Hemorrhoids are a medical condition that we can find not only in humans but also in animals. Let’s see what are the symptoms, causes and treatment of hemorrhoids in cats.
Hemorrhoids consist of inflammation and swelling of the blood vessels of the tissues lining the rectum or around the anus. This condition is very common in humans but also in animals such as dogs, horses and cats.
Today we will see what are the causes, symptoms and treatment of hemorrhoids in cats and if it is possible to prevent this medical condition.
Hemorrhoids in cats: symptoms and causes
The main cause of hemorrhoids in cats is heredity, nevertheless the feline can suffer from this disorder even if it is fed a diet consisting of low fiber or if the cat does not drink enough .
These two situations are the cause of constipation in the cat, which leads to a strong effort during defecation and therefore to a pressure of the feces in the intestine of the cat. This strong pressure leads to swelling of the blood vessels in the cat’s rectum thus causing hemorrhoids to develop . There are also other causes that can lead to the birth of hemorrhoids in the feline, they are:
- Obesity in cats
- Diarrhea in the feline
Hemorrhoids in cats can be divided into two types, each of which has different symptoms.
External hemorrhoids
External hemorrhoids are inflammation around the cat’s anus. Symptoms are pain, burning and itching. Generally such hemorrhoids appear as a reddish protrusion near the cat’s anus. Being visible they are easier to diagnose.
Internal hemorrhoids
Internal hemorrhoids, on the other hand, consist of inflammation inside the cat’s rectum. Being inside they can hardly be diagnosed, the symptoms of this disorder are:
- Blood in the cat’s feces
- Difficulty sitting
- Pain when defecating
In the event that your four-legged friend exhibits any of these symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian.
Cat hemorrhoids: treatment and prevention
Since cat hemorrhoids are of its own types, there are two types of treatment. As for internal hemorrhoids , the vet could prescribe suppositories to the cat that are useful to decrease the inflammation inside the cat’s rectum. In severe cases, surgery is recommended.
If the cat suffers from external hemorrhoids , the specialist may prescribe creams and ointments to be applied to the affected area. These creams are very useful for reducing inflammation and relieving itching and pain in the feline.
Prevention
As we have seen previously, one of the causes of feline hemorrhoids is constipation, which is why it is necessary to prevent this disorder.
First of all, it is important that the cat’s diet contains fiber and that the cat always has fresh and clean water available. Furthermore, even a sedentary lifestyle can cause the presence of hemorrhoids in the cat, for this reason it is important that the cat does enough physical activity.
