Have you seen blood in the dog’s feces? It is normal that if we observe this in our pet we worry and we want to know what is happening and what we should do. But when this happens to a dog, the reasons that may be causing it are really diverse and not all of them are serious and, for this reason, the possible solutions are also several.
In any case, whenever something like this is observed in our furry, it is vital that we go to the veterinarian to detect the origin of the problem and solve it promptly before it gets worse. Of course, at OneHOWTO we want to help you be as informed as possible and, for this reason, in this article we tell you everything you need to know to clear up your doubts about ” why does my dog have blood and mucus in stools? ” and other such as “what if a dog poops blood?”
You may also be interested in: Why does my dog have a bleeding nose and what do I do?
Index
- The color of blood in the stool
- Causes of melena in dog feces
- Causes of hematochezia in dogs
- Causes of Mucus in Dog Feces
- What to do if my dog has stools with blood and mucus
The color of blood in the stool
The first thing that we must take into account in order to know the causes of blood in the dog’s feces is that it can be mainly of two different types that we can differentiate according to the color tone it has. Knowing the color we can begin to distinguish the origin of the problem, discarding some possibilities and seeing that others, on the other hand, do fit. Thus, we can differentiate between these two types of blood in dog feces : melena and hematochezia.
What is the mane in dogs
Many people when they hear this word wonder what is the mane in dogs ?, but in reality it is a symptom that can occur in any animal and means the same in all. In this case, the blood has been digested and for this reason it has a dark, blackish red colour, it is thick and even has a strong and very unpleasant smell. That it has been digested indicates that its origin is in the upper or first part of the digestive system. As due to the dark color it is sometimes difficult to discern whether or not there is blood, if we detect a very strong odor and we are suspicious, we can collect the droppings and take them to the vet or with a piece of absorbent paper collect them and see if the paper reddish stain.
What is hematochezia in dogs
It is the presence of fresh blood in the droppings , so its color is bright red. This tone is like this because it has not gone through the long digestive process and, this fact, indicates that its origin is in the lower or final part of the dog’s digestive system. In these cases, the problem usually occurs in the animal’s colon or rectum and blood can be seen as drops when the animal defecates or it may be mixed with the rest of the excrement. In severe cases or those that have worsened, you may see your dog expel blood from the anus, that is, he may try to defecate, but he does not pass stool and only expels some fresh blood, with or without mucus.
Next, we explain what happens if a dog defecates blood depending on whether it is one type or the other. Pay attention and know the possible causes, but don’t forget to take your furry to the vet to diagnose and treat the problem.
Causes of melena in dog feces
If you have detected, or the veterinary specialist has diagnosed, that your faithful companion passes stools with dark blood , then now you have to detect the possible origin of the problem to start treatment promptly if necessary. As melena can come from the nose, mouth, pharynx, esophagus, lungs, stomach or upper part of the small intestine, it can be caused by something minor or a serious problem, so it is vital that Go to your vet as soon as possible. Thus, among the main causes of mane in dog droppings we find the following:
ingested blood
One of the most common reasons is that the furry has ingested blood, for example when licking a wound or having bled from the nose or mouth, and this has been digested, eventually producing the mane. Thus, make sure that the muzzle and the rest of the body of your partner do not have recent injuries.
blood clotting disorder
There are various coagulation factor disorders in dogs, for example Von Willebrand’s disease or hemophilia. In this case, you will also be able to see that if your furry suffers a wound, it takes time to stop bleeding and close. In addition, some intoxications or poisoning in dogs can also cause a coagulation problem and the consequent bloody stools. In both cases it is vital to go to the nearest center or hospital with your pet as soon as possible.
Complications after surgery
If your furry has undergone surgery in the last 72 hours and poops dark blood, it may be due to a problem in postoperative recovery. In this case you should call the emergency vet.
Medication use
The use of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and the use of Pepto Bismol, a product for upset stomach, can cause a dark color in the stool. In the case of NSAIDs, bleeding ulcers can occur that cause the appearance of dark bloody stools, but in the case of Pepto Bismol it will not be blood, but this product, while consumed, gives the stool a blackish appearance.
