Blood in feces in cats – what could be the causes?
The causes of blood in cat feces are very diverse .
First of all, the color of the blood must be distinguished.
Fresh, bright red blood comes from either the rectum or the anus area. When constipation occurs, small tears sometimes form in the anal area, which leads to bleeding. Inflamed anal glands that burst and fistula can also lead to bloody and purulent blood in the feces.
Dark red blood comes from the small or large intestine and is caused, for example, by a massive worm infestation or by diarrhea, which is usually accompanied by inflammation of the intestinal mucosa.
Black admixtures or completely black feces, also known as melena or tarry stools, are caused by already digested blood that is in the nose (swallowed blood in the case of nosebleeds), in the oral cavity (tongue or gum bleeding or bleeding tumors) or the esophagus (inflammation, Foreign bodies or tumors) can have reached the stomach (inflammation of the gastric mucosa, tumors, foreign bodies). Furthermore, a high proportion of raw meat in the feed or medications that cause stomach bleeding lead to tarry stools.
In the case of very liquid and often mucous-bloody diarrhea, viruses (e.g. the parvo virus) or Giardia (protozoa) are often the cause.
In autoimmune diseases (e.g. IBD=infectious bowl disease), the intestinal mucosa is chronically inflamed.
Poisoning with rat poison blocks blood clotting and therefore leads to bleeding throughout the digestive tract.
What symptoms can occur besides blood in feces?
Depending on the cause of the disease, the following additional symptoms may occur:
- Fever
- Tense and painful stomach
- Loss of appetite
- Decrepitude
- dehydration
Blood in the feces - what's behind it?
Since the causes are very diverse, as described, you should always consult a veterinarian. To be on the safe side, you can bring a fecal sample that was collected over three days. To make a diagnosis, a thorough anamnesis is first taken and a detailed general examination of the cat is carried out. Further measures may include blood and stool tests, x-rays and ultrasound.
Treatment options for blood in the feces
Depending on the cause of the disease, therapy is initiated. This includes infusions, medication, dietary measures and even surgical procedures.
