My dog has bloody stool and clots. Is this normal? What are recovery signs?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Diarrhea with blood can be observed with conditions such as colitis, gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, intestinal parasites, among many other possibilities. Blood in the stool makes it a more serious condition and does warrant an evaluation. I recommend that you have Karma evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible for further assessment and treatment. They may choose to check for parasites and to start medications for diarrhea depending on the results. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Blood in the stool like this could be due to a mild gastritis or colitis (inflammation of the gut from eating something that upset it), or could be the beginning of a more severe gut issue. If Harley is still eating/drinking, and playing normally, the just monitor her stools for signs of more blood. If the blood continues, or if the feces starts looking like jam, then have her into a clinic right away. If Harley is quiet, lethargic, weak, not wanting to eat, or seems painful in her stomach, then have her seen by a vet right away. You can also try feeding her a bland diet of boiled/boneless/skinless chicken breast and boiled rice in small frequent meals for the next couple days, provided she is still bright and happy. This diet will clear up most mild gastritis cases without any need for fluids or medications. Best of luck with Harley!

Hi, sorry to hear about these problems with your pup. First I would consider changing his food onto something for a dog with a sensitive stomach and se if that helps at all. Blood in firm stool can indicate straining so it's possible the food has too much fiber in it and is making his stool too hard. You can try a prescription diet made by Hill's called ID which is for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Also, you might want to look into an abdominal ultrasound or endoscopy to check for Inflammatory bowel disease. I don't think X rays will show up with much, i would go straight to the ultrasound. If they see anything suspicious, during endoscopy they can take biopsies. But then again, if he's not bothered by it in any way and keep on weight with a good appetite, it may just be food related or something he will grow out of. I would monitor him for those signs and pursue more diagnostics if you see them. Good luck, I hope this helps!

These signs could be compatible with a colitis, which is an inflammation of the last part of the colon, usually related to dietary indiscretion. As a first approach, I would suggest to start feeding with a bland diet based on boiled chicken and rice in small portion every 6 hours for the following 48hours. Then gradually reintroduce the normal diet over 5 days. I would definitively recommend a veterinary check up if the signs persist or you notice vomiting, lethargy or inappetence. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

If you are seeing continuing blood, this likely means Togi is not completely normal yet. Dogs should not have blood in their stool. Togi should be examined by the veterinarian. Ask about parasite testing (both worms and protozoal). I'm not sure what medication he had but pets are often given and antibiotic and a probiotic as well as a bland diet if bacteria is suspected. Sometimes a special diet is used (a hydrolyzed protein) if a food allergy is suspected but typically food allergy does not cause bleeding in the gut. Lastly, your veterinarian may want to have an x-ray to look for a foreign object in the intestines. I hope this helps and that they figure out the cause quickly.

Blood in the stool, even if it seems to "go away" and come back later, is never normal. The fact that it's accompanied by diarrhea suggests colitis, or inflammation of the colon, as opposed to some type of bleeding mass in the rectum or colon. Colitis can have a number of causes, including dietary indiscretion (eating something rotten or non-food), parasites, food allergies/food sensitivities, inflammatory bowel disease, or infection. Leah may improve with a diet change, perhaps a more digestible diet specifically for gastrointestinal problems. To assume it's a "tummy issue" could be to ignore causes that are treatable, and at this point she's not only having diarrhea but she also lost her appetite. It's been three days and she's not improving, so I recommend having her seen by her vet for labwork to include parasite testing, blood work, and urinalysis for starters. If all is normal consider a bland diet (as recommended above), and a probiotic supplement. Ultimately, she may need to have biopsies taken to diagnose the exact cause.

I am very sorry to hear that your dogs are experiencing these problems, I am sure it is very unsettling for you both. There are a number of potential causes of such clinical signs, including dietary indiscretion, pancreatitis, parasite infestation, infection, and ingestion of a toxin or poison. Because you have only noticed these signs over the course of a few days I would continue to monitor them at home. Rest their gastrointestinal tracts by holding back food for a few hours. