Bloody Diarrhea In Dogs: Should You Be Concerned
Bloody diarrhea in dogs can be a symptom of several different health problems. The other term for this problem is hematochezia, which refers to the presence of bright red blood in the stool when it is fresh, and not tarry, black blood which may be old blood. Bloody diarrhea in the stool usually comes from the lower intestines, Tarry, black blood usually comes from somewhere higher up in the dog’s gastrointestinal tract and has been digested.
Causes of Bloody Diarrhea In Dogs
While bloody diarrhea in dogs can be alarming when you see it, it isn’t always a sign of something serious. It can occur for several different reasons, some of them minor and some of them more serious. If your dog has a single bout of bloody diarrhea, it is usually nothing to worry about. However, if your dog has repeated episodes of bloody diarrhea, then it is definitely something you should take seriously. In older dogs the most common cause of bloody diarrhea is cancer. In puppies and young dogs the most common cause of bloody diarrhea is parasites.
Causes of bloody diarrhea can include:
- Trauma to your dog’s intestines or anal area
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Polyps in the colo-rectal area
- Cancer in the lower bowels
- Food allergy
- Eating too much or something disagreeable
- Intestinal parasites
- Intestinal infection, such as a bacteria or virus
- Clotting disorders
- Possible anal disease, or disease involving the rectum or colon
Symptoms of Bloody Diarrhea In Dogs
Obviously, the most visible sign of bloody diarrhea in dogs is the presence of blood in the dog’s stool. The blood will be bright red since it will come from the lower intestinal area and your dog will pass it soon after bleeding. Other symptoms may include the following:
- Your dog may strain when he tries to defecate
- He may have an increased number of bowel movements
There may not be any other obvious symptoms, however, your dog may have some general symptoms of illness such as weight loss, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, increased urination, and lethargy.
Diagnosis
If you see fresh blood in your dog’s stool more than once you should take your dog to see a vet. Your vet will talk to you about your dog’s health and discuss possible causes for the bloody diarrhea, taking into consideration your dog’s age and other factors.
Your veterinarian may need to perform a rectal examination, a complete blood count (CBC), a biochemical profile of your dog’s blood, a urinalysis, a fecal exam, and test your dog’s blood for clotting with a coagulation profile. It’s also possible that your vet will want to take some x-rays, perform an ultrasound on your dog’s abdomen, or do a colonoscopy to have a better look at your dog’s organs.
Treatment of Bloody Diarrhea In Dogs
If your dog has bloody diarrhea then the treatment will depend on the cause. For instance, if your dog is experiencing bloody diarrhea due to a food allergy, you will need to identify the source of the allergy and change your dog’s food. If your dog has eaten something that has upset his stomach, he will need short-term care for the problem. If your dog has an intestinal infection, such as a bacteria or virus, which could be food poisoning, then you and your vet can find the proper course of treatment for the infection. If your dog has intestinal parasites, such as worms, you can treat your dog with worm medication prescribed by your vet.
Depending on the problem, your dog may need to change his diet until the bloody diarrhea is under control. Or your dog may need to have IV fluids. For infections, your dog may need antibiotics. Your dog may also need medication to soothe and protect the gastrointestinal tract.
At home you should give your dog any prescriptions from your vet and follow the recommended diet. Observe your pet closely, especially his bowel movements.
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