What Do You Do If Your Dog is Pooping Blood?
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Blood in a dog’s poo is a relatively common problem. If you see blood in your dog’s poo, it will no doubt give you cause for concern and blood in your dog’s stools is something that you should always get checked out by a vet. However, it is possible that what you are seeing is not blood at all. Here is an overview of how to tell if redness in their poo is blood or something else, the possible causes of the bleeding, the signs to look for, and what you should do if you do if it is blood in your dog’s stools.
Is it Blood or Something Else in Your Dog’s Stools?
The first step to take if you see redness in your dog’s stools is to determine whether it is blood or something else. Another potential cause of redness in poo is food colorings that are used in some pet foods or in other foods to which your dog has had access. It may also have come from something that your dog shouldn’t eat, such as a red wax crayon. In most cases, this is nothing to worry about. If the substance has passed through your dog and out with their stools without causing an ill-effect, then it is unlikely to harm them once it has been passed. Therefore, you should not worry too much but should get your dog checked as a precautionary measure.
What If It is Blood?
Many of the causes of blood in poo are common problems that are not serious and will not need any medical intervention. On the other hand, blood in a dog’s poo is potentially a sign of a serious, or even life-threatening, condition. Only a veterinarian has the knowledge and skills to determine whether it is something serious or not. Therefore, you should always get your dog checked out by the vet, even if you don’t think it is anything serious.
What Are the Causes of Blood in a Dog’s Poo?
There are many different causes of blood in a dog’s poo. Some of them are a minor problem that will resolve itself and others are potentially dangerous and will need treatment. One of the most common causes is a small tear near your dog’s anus. This is sometimes caused by the dog becoming constipated and needing to push a little harder to pass their stools. The best solution to this is simple changes in your dog’s diet to prevent constipation.
To the other extreme, some forms of bowel, stomach, and digestive tract cancers can also cause bleeding. This is extremely serious and your dog will need a diagnosis from the vet before the correct treatment is delivered.
Two other possible causes of bleeding are hemorrhagic gastroenteritis and canine parvovirus. The former is a very serious condition and your dog will have bright-red and bloody diarrhea. The latter is a potentially fatal viral disease that also causes bloody diarrhea.
Diagnosing the Causes of Blood in a Dog’s Poo
The appearance of both the blood and the poop is the first step in a vet diagnosing the cause of your dog’s bleeding. This gives some guidance as to where the blood is coming from and the possible cause. Bright red blood on the outside of a normal stool is usually from the lower part of the intestinal tract, while red blood mixed in with poo is from higher in the intestinal tract. If the blood is dark or has turned black instead of red, then this is digested blood. This is an indicator that the blood is coming from or close to the stomach.
What is the Treatment for Blood in a Dog’s Poo?
Regardless of the cause of the bleeding, you should always seek the advice of a vet. Once your vet has determined the cause of the bleeding through examinations and tests, they will advise you if your dog needs further treatment. The treatment may vary not only because of the cause of bleeding but also because of the individual differences between one dog and the next, such as its age and general health. In some circumstances, no treatment is needed at all. For more serious conditions, your dog may need a course of medication, surgery, or other treatments.