Bleeding in Pets: Signs, Causes, and When to Seek Emergency Care
It’s always alarming to see your pet bleeding, whether it’s without a clear cause or from an accident that led to trauma. Our emergency vet team in Apex, NC, is here to help you determine when it’s time to seek veterinary care.
If your pet is losing a significant amount of blood or bleeding without any sign of slowing, treat this as a medical emergency and contact your emergency veterinarian immediately. You can reach us at 919-605-6300, 24/7/365.
What Does Bleeding in Pets Mean?
Bleeding does not have a one-size-fits-all treatment plan. Plus, since internal bleeding can be harder for owners to recognize, it’s important to be vigilant to recognize signs for concern at home. At the veterinary hospital, we need to determine the source and severity of the bleeding quickly to determine the correct course of action.
External Vs. Internal Bleeding
External bleeding is immediately noticeable, but internal bleeding is by far more concerning—and much less easy to spot.
External Bleeding
Some parts of the body, like faces, have many blood vessels. If your pet sustains a cut or trauma to that area, it may bleed profusely. When does that merit concern?
- The bleeding does not stop: Take your pet in for emergency care immediately if a cut or trauma does not clot. Bleeding should slow down, especially if you can apply pressure with clean gauze.
- The cut goes completely through the skin: If you see pink flesh under the wound, contamination and infection are bigger risks.
Internal Bleeding
You may not even notice at first if your pet is bleeding internally. It should always be treated as an emergency as the body sometimes cannot stop this type of bleeding, and our pets try to act as normally as possible even when the bleeding is serious. It’s time to visit your vet if you notice any of the following:
- Blood in urine or stool
- Blood in vomit
- Bleeding when coughing or sneezing
- Leaking blood from eyes
- Pale gums
- Panting or trouble breathing
- Abdominal swelling
Why Bleeding Can Be Dangerous
Don’t judge blood amounts by what’s normal for humans, especially with cats or small dog breeds. The smaller the animal, the less blood volume they have. Blood loss can get serious very quickly, and shock can set in. Plus, with internal bleeding, you may not notice the issue immediately.
It’s always best to be cautious with bleeding, since it may signal serious underlying conditions like:
- Trauma
- Toxicity (from ingesting a toxic substance)
- Ingesting human medications like aspirin
- Clotting disorders
- Organ disease
Common Causes of Bleeding in Pets
Being unsure why your pet is bleeding can be nerve-wracking. Here are some of the common causes we see in our practice.
Trauma or Injury
The most immediately identifiable cause is trauma or injuries like bite wounds, car accidents, falls, or blunt-force trauma. How to identify this:
- Visible wounds
- Limping
- Swelling
- Sudden bleeding
Ingestion of Toxins
Some toxins, once ingested, can cause delayed internal bleeding, whether from severe GI upset or bleeding from the bladder. How to identify if this is the cause:
- Unexplained bruising
- Bleeding from the gums, eyes, or nose
- Blood in urine or stool
Gastrointestinal Causes
Ulcers are common, but stress-induced GI bleeding is even more common in our patients. Whether from simple stress, an ulcer, foreign object or tumor, here’s how to identify this:
- Abdominal pain
- You may see swelling or changes in posture, bathroom habits or behavior
- Black or bloody stool
- Vomiting blood
Urinary or Reproductive Conditions
Seeing blood in your pet’s urine is always concerning. Whether due to infection, stones or tumors, it’s worth seeking answers from your vet. Additionally, vaginal bleeding unrelated to heat cycles is abnormal and should be treated as a concern. How to identify this:
- Blood in urine
- Straining to urinate
- Frequent accidents
Clotting Disorders
- Bleeding without injury
- Prolonged bleeding
- Lots of bruising
Serious Symptoms That Require Immediate Veterinary Attention
If you’re seeing any of these symptoms, treat them as a warning sign to take your pet in for emergency veterinary care as soon as possible.
- Heavy and/or uncontrollable bleeding
- Blood pooling, soaking through bandages or dripping continuously
- Blood in urine or stool
- Black, tarry stool
- Bleeding from multiple sites, like the nose, gums or wounds
- Pale gums
- Weakness or collapse
- Abdominal swelling or pain
- Bleeding following trauma or toxin exposure
- Any bleeding paired with lethargy, vomiting or difficulty breathing
Is your pet experiencing an emergency? We’re open 24/7/365.
Call us at 919-605-6300.
Dog Breed and Age Risk Factors
While all pets risk developing bleeding disorders at certain life stages, some dog breeds are also more at risk than others, regardless of age.
Dog Breeds At Higher Risk for Bleeding Disorders
- Dobermans: More at risk for bleeding disorders like von Willebrand disease
- Shepherds or retrievers: More at risk for abdominal bleeding or tumors
- Miniature poodles and other small breeds: More at risk for immune-mediated causes of bleeding like hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenia
Age-Related Risks
- Puppies or kittens: Trauma, intestinal parasites or congenital clotting disorders
- Adult pets: Injuries, toxin ingestion, urinary or GI diseases
- Senior pets: Cancer, organ disease, chronic GI bleeding
Bleeding Prevention: Steps to Take
What can you do to keep your pet safe? There’s no way to mitigate risks completely, but you can take these practical precautions.
Reduce Injury Risk
Supervising animal-to-animal interactions and keeping a close eye on your pet outside can go a long way.
- Use caution when taking your dog to the dog park. Dog parks may have multiple dogs that are not well-supervised, and we see frequent bite wounds and toxin ingestions from dogs in these environments. Be cautious anytime you’re introducing your dog to new dogs.
- Leash dogs and cats near roads to prevent car accidents.
- Secure chew toys or other toys that could cause aggressive behaviors.
Prevent Toxin Exposures
Proactively storing toxic substances in safe, secure spaces can keep your pet happy and healthy.
- Store rodenticides, pet or human medications, and chemicals securely. If your pet is curious and likes to explore, lock cabinets or use a secure lockbox.
- Avoid unsafe foods like xylitol, chocolate, or grapes. Again, locked cabinets or secure storage are simple, lifesaving measures.
Support Internal Health
Routine checkups and procedures are also a key part of your pet’s continuing health.
- Routine wellness exams are the best way to monitor your pet’s health.
- Dental care, like dental treats, can help prevent oral bleeding.
- Parasite prevention that targets heartworms, intestinal parasites or even just fleas and ticks can stop problems that lead to internal bleeding before they start.
- Promptly addressing any GI or urinary symptoms as they develop is the best way to keep an issue from getting worse.
When to Seek Emergency Care at Peak Paws
Bleeding is worrying to see, but don’t worry: we can help with the care your pet needs. Contact us immediately or drive to our Apex clinic if:
- Bleeding does not stop.
- You see blood in stool or urine.
- Your pet is weak or lethargic.
- Bleeding does not have an immediately identifiable cause.