Blood In Stools For Cats
Blood in the stool in cats is a condition in which varying quantities of blood appear in your cat rsquo s stool.
Blood in stools for cats. Blood in cat poop is often much more subtle it appears as flecks. When trying to determine the cause of your cat s bloody stool your vet will do a full examination first. Blood in stool diagnosis. 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.
If you notice cat blood in stool that is black tarry and more or less non fluid this can be sign of melena which is what happens when the digestive fluid in your cat starts to work on the blood. The unusual color and consistency of this type of blood in cat stool can indicate old blood that has been digested much higher up in your cat s intestinal tract. Blood in the stool is typically a symptom of an underlying condition. 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.
The degree and color of the mottling depends upon how much and precisely where the blood is coming from in the digestive system. Cats may be affected by various parasites and protozoans that may cause irritated bowels and blood in the stool. Cat blood in the stool can be linked with a number of symptoms in order to form a diagnosis. Then a stool sample may be needed to check for parasites and bacterial overgrowth.
The most common cause of blood in the stool in cats is colitis or. 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. In addition your vet may recommend lab tests to look for problems with the blood cells organ function and urinary 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.
A fecal test will be able to detect them. What about mucus in poop. Case to case things vary but if you notice frequent urination or drinking vomiting anorexia weight loss or lethargy you may have a serious problem on your hands and you should see a vet. This blood will often appear as dark flecks specks or coffee grounds.
What causes blood in cat stool. Bright red blood without either diarrhea or hard dry stools generally indicates the problem is closer to the rectum and anus. Roundworms hookworms coccidia are often the culprits.