Blue, green or purple skin discoloration on the skin of the pet. Pets don't bruise easily, because of their thick skin and fur. The most common causes for bruises for cats and dogs is a trauma. That's why it is advised to consult a veterinarian to determine the cause of the bruising.
How to Recognize
A bruise can have a reddish, purplish, or blackish color. If your pet appears to get a lot of bruises and/or bruise frequently, your pet may have an underlying condition that causes excessive bruising.
Diagnosis
While bruising is normal for pets, excessive bruising can be a sign of an underlying issue. Your veterinarian will take a blood sample and perform a series of blood tests.
Possible Conditions
A bruise is usually caused by external trauma, but excessive bruising is due to an internal medical condition, such as von Willebrand's Disease or Canine Thrombocytopenia.
Treatment for Bruising
Canine Thrombocytopenia may require corticosteroids or spleen removal, but there is no treatment for von Willebrand's disease. If your pet suffers from excessive bruising, make sure children and other animals do not play too roughly with your pet.
Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.