Bleeding tumors and polyps
Tumor masses are the cause of many problems and can give rise to various symptoms, always depending on their origin, state and location in the body. A bleeding tumor can cause your furry to have bloody stools. The same happens in the case of polyps that can occur in the digestive system.
In addition, there are more things that can cause problems with digested blood in the stool of dogs. For example, other possible causes may be some bacterial infections that become serious, such as a Campylobacter infection, trauma to the digestive system, a fissure in the digestive system, or an intestinal obstruction .
Causes of hematochezia in dogs
In the case of detecting bright red blood in their droppings, you should go to the vet as soon as possible since there are many possible reasons and some of them serious. Thus, among the main causes of hematochezia in dogs we find the following:
parvovirus in dogs
Canine parvovirus is one of the most serious canine diseases and mainly affects puppies. If you see blood in the stool of a puppy, go to the nearest hospital or center as soon as possible since, among other symptoms such as vomiting and lethargy, this blood in its stool is an indicator that it may suffer from parvovirus and needs veterinary attention as soon as possible. , because this disease can be fatal.
hemorrhagic gastroenteritis
It is a condition that produces a gastrointestinal picture with vomiting, diarrhea and blood in them. The cause of this gastroenteritis is very complicated to diagnose, but it is vital for the recovery of your faithful companion that a specialist checks it, diagnoses the problem, even if it is difficult to find the cause, and that the most appropriate medication is administered as soon as possible. case and fluid therapy.
Stress
If your dog is stressed or anxious, either one-off or over a long period of time, this can cause bloody stools. From a new tenant at home, a move, leaving him for a few days with someone or in a dog residence or suffering from separation anxiety will cause your dog to suffer stress and discomfort, affecting his digestive system. For this, you must find the origin of their stress and modify it.
wounds in the rectum
Rectal wounds can be caused by severe constipation or by the ingestion of a foreign object or body such as a stick or a piece of a toy. This will cause irritation and damage to the walls of the rectum causing bleeding.
parasites
The presence of internal parasites in dogs is one of the main reasons for hematochezia. Therefore, it is very important not to skip any deworming and take our pet for frequent check-ups, as well as take it to the specialist if parasites are detected in the droppings.
food
If we give him inappropriate food, he has an intolerance or allergy to some food or we give too much food to a dog, we can cause irritation in the stomach, intestines or colon that leads to diarrhoea, blood and mucus in the excrement. A sudden change in your furry’s usual diet can also cause this irritation, so you have to make changes in food gradually.
Causes of Mucus in Dog Feces
Mucus in the feces of dogs can occur for various reasons. In fact, any of the causes mentioned above, both melena and hematochezia, can cause a dog to poop blood and mucus .
Mucus in the stool is usually indicative of an irritation or injury to the mucous membranes or some type of infection , usually caused by bacteria. Therefore, it is a symptom that is usually also present in the excrement along with the blood.
What to do if my dog has stools with blood and mucus
When there is blood and mucus in the stool, they are usually somewhat undone and there may even be diarrhea. But, now that you know the possible causes depending on whether the blood in the stool or diarrhea is fresh or not, it is normal for you to wonder what to do if your dog has diarrhea with blood and mucus .
Treatment of blood and mucus in dog feces will depend entirely on the cause in each case. It is precisely for this reason that we must go to the vet whenever we detect this problem in order to find the origin and adapt the treatment as soon as possible.
As we have seen before, there may be quite serious cases or there may be situations in which nothing really worrying happens and, therefore, the solutions can be very varied. The treatment can be from a surgery or an admission with the need to maintain fluid therapy with serum and medication or, it may be that with some medical treatment and with a soft diet for dogs it is enough. But, all this will have to be decided by the specialist based on the results of the tests carried out on your pet.
Likewise, if you ask yourself “my dog has bloody diarrhoea, what can I give him?”, as we have mentioned, it will be better to give him a bland diet for dogs , with boiled white rice and grilled chicken with no added salt. However, it is something that must be discussed with the veterinarian since giving solid food is not always the best option in these cases.
