Bloody Stool in Dogs

A little amount of blood is not something uncommon in a dog's stool. However, if you notice heavy discharge of fresh blood or blood clots, you need to tackle the matter with the utmost care. It may be an indication of some serious hidden disorder occurring in the body of your pet dog. Some of the accompanying symptoms of bloody stool are dark stools, loose motions, vomiting, increased urination, pale gums, lethargy, excessive thirst, and loss of appetite and weight.

In case you notice these signs in your dog, you should immediately take him to a veterinarian. He will go through the medical history of the dog and will conduct a physical examination to determine the exact cause of the bloody stool. He may take the help of a few diagnostic tests to confirm his suspicion of the cause.

These tests include a complete blood count, urinalysis, endoscopy, coagulation profile, fecal examination, biochemical profile, serological test for microscopic pathogens, and abdominal ultrasounds.

The possible causes can be one of the following.

• Infection of the digestive tract, caused by bacteria like clostridium and salmonella.
• Viral infection of the stomach, rectum, colon, or other parts of the digestive and excretory system. The commonly responsible viruses are 'parvovirus' and 'coronavirus'.

• Allergies against a particular foodstuff, leading to dietary intolerance.
• Action of intestinal parasites in dogs, like whipworm and ringworm, may cause bleeding of the colon and rectum.

• Contraction of parts of the digestive tract due to disorders like cancer and inflammation.
• Clotting disorders affecting the digestive tract.
• Anal sacculitis or inflamed anal sac.
• Intussusception, better described as the squeezing of one part of the bowel by the other.

• Disruption of the colon or rectum caused by fractures in the pelvic region.
• Inflammation of the rectum or colon.
• Injury to lower part of the bowel and anal region.
• Ingestion of stuffs with sharp edges like bone, nails, or needles.

• Action of protozoans like coccidosis.
• Presence and action of polyps in the intestine.
• Cancerous growth of the lower part of digestive tract
• Certain bleeding disorders or coagulopathies in the body.

Medical treatment for bloody stool depends on the underlying factor. If the presence of parasites is the reason behind it, then de-worming medication will correct the condition. Similarly, for bacterial and viral infections, drugs comprising antibiotics and antivirals may be prescribed respectively.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for parvovirus, but the necessary supportive care can be provided. This is the reason why emphasis is laid on regular vaccination of pet dogs. In case of cancer, treatment is provided according to its stage.

If allergy is found to be the causative factor, then a diet program that excludes the allergen may be prescribed. Usually, elimination of the allergic agent restores the dog's health back to normal. In addition to the treatments provided by the veterinarian, you should take care of certain things that will work towards speeding up the process of recovery. Some such important things are mentioned below.

• While your dog suffers from such a bleeding disorder, it is advisable that you do not feed him bones. The sharp pieces of bone may further aggravate the internal cut or wound.
• Give your dog bland food comprising boiled rice and meat. This will cause no additional load to the digestive system.

• Give him little amounts of food in an interval of 2-3 hours instead of heavy meals. This is again for not exerting any pressure on his digestive system.
• Garlic is known to treat digestive disorders. Add 3-4 cloves of fresh garlic to the dog's meal once a day.

Bloody stool in dogs needs proper veterinarian counseling. Follow the advice and instructions given by the vet to help your dog recover faster. Take care of your pet and try your level best to give him a safe, healthy, and happy life.