My dog ate a bully bone and has bloody diarrhea. What should I do?

Cooked bones can cause a problem for dogs in a number of ways. If Chip broke the bone while eating it, it could splinter and cause problems in the GI tract. Bones can also get stuck in the GI tract. The fat can also cause vomiting and diarrhea. Diarrhea that continues for more than a few days, or is associated with blood in the stool, vomiting, lethargy or a poor appetite is a reason for a visit to your veterinarian. Since Chip has blood throughout his stool, I would recommend a visit to the vet. In the meantime, if he is eating and drinking normally, we will often recommend a bland easily digested diet consisting of ½ cooked white rice and ½ cooked white meat chicken (boiled without any skin or bones). If he does well with a bland diet and his diarrhea resolves, then you can slowly transition back to his normal diet over a few days. I have attached a couple of articles below that might be helpful for you. Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.co/article/most-common-causes-of-diarrhea-in-dogs/ Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.co/article/6-things-you-can-do-at-home-if-your-pet-has-diarrhea/ Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that he feels better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Since you're seeing bloody stool or bloody [diarrhea](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/diarrhea-1/), I recommend getting her in to see your vet as soon as possible. One of the sharp bone ends may have caused irritation or internal injury. Bright, red blood may indicate injury in the colon or lower intestine while dark, tarry stool may indicate bleeding in the stomach or upper intestine. If she is not passing the bones she needs to be seen right away. However, if she is behaving normally otherwise, you may be able to[ manage the bloody diarrhea at home](https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-things-you-can-do-at-home-if-your-pet-has-diarrhea). Help 'pad' the bones passing through by offering bulky meals for a few days and even consider adding some unflavored Metamucil to wet food for her. Monitor for the following symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, obvious abdominal pain, black tarry stools or blood in the stool, lethargy. If any of these occur, getting in to [see the vet](https://www.petcoach.co/article/diarrhea-vomiting-in-dogs-when-to-call-your-veterinarian/) is strongly recommended.

Poor Dakota. It sounds like he feels really bad. Bones can splinter in the GI tract and cause quite a bit of damage and pain, so I would recommend having your veterinarian examine him to make sure that he doesn't have any more bone fragments in his GI tract that are causing a problem. You vet can also prescribe an antibiotic that will help resolve the diarrhea and prevent any problems that the bone may have caused in the GI tract to help him feel better ASAP. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and that Dakota feels better soon. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The diarrhea could be irritating Odin's GI tract, leading to the bleeding. The bland diet of chicken and rice is a good idea. Feed it in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in his normal diet. If the diarrhea continues on the bland diet, there is still blood in his feces on the bland diet, he starts vomiting food, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, he will need to see a vet right away. Best of luck.

If he is acting normal then you can withhold food for 12 hours and then offer him a small amount of a bland diet, like boiled chicken and white rice, and see how he does with that. You could also add a probiotic to his food. If the diarrhea continues, he starts vomiting, and/or becomes lethargic then he needs to be examined by a vet for treatment. He could have an infection, parasite, colitis, HGE, etc. and your vet can run lab-work to help diagnose and treat. Hope he feels better soon!

Most dogs can tolerate a raw meal. The amount may have caused GI upset. Bad meat or fatty meat can also be the cause. Withhold food for 12-24 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte. Resume feeding a bland diet (1:1 ratio of plain boiled boneless chicken and plain white rice). Feed in small, frequent amounts waiting at least one hour between feedings. Continue feeding until the stool is normal. Transition slowly to the regular diet. If the diarrhea doesn’t stop or your dog becomes lethargic or exhibits symptoms of abdominal pain, see your veterinarian.

Hi! Dogs do sometimes get a little blood in their stool when they are having diarrhea. Sometimes this is just due to the straining (to produce the diarrhea!) But, we do usually recommend having a pet checked out when bleeding occurs, especially in Lucky's case, due to the history of eating a steak bone. Your vet could examine him, possibly take an Xray, and might be able to prescribe some medications to help ease the diarrhea! Best of luck!