When Your Dog Has Bloody Stool
A poodle called Milly inspired this article. I saw her last Saturday.
A vigilant vet tech had made the appointment after a post-surgery phone call to see how the patient was after a routine dental descale.
The client was concerned because Milly had bloody diarrhea, but she didn’t know whether to call in or not, as Milly had a history of a sensitive stomach.
Milly wagged her way into the exam room, bright as a shiny new coin. Her clinical exam was normal (and she had sparkly clean teeth). She had a history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), for which she took steroid tablets from time to time.
Given that an anesthetic is stressful for any dog, it seemed reasonable that Milly’s upset was due to the stress triggering her IBD, so we beefed up her treatment.
Happily, I checked her notes yesterday, and Milly was well on the mend.
But this and a request from a staff member to view a photo of her dog’s bloody bowel movement set me thinking about IBD, colitis and sensitive tummies in general.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BLOOD IN DOG STOOL
Blood in dogs’ stools can be bright red, technically known as hematochezia, which would suggest a bleed from the lower intestines, usually the rectum or colon. With hematochezia, you might notice fresh red blood mixed in with your dog’s stools or perhaps notice a few drops of blood whilst your dog is pooping.
On the other hand, blood can also make your dog’s stools look black and tar-like, this is because it is digested blood and probably originates from the upper intestine – the medical term for this sort of bleeding is melana.
Melena can be harder to spot, especially if your dog’s poops are sometimes dark anyway, in fact often it can only be confirmed by analysis at the vets. It’s sensible to ensure you are aware of the normal colour and consistency of your dog’s poops so that if you notice anything unusual about them you can take a closer look.
Sometimes your pooch has just eaten something that has caused his stools to change colour, but it could be symptomatic of something much more serious and the quicker it’s picked up the better.
Along with blood in his poop your dog might be presenting with other symptoms too such as lethargy, being off his food, vomiting or have bloodydiarrhoea. Obviously, if you are worried your pet is unwell and suspect that your pooch has blood in his stools it’s important to get him checked out, immediately if he is pooping large amounts of blood or is vomiting as well.
Sammy’s Success Story
With all of these possible reasons for your dog to suffer from bloody diarrhea, one diagnosis that everyone keeps their finger crossed to avoid is Parvo.
This highly infectious disease is painful, scary, and life-threatening to those who have become infected.
One unlucky dog that was struck down with this deadly disease was a happy, bouncy chihuahua/beagle mix named Sammy.
We stumbled upon the story on the blog blueanteater.com run by Hayley Cruz. It was, in fact, Hayley’s little brother who was gifted this adorable bundle of joy for Christmas.
Her brother took to dog ownership like a duck to water. In the first few days of her arrival, he wouldn’t even let anyone near little Sammy if he believed that they had recently consumed chocolate!
Puppy training began post haste, and Sammy – the big ball of energy that she was – was doing well.
But then, a mere five days after she arrived at the Cruz home, Hayley came downstairs to find something was wrong.
At first, the pup showed signs of lethargy and discomfort.
This was followed reasonably quickly by vomiting. After some serious Googling, the same result popped up – Parvovirus.
That’s when diarrhea kicked in.
Worried about the costs associated with going to the veterinarian, Hayley, her brother, and their mother all tried their very best to research and treat Sammy at home. But, to no avail.
After twenty-four hours with no improvement, they made the decision that would ultimately save Sammy’s life.
They took the dog to the closest veterinarian.
Hayley mentioned how she was nervous that the vet may scold them for not bringing Sammy in sooner, but she said that as luck would have it – and due in part to their home remedies – Sammy was experiencing very little dehydration.
With a thorough plan of action for the next two weeks of treatment – including injecting an IV into her once per day and giving her multiple types of medication – the Cruz family left the veterinarians with hope for a bright future for this brave young pup.
At first, the whole family detested poking her with a needle to insert the IV. They knew that they were doing this to help her, but seeing her writhe in pain was somewhat unbearable.
They persisted, and once her treatment was complete, they were overjoyed to welcome the bouncy and energetic Sammy back!
Now a fully grown Chihuahua, Sammy is happy, healthy, and still full of energy.
Owners like the Cruz’s are the best example of what a dog owner should be.
Immediately aware of irregular behavior, they researched the symptoms and began treatment immediately.
Even on a tight budget, they didn’t care about the cost and ultimately spent as much money as it took to help Sammy.
As Hayley described it, they didn’t care if it meant that they had to survive on beans, as long as their pup was going to be okay.
What causes Bloody Poop in Dogs? | Veterinary approved
When your dog has bloody diarrhea, it can be scary knowing that this could be the symptom of a life-threatening condition.
But, in many cases it’s something far less severe, and will work itself out at home. Either way, bloody diarrhea in dogs needs to be addressed by a veterinarian.
The best thing that you can do for your dog when he has bloody diarrhea is to be astute. Pay attention to changes in his behavior and eating habits.
Research his symptoms, and as soon as you become worried, seek immediate veterinary help. Until then, do not panic.
One of the most serious diseases that shows itself as bloody diarrhea in dogs is something known as Hemorrhagic GastroEnteritis (HGE).
This is the most common serious canine bloody stool condition, but that doesnt necessarily mean this is what your dog has.
Even if you’re on a tight budget, call your veterinarian first. A vet visit may not be necessary at all.
They will be happy to listen to the symptoms over the phone and give you a quick opinion on what this may be and whether your dog requires any medical attention, or if this is something you can solve at home by yourself.
Bloody diarrhea is a soft, runny stool that can have varying amounts of blood within it. It can potentially be life-threatening in cases of HGE in dogs, or if the diarrhea is severe and accompanies other symptoms.
Mild cases will often resolve themselves and may be caused by food intolerance or a rectal injury in your dog. Lets take a closer look at this.