My dog is pooping blood: reasons and possible solutions
My dog is pooping blood, Digestive problems are not uncommon in dogs. Again and again diarrhea, gas, nausea or constipation can occur. A cause or trigger for the complaints is often found quickly. Sometimes, on the other hand, it’s not that easy. Digestive complaints don’t always have to have a serious background.
Nevertheless, dog owners should always keep an eye on what their dog has left behind so that they can react quickly in an emergency. Care should always be taken if your dog is pooping blood. There can be many reasons for this, and they can also be quite harmless. Nevertheless, the animal must be observed carefully.
This could also be of interest to you: Cat & Dog Nail Scissors With LED Lights
Pooping blood can be different
Dogs have very different habits when it comes to dropping poop. Some dogs defecate several times a day, others only every two days. It is important that the chair is not too firm and not too soft, shaped and light to dark brown. Any deviation from normal conditions should be observed.
Constipation usually shows that the dog has major problems with bowel movements and has to work very hard. In the case of diarrhea, on the other hand, the feces are mushy to liquid or even watery. Abdominal pain can occur in both cases. Admixtures of mucus and blood are also possible.
Beware of dark blood
If blood appears in the dog’s feces, it is important to pay attention to the color and texture. This can possibly provide information about what the dog is missing. Blood can be dark to black or it can look very fresh and be light red. These differences are easy to explain. The dog’s intestines are divided into sections.
If the dog has upper digestive tract bleeding, the blood must pass through the rest of the intestine. This causes it to change color and turn dark red to black. If the dog’s feces are dark red or even black with blood, this is an alarm signal. Dark blood can indicate problems in the stomach or small intestine.
Light-colored blood, on the other hand, occurs when the bleeding is found in the rectum or in the anus region. Light-colored pooping blood indicates acute and superficial bleeding and is usually the more harmless variant.
Read Also: Dog law: Every dog owner should know these commandments
There are several causes
If the dog has blood in its feces, any other symptom can provide information about what is wrong with the animal. The causes of the blood can be very different:
- Chronic colon inflammation
- Inflammation of the small bowel
- worms
- Giardia
- Gastrointestinal disease
- Ulcers or tumors
- poisoning
- constipation
- Bone feces
- Inflammation of the anal gland
Intestinal inflammation
Blood in the stool can be an indication of bowel inflammation. This can affect any section of the intestine and thus occur in both the large and small intestines. Enteritis is often associated with diarrhea. Often blood can be seen in the feces.
The dog then excrements more often during the day. This can include undigested food and mucus. The food cannot be digested properly and this leads to large amounts of feces. The reasons for intestinal inflammation can be many. Bacteria, fungi or viruses can be just as responsible for the inflammation as Giardia or worms.
Likewise, spoiled food is a possible cause. Another reason for intestinal inflammation can be mild poisoning. This can be caused by fertilizers, cleaning agents or pesticides. The dog should therefore under no circumstances have access to these funds.
This could also be of interest to you: Anti-Lost Waterproof Tracker For Dog Cat Kids Car Wallet Key
Leftovers are not dog food
Dogs like to beg at the table and are happy when their human gives them some of their food. Unfortunately, many dog owners do not know that this can even be dangerous for the dog. Some foods that are healthy for us can even be toxic to the dog. More about this on food for dogs: What can my dog eat and what is forbidden?
In addition to poisoning, allergies, intolerances and severe digestive problems with intestinal inflammation can occur. With bowel inflammation, the cause is not always obvious. Therefore, the vet will first treat the symptoms.
This includes a zero diet that must be adhered to for at least 24 hours. Then there is light food. In this way, the bowel can calm down and regenerate. In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary. Then the animal is given infusions to fight dehydration. Antibiotics work against inflammation.
A worm infestation can be dangerous(My dog is pooping blood)
A very common cause of blood in the stool can be worms. Dogs become infected with the annoying parasites very easily. The worm eggs get into the animal’s body by licking and sniffing contaminated blades of grass and leaves or the anal region of an infected dog.
Eating feces is also a risk factor (more on dog eats cat feces – reasons and solutions ). There they nestle in the intestines and grow into worms. The dog excretes the worm eggs again and this creates a cycle that needs to be interrupted. A worm infestation is only noticed after a while.
Bloody diarrhea can be a symptom. Vomiting can also occur. After a while, the worms are even visible to the naked eye in the feces. Worm infestation can lead to weight loss and anemia and is very dangerous in puppies. A chemical wormer can help.
However, there are also alternative methods that are supposed to cure a worm infestation. These include coconut oil, carrots and pumpkin seeds. Many veterinarians recommend regular deworming every three to six months. An alternative to this is the regular examination of a sample of the dog’s feces. If the dog has worms effectively, it can be dewormed.
Read Also: The flail years: the dog in puberty
Giardia can also affect humans
Infection with Giardia can take a similar course. In this case, too much blood is common in the dog’s stool. Giardia is protozoa that can be found in contaminated water or food. The dog can also be infected directly (My dog is pooping blood).
Giardia can also be transmitted to humans. The parasites can only be seen with a microscope. If the dog has an intact immune system, there is no sign of infection. However, weak, old, young, or sick animals show symptoms.
In addition to blood, mucus or fat can also be seen in the feces. In the case of Giardia infestation, this is thin, mushy or watery. So, the dog may have a fever and loss of appetite. With antibiotics, however, you can quickly regain control of an infestation and the dog’s feces return to normal.
Harmless causes of a dog pooping blood
The addition of blood does not always have to occur with diarrhea. Constipation can also cause bleeding. The dog has to work very hard to get rid of the feces. Veins can burst and the feces become covered with blood. Once the dog gets rid of constipation, the blood is gone too.
The situation is similar to inflammation of the anal glands. Inflammation can be quickly corrected by the veterinarian. In some animals, the glands need to be emptied regularly. In addition to this preventive measure, there are still a few things the dog owner can do.
A healthy and species-appropriate diet is important for the dog. Artificial ingredients and grains in the feed should be avoided. Food should also be avoided at the dining table. (My dog is pooping blood) These are not a healthy diet for the dog and do more harm than good.
