Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
How to Stop Bleeding
Cats are just like humans when it comes to bleeding. And, just like
humans, the first thing to do if a cat is bleeding is to apply pressure.
Adhesive bandage strips are not very useful on cats because of all of
their hair, so you'll need to apply a more secure bandage. Care must be
taken when applying a bandage so that the right amount of pressure is
applied to the wound—enough to slow or stop the bleeding, but not
enough to stop the surrounding circulation.
Applying ice or cold water to a bleeding wound is also useful.
Cold temperatures constrict the blood vessels so less blood is lost.
Another helpful hint is to keep the cat calm and stay calm yourself.
Cats are very attuned to their owner's body language, and they will be
upset if you are. In turn, their blood pressure will rise and make the
bleeding worse.
How Much Blood?
Cats have about 30 milliliters of blood per pound of their body weight.
This means a 10-pound cat has about one and a quarter cups of blood
in his body. It also means a little blood loss can be a serious thing.
If ice and a bandage do not stop bleeding, stitches are probably
needed to close the blood vessel and surrounding skin. A veterinarian
should do any suturing. Cautery (using chemicals or electricity to seal
a blood vessel) can be used in some bleeding situations, such as a bro-
ken toenail. Cautery is safe and easy, but it is not appropriate for all
types of wounds.
Generally, if you see a few drops of blood come from your cat in an
isolated incident, there is no need for alarm. Often it is difficult to even
determine where the bleeding is coming from. Common sources of
bleeding are:
•
Broken toenail
•
Broken tooth
•
Loss of a baby tooth in a young animal
•
Rectal bleeding
•
Any external wound
•
Biting the tongue
•
Bladder inflammation
•
Ingesting rat poison (it contains a chemical that prevents blood
clotting)
