Whenever blood makes its appearance, concern among animal keepers is inevitable. In this article on our site we are going to focus on one of the possibilities of bleeding that we can find, which is none other than vomiting blood. We are going to see what are the most probable causes for which our cat can vomit blood and, above all, how we should act in the face of this fact that will require rapid veterinary attention. So, if your little companion has this symptom, read on to find out why your cat is vomiting blood
Vomiting blood in cats
Before going on to expose the possible causes that can explain why our cat vomits blood, we are going to write down the most important aspects to take into accountand that we must transmit to the veterinarian for a correct diagnosis. They will be the following:
- Cat's age.
- Vaccination status.
- Co-occurrence with other symptoms, such as diarrhea, seizures, fever, or lethargy.
- Frequency.
- Possibility or not of access to the outside.
All these data will be able to guide the veterinarian towards the diagnosis. We will see in the following sections the most probable causes. In addition, it must be taken into account that, contrary to what happens with dogs, cats do not vomit so easily, so they sometimes swallow this content and end up eliminating it through the feces, which we can observe from a blackish hue, caused by digested blood. It is possible that the vomit came from the esophagus or pharynx, but this will be determined by the veterinarian after his examination.
Vomiting blood in cats due to poisoning
If our cat has access to the outside and shows other symptoms such as diarrhea, also bloody, or convulsions, it is likely that he has ingested some poisonous substance that causes internal bleeding. It is a veterinary emergency that can have fatal consequences in a very short time, so veterinary attention is needed without delay and, even acting quickly, the prognosis is guarded.
There are several products that can trigger this poisoning in cats. If we find remains of any, it would explain why our cat vomits blood and we must collect it to present it to the veterinarian in order to facilitate diagnosis and treatment. We must be especially careful with potentially toxic products that we leave near our cat. Although they are not usually as "greedy" as dogs, they can also ingest toxic substances, for example, leaves and flowers. It is worth consulting the toxicity of those that we have at your fingertips to avoid unpleasant surprises. To help you with this, don't miss our article on the "Most Toxic Plants for Cats".
Gastrointestinal ulcers
Sometimes, vomiting blood in cats can be due to an injury that has occurred anywhere in the digestive system. These wounds are called ulcers and one of their causes can be the use of medications, in addition to some diseases, mainly chronic, or the presence of foreign bodies and even parasites That is why it is recommended to combine medications with gastric protectors, especially when our cat must follow a prolonged treatment. Thus, we must go to the vet without wasting time and remind him of the medication we are using, since it may be the explanation why our cat vomits blood.
Has your cat had an accident?
If the animal has suffered an accident, such as a fall from a certain height or being run over, this may be the reason I explained why our cat vomits blood. Falls out of windows are so common in felines that they've even been called " skydiving cat syndrome." It is a veterinary emergency, since this vomiting is going to come from a internal hemorrhageThe veterinarian must stabilize the cat and perform the appropriate tests to discover the source of the bleeding. The prognosis will depend on the severity of the damage and the organ or organs that have been affected.
Treatment for vomiting blood in cats
As we have seen, the causes that can explain why our cat vomits blood are varied, it is therefore vitally important go quickly to the veterinary clinic, since, in some cases, early attention can mean the difference between life and death. The treatment, therefore, will depend on the origin of the bleeding. To prevent, we can take into account the following measures:
- Keep our cat dewormed regularly, as well as attend scheduled veterinary check-ups.
- Control the environment so that no type of toxin is within its reach (it must be taken into account that the cat can reach high heights, as well as enter seemingly "impossible" places)).
- In the same way, windows and balconies must remain closed or secured with mosquito nets.
- Avoid access to the outside if we live in places with traffic or risk of poisoning.
