Blood In Stool Cat Cancer
It can be frightening to find that your cat has blood in its stool.
Blood in stool cat cancer. Melena tarry black stools are associated with upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding including the esophagus stomach and duodenum but bleeding may also originate from the nose or mouth. Blood in the cat s stool may be light with just a smear or speck or heavy and it may be with or without accompanying symptoms. In addition your vet may recommend lab tests to look for problems with the blood cells organ function and urinary tract. Melena refers to blood in the stool which is black and tarry this type of blood in the stool originates in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
There are two different types of blood in the stool hematochezia which appears as bright red blood and in smaller quantities or black tarry blood. Blood in the stool is typically a symptom of an underlying condition. It is usually caused by bleeding in the colon or rectum. Bleeding in the lower intestinal tracts such as the colon and the rectum typically causes hematochezia.
What will my veterinarian do to determine the cause of the blood or mucus in my cat s poop. Hematochezia is the presence of bright red blood on or throughout the feces which originates in the lower gastrointestinal tract. Bloody diarrhea can lead the cat to become dehydrated. Blood in the stool in cats is a condition in which varying quantities of blood appear in your cat rsquo s stool.
Then a stool sample may be needed to check for parasites and bacterial overgrowth. Bloody diarrhea may be due to minor problems like food intolerance or serious conditions like cancer. Upon noticing blood in their cat s stool many pet owners become concerned that their cat may have cancer. When trying to determine the cause of your cat s bloody stool your vet will do a full examination first.
There are two types of blood in the stool melena and hematochezia. One occurrence of hematochezia may not be a problem but if more than one episode occurs you should take your pet to the doctor. Digested dark blood can signal a serious condition while red blood can be anything from benign food changes to cancer. Blood in your cat s stool may be due to a variety of conditions so you need to take your cat to the vet as soon as possible.
However it may be reassuring for cat owners to learn that blood in their pet s stool is usually caused by something less serious. Blood in the stool red or black is always concerning. This article looks at what causes melena in cats. 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.