that medication can be administered to control vomiting. Depending upon the cause of the hematochezia, treating your cat may be as simple as administering a dewormer or altering his food, but only your vet can identify what is causing your cats symptoms.
