Bleeding Paws in Cats

Bleeding Paws in Cats
The daring nature of most felines might at some point lead to a bleeding paw. As a pet owner it's your job to determine just what brought on the bloody paw. The causes may range from something apparently benign to more complicated reasons.
Signs and symptoms
Cats with injuries or ailments in their feet will often have clear symptoms. The cat will lick or nip at an irritated paw continually, oftentimes to the point of causing bleeding. Often, the cat limps or otherwise tries to favor the impacted paw. If you examine your cat’s paw and observe that the pads are enlarged and pink, bloody, or wet from increased licking, it is best to have a vet look at it. Lesions, bumps, or pustules are also cause for concern.
Infections
Cats are energetic and curious creatures, and even indoor kittens and cats could very well hurt their paws while playing and exploring. Cats also can injure their feet in quarrels with other creatures, and they are vulnerable to insect bites and stings as a result of their inclination to run after bees or even scorpions. Any open wound, embedded item, or insect bite on a cat's foot is prone to contamination, in particular should the cat uses a litter box. On top of that, some cats have relatively powerful allergic reactions to bee stings and mosquito bites. Talk with your vet about how to keep a paw wound clean and if your cat requires antibiotics or antihistamines.
Pemphigus
Pemphigus is an immune system disorder that is common in cats. It will produce bumps on their paws and faces. The bumps turn into pustules, then become scabs. Paw pads may also thicken and break. The only way to detect pemphigus is using a skin biopsy. This ailment is often confused with feline lupus, so it is important to get the biopsy examined by an experienced pathologist. Pemphigus is usually treated with immune system suppressants like corticosteroids, and the owner may need to soak and wash the feet until the sores heal.
Pillow Foot
The medical name for Pillow Foot is actually plasma cell pododermatitis. This disease is indicated by pink or purplish pads, severe inflammation, and the pad feels quite soft when pressed. Pillow Foot typically impacts more than one foot. Generally, the cat will not seem particularly bothered by this problem, and at times it can exclusively be found with a biopsy or blood test. The causes of this condition are certainly not well understood, but it can be treated effectively with steroid drugs and or antibiotics.
Eosinophilic Granuloma
With signs and symptoms similar to Pillow Foot, eosinophilic granuloma ordinarily exclusively impacts one foot and is generally caused by allergies. The allergen might be airborne, environmental, or coming from food. Should the cat's body has an severe reaction to the allergy, its immune system assaults the collagen inside its foot, causing the puffiness. Eosinophilic granuloma can be treated together with steroids, antibiotics, and also anti-inflammatories, plus the vet will in addition do tests to find the cause of the allergy.
Fort Collins Veterinarians

Author
JBruno
Fort Collins Veterinarians