My Dog is Pooping Blood: What Should I Do?

The dog is Pooping Blood:  Even though it may seem serious, we all look at what our dog has done. And it’s a really good habit to get into to check your dog’s poop. The dog’s poop (or “stool”) can tell us a lot about his health.

One of the first signs that your dog is sick is if his or her poop changes in color, consistency, or regularity. Blood in your dog’s poop is one of the most worrying changes you might notice. If your dog is pooping blood, it can help to know what might have caused it and what to do about it.

Key Points

• Bloody stools in dogs can be caused by various elements such as infections, parasites, and cancer.
• If your dog is pooping blood, the best thing to do is call your veterinarian for advice.

Why My Dog Is Pooping Blood?

The presence of blood in your dog’s stool is alarming, and various conditions can cause it.

Eating Something Unhealthy or Switching to a New Food

Bloody poop can indicate something is wrong with your dog’s digestive system. This can happen anywhere in the stomach, small intestine, colon, or anal region.

Common problems with the digestive tract (GI tract) include inflammation, which is called “gastroenteritis” or “hemorrhagic gastroenteritis” when blood is also present.

If your dog ate something it shouldn’t have, either of these things could happen. This can include items that aren’t food, like:

• Bones
• Sticks
• Toys
• Toxins
• Garbage

It can also happen when your dog eats something new, like a new food, treat, or chew toy, or when your dog eats another pet’s food.

Infections, Parasites, or Cancer That Affects the GI Tract

Other conditions that can affect the digestive tract, leading to bloody poop, include:

• Infections (bacteria or viruses such as parvovirus)
• Parasites (intestinal worms, coccidia, giardia)
• Cancer, in some cases
• Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)

Diseases in Dogs That Affect Blood Clotting

Bloody poop can also be seen with conditions “outside” the digestive tract.

This could include things that stop the blood from clotting normally, like:

• Bleeding disorders
• Toxins
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease
• Diseases of the immune system
• Hormonal disorders
• Cancer

What Does Bloody Stool in Dog Look Like

There are different ways that bloody poop can look. The blood’s color and look can help determine where it is coming from in the digestive tract.

Hematochezia: Bright Red Color In Dog”s Poop

“Hematochezia” is the medical term for when a dog poops bright red blood. In this case, the blood is bright red because it comes from the lower part of the digestive tract (the colon or anus and rectum).

It is also bright red because it hasn’t been digested all the way yet, so it looks “fresh” when it comes out of the body.

When hematochezia is present, it is often seen with diarrhea and has a reddish color. The dog will probably have to go to the bathroom more often and may have bigger stools. The texture can be anything from soft and formed to completely liquid.

Sometimes a formed stool will be covered in mucus and look like it has blood on the outside. This is also a sign of a problem in the lower part of the digestive system, like the colon.

Melena in Dogs: Black and Tarry Poop

If the blood comes from the stomach or small intestine, it will look dark, almost black, and tarry.

Some pet owners don’t know that dark poop can be a sign of blood in the stool. The name for this is “melena.”

Melena can happen in dogs if they have inflammation, ulcers, or cancer of the stomach or upper part of the intestine.

Melena tends to make a dog’s poop look more solid.

Dog Is Pooping Blood Purely

Also, it’s essential to know that sometimes your dog may poop blood and not poop.

If the stool is liquid or the stomach is empty, the only thing that may come out is blood.

What To Do if Your Dog Is Pooping Blood?

If you believe your dog has bloody poop, the best thing to do is consult a veterinarian. Sometimes, a phone conversation can help determine if your dog needs to see a veterinarian.

Home-Care

There are instances in which care at home may be the best choice.

For example, if a dog eats colored food like beets or treats that have been dyed red, its poop can look like blood.

Think about everything your dog might have seen or been given in the past few days. This will help you and your vet determine what to do next.

When to See a Veterinarian

If your dog pooping blood and also displays any of these symptoms, take them to the veterinarian:

• Seeming weak or lethargic
• Has pale gums (white or pale pink instead of a normal salmon pink color)
• Vomiting
• Pushing to have a bowel movement and little to nothing comes out (tenesmus)
• Refusing food or water
• Becoming unresponsive

This could be a sign of shock and disease that is more serious.

What Is the Treatment for a Dog That’s Pooping Blood?

There are many reasons why a dog might poop blood, so the treatment will depend on what appears to be wrong.

The vet will list possible causes after looking at your dog. To determine what’s wrong, they might need to test the blood, urine, and poop and do X-rays or an ultrasound.

Treating Dehydration

If your dog looks dehydrated, your vet might advise you to give it fluids.

If your dog is only mildly dehydrated, your vet may give fluids under the skin and send your dog home to get more care.

In more severe cases, you may need intravenous fluid therapy and to stay in the hospital to be watched and get more help.

Treating Upset Digestive Tract

If your dog’s digestive system is upset because of a change in diet or inflammation, a vet may give your dog a bland, easy-to-digest food and medicine to help his gut.

Medication could be probiotics, antibiotics, antacids, or something else.

Can dog food cause bloody diarrhea?

It’s possible for the food your dog eats to upset his stomach significantly if you change his diet, which can lead to bloody diarrhea. This is why it’s essential to add new foods slowly. It can also happen if your dog eats other foods that are bad for them but taste good. Tell the vet if you think your dog ate something that caused the blood in its poop. This could help them figure out what’s wrong and treat it.

Can stress be the reason for dogs pooping blood?

Stress is a common reason why dogs get colitis, which can lead to blood in their poop. Stress colitis can be caused by many things, like changes in the environment (like moving or boarding) or things that make you anxious, like thunderstorms or fireworks. Most clinical signs go away in a few days, but you should still talk to a vet to be sure you are dealing with stress colitis.

What if Your Dog Is Pooping Blood and Vomiting?

If your dog is throwing up blood and having diarrhea, you should take him or her to a vet as soon as possible.

Dehydration can be very dangerous and even kill you if you lose a lot of fluid through vomiting and blood or fluid in your stools. This can also be a sign of a disease that is more serious.

Is blood in dog stool an emergency?

Regardless of what kind of blood you see in your dog’s poop or vomit, you should immediately call your vet or the emergency vet in your area. Vomiting or diarrhea with blood can be a veterinary emergency that must be taken care of directly.

Can My Dog Die From Pooping Blood?

Yes, it can be life-threatening if there is a lot of blood loss through the digestive tract or fluid loss through vomiting or diarrhea.

Serious problems can happen to your pet if it gets very thirsty and loses blood, leading to anemia.

This can cause shock, trouble breathing, damage to organs inside the body, and even death if it is not treated. If you don’t know what’s happening with your dog, it’s always best to ask a vet.

FAQs

Why is my dog pooping blood but acting fine?

Dogs can get diarrhea or blood in their stools if they are allergic to or intolerant to certain foods or switch to a new food too quickly. Anal glands clogged or infected: When a dog has a problem with their anal glands, it usually licks too much “back there” or scoots its butt, which is generally a sign that they need its anal glands expressed.

Can I treat bloody stools in dogs at home?

If you have bloody poop, you should eat bland and easy-to-digest foods. This gives your dog’s digestive system a break and lets it heal. Rice is a good choice because it gives dogs the carbs they need for energy and is easy to digest.

How long does blood in dog stool last?

Blood in your dog’s poop isn’t always something to worry about. Sometimes it’s just a simple problem that will go away on its own in a few days. In other cases, though, a much bigger issue at the root may need to be fixed.