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If your cat has been prescribed aspirin to treat a long-term condition, such as arthritis, it may develop an ulcer. While aspirin provides effective treatment for arthritis, it can wreak havoc or the lining of your cat's stomach or small intestine. If your cat has been diagnosed with ulcers, here are four steps you can take to help relieve the discomfort they may be experiencing.

Reduce Shedding

When your cat grooms itself, it swallows most of the hair that comes off on its tongue. That hair then makes its way to your cat's stomach where can aggravate the irritation caused by ulcers. To help prevent the increased stomach irritation, you should keep your cat well-groomed. Daily brushing will help reduce the amount of hair that your cat sheds.

Change the Aspirin Regimen

If you haven't been giving your cat its daily aspirin at mealtime, you should start. Giving aspirin to your cat can cause irritation, which can increase the discomfort associated with ulcers. For best results, cut the aspirin into small pieces and hide it inside moist cat food. Be sure to provide plenty of fresh water with each meal. This will help ensure that the aspirin gets flushed through your cat's system properly.

Reduce Stress

While stress doesn't necessarily cause ulcers in cats, it can make the symptoms worse. If your cat has ulcers, try to keep it as calm as possible. Provide it with a quiet place to rest throughout the day, preferably somewhere that it can go to be alone. Many cats enjoy climbing into a cupboard or closet when there's too much going on around it. If your cat enjoys time alone, set up a bed in the back of a closet and allow your cat to have access to that space.

See the Vet

If your cat is not responding to the steps you're taking to relieve its ulcer problems, you might need to speak to the veterinarian. This is particularly true if the symptoms are getting worse. If your cat develops any of the following symptoms, be sure to contact your veterinarian immediately.

• Bloody stool
• Vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• Foul smelling urine
• Loss of appetite

If your cat has ulcers, you need to do everything you can to reduce the symptoms. Use the tips provided here to help relieve the distress your cat might experience. Be sure to speak to your veterinarian about other ways to treat your cat's ulcers. Contact a business, such as the Orange Grove Animal Hospital for more information.