Loss of blood may lead to shock, collapse then death. Therefore it is important to control this loss. The amount of blood loss required to cause harm varies according to size of the animal. A few drops in a canary is quite a significant amount while a horse can lose litres without problems. Roughly we veterinarians become concerned if an animal has lost more blood than 1 % of its body weight. For example an average cat weighs 5kg. We would be concerned if it lost more than 50 ml (2 tablespoons) of blood. Or a 30kg Labrador lost 300ml (just over a cup). Rapid blood loss is more harmful than slow loss as it is more likely to send an animal into shock.
INTERNAL BLEEDING
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
This will depend on where the bleeding is occurring.
- Lungs
coughing up red frothy blood.
- Stomach
vomiting fresh blood or a substance that looks like coffee grounds (digested blood).
- Bowel
passing fresh blood or faeces that appear black or tarry (digested blood).
- Urine
passing urine that is red or has a smoky appearance.
- Abdomen
pain, bloated appearance, pale gums and other signs of shock.
- Chest cavity
difficulty breathing, increased rate and effort, pale and/or blue-tinged gums.
If the bleeding is severe the animal is likely to show signs of shock.
MANAGEMENT
- Treat for shock (see shock).
- Seek veterinary advice even if the animal is coping as the underlying cause must be treated.
