Internal bleeding in cats can happen without warning and frequently shows no outward indication.
The most common cause of internal bleeding is trauma. For outdoor cats, potential accidents include being hit by a car, attacked by a larger animal, and falls. Indoor cats can also suffer falls, get accidentally stepped on or slammed in a door, or injured by a reclining chair.
Rat-poison ingestion, depending on the type of rat poison, can also result in internal bleeding. Other less common causes in cats include coagulopathies (bleeding disorders resulting in inability to clot) and ruptured internal tumors.
Signs to watch for include:
- Changes in breathing
- Collapse
- Hiding
- Inappetence
- Lethargy
- Pale mucous membranes
- Weakness
You may notice your cat’s paws and lower limbs are cool to the touch. If there is bleeding into the abdomen, you may see abdominal distension.
An important breathing change to watch for is an elevated respiratory rate. The normal resting respiratory rate in cats is 35 or fewer breaths per minute. With internal bleeding, blood is pouring into a cavity, typically the chest and/or abdomen, which means fewer circulating red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the body tissues. As the tissues become more oxygen deficient, the brain tells the lungs to breathe faster to deliver oxygen from inhaled air at an increased rate.
Practice counting breaths per minute in your cat now, while she is well, so you’re familiar with how to do this while not under stress. This will make it easier to do when there is a problem. Of course, internal bleeding isn’t the only ailment that causes increases in respiratory rate. Either way, though, if your cat’s respiratory rate is typically 35 breaths per minute, and now it is at 50, she needs to be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
Other potential breathing changes include shallow breaths and abdominal breathing. If your cat is bleeding into her chest, there is less room for the lungs to expand, resulting in rapid shallow breaths. Abdominal breathing is when you see your cat’s abdomen expanding and dramatically contracting with each breath. This happens because of to the extra effort necessary to try and get air in and out of the compromised lungs.
Mucous membranes you can see include the gums and the conjunctival tissue around the eyes. In good health, these tissues have a nice pink color. When there is internal bleeding, these membranes will become pale, ranging from a soft gray to white in color. You may notice loss of visible blood vessels on the whites of the eyes, and your cat’s pretty pink nose may turn white.
Lethargy, weakness, and collapse usually result from the drop in blood pressure that occurs as blood leaves the vessels. Basically, your cat is entering the first stages of shock when this happens.
The bottom line is, even if your cat stays safely indoors, trauma or diseases that cause life-threatening internal bleeding are still possible. Know your cat’s baseline health, including her resting respiratory rate and gum color, and learn the signs associated with internal bleeding. Time, in this instance, really can mean the difference between survival and death.
FAQs
How do I know if my cat or dog is bleeding internally?
- Pale to white gums (very pale pink to to white in appearance)
- Legs, ears, or tails that are cool to the touch.
- Coughing up blood or having difficulty breathing.
- Unusually subdued; progressive weakness and sudden collapse.
- Reacting with pain if belly is touched.
Remember, this is a life-threatening condition and if suspected, requires immediate veterinary attention. Fortunately, it is often treatable, depending on the cause. The sooner it is diagnosed, the more effective treatment tends to be.
How do vets check for internal bleeding? ›
X-rays of the abdomen and chest to look for signs of bleeding and cancer. Ultrasound of the abdomen to confirm the presence of blood (or other fluids) and to look for tumors. Examining a sample of abdominal fluid.
Can stress cause bleeding in cats? ›
Severe stress can cause blood in cat's poo. Situations like moving house, boarding your cat when you go on holiday or around fireworks night can all cause your cat stress. It's a good idea to seek advice from a vet if you suspect your cat is pooing blood due to stress as they may be able to offer ways to help.
How long can an animal survive with internal bleeding? ›
Dogs can bleed to death within a few hours if the bleeding continues unchecked. They can be quite literally felled in their tracks. The bleeding is internal, and there is no evidence of bleeding that can be seen externally by the pet owner.
Does internal bleeding heal itself? ›
GI bleeding often stops on its own. If it doesn't, treatment depends on where the bleed is from. In many cases, bleeding can be treated with medicine or a procedure during a test. For example, it's sometimes possible to treat a bleeding peptic ulcer during an upper endoscopy or to remove polyps during a colonoscopy.
How do cats act when they are in pain? ›
Decreased interest in positive things like playing, social interaction and exploring outside. Being withdrawn and hiding away. Appearing lame and experiencing increased sensitivity to touch in specific areas of their body. Reduction in movement and activity.
How to comfort a cat in pain? ›
Using warm and/or cold compresses can be another way to alleviate pain. Talk to your veterinarian about which might be more helpful for your cat and their specific condition. Pain, illness and injury are sometimes an unavoidable part of the life of every living creature.
What are the main signs of internal bleeding? ›
The signs and symptoms that suggest concealed internal bleeding depend on where the bleeding is inside the body, but may include:
- pain at the injured site.
- swollen, tight abdomen.
- nausea and vomiting.
- pale, clammy, sweaty skin.
- breathlessness.
- extreme thirst.
- unconsciousness.
Doctors most often use upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy to test for acute GI bleeding in the upper and lower GI tracts. Upper GI endoscopy. In an upper GI endoscopy, your doctor feeds an endoscope down your esophagus and into your stomach and duodenum.
First Aid for Internal Bleeding
Internal bleeding cannot be stopped without the help of health care professionals. If extensive bleeding causes light-headedness or symptoms of shock, the person should be laid down and the legs elevated. Medical assistance should be summoned as quickly as possible.
Can a cat have internal bleeding? ›
Internal bleeding in cats can happen without warning and frequently shows no outward indication. The most common cause of internal bleeding is trauma. For outdoor cats, potential accidents include being hit by a car, attacked by a larger animal, and falls.
What is the best calming aid for cats? ›
Some of the most popular products for cat anxiety are cat calming collars infused with pheromones, such as the Sentry HC cat calming collar. The pheromones in cat calming collars mimic those that mother cats produce to calm and soothe kittens, and they can also help to calm adult kitties.
What is Pandora syndrome in cats? ›
Pandora syndrome is a condition that affects multiple organ systems, including the urinary tract. The term is often used synonymously with Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC); however, FIC is only one component of Pandora syndrome (see handout “Feline Idiopathic Cystitis” for more information on this condition).
Abdominal Bleeding in Cats - Symptoms ... - Wag!Wag!https://wagwalking.com ›
Extreme injuries from trauma or progressed internal ailments can cause blood vessels within the abdomen to rupture and bleed into the space between organs.
Potential causes of internal bleeding vary greatly from intestinal parasites to certain types of cancer. The cause will also determine how you may be able to te...
Vomiting (sometimes with blood), diarrhea (also with blood), loss of appetite, weight loss, and lethargy are the most common signs. Constipation, straining to defecate, abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, and abdominal infection associated with the rupture of the affected bowel have also been reported.
What does blood in cat poop look like? ›
Blood in your cat's faeces will usually appear as flecks, and the colour and amount of these flecks will depend on how much they're bleeding and where it's coming from.
What are the symptoms of hematoma in cats? ›
Pain, swelling, redness, and disfiguring bruises are common symptoms of hematoma in general. Some symptoms specific to the location of a hematoma are: Subdural hematoma symptoms: headache, neurologic problems (weakness on one side, difficulty speaking, falling), confusion, seizures.
What are the symptoms of melena in cats? ›
Melena produces dark, tarry stool due to the presence of digested blood from the upper gastrointestinal tract (the stomach and small intestine).
