The role of vitamin K in cats is to promote the synthesis of prothrombin in the liver. If the body lacks vitamin K, it will affect the cat's metabolism, lead to physiological dysfunction, and trigger a series of diseases. If not treated in time, severe cases may be life-threatening.

Causes of vitamin K deficiency in cats

There are two types of vitamin K in nature, namely K1 and K2. As for the so-called K3", it is a synthetic naphthaquinone. Vitamin Kl widely exists in green plants, and vitamin K2 can be freely synthesized by intestinal bacteria, so primary deficiency will not occur. However, in obstructive jaundice and intestinal fistula . When diarrhea persists, the digestive tract lacks sufficient bile, resulting in reduced absorption of vitamin K. Or long-term use of bacteriostatic drugs (sulfa, chloramphenicol, etc.) destroys the intestinal flora and prevents the synthesis of vitamin K, thus causing secondary complications. Sexual vitamin K deficiency.

In fact, cats can synthesize many vitamins in their bodies. However, a small number of vitamins that cannot be synthesized must be supplemented by the food they feed daily. As long as cats eat a healthy diet every day, vitamin K deficiency will generally not occur. If it is deficient, it must be treated symptomatically.

Symptoms of vitamin K deficiency in cats

The sick cat has allergies, loss of appetite, bleeding in the skin and mucous membranes, watery blood, prolonged coagulation time, pale mucous membranes, and accelerated heartbeat.

Treatment of vitamin K deficiency in cats

Vitamin K 15mg or vitamin K3 (menadione) 20mg can be injected intramuscularly, 1 to 2 times a day. When there is heavy bleeding, fresh blood should be transfused immediately to replenish prothrombin.

When lacking vitamin K, you can also feed more green plants, animal livers, milk, etc.; in severe cases, you can feed sodium methyl sulfite (vitamin K3), but you should be careful about excessive poisoning.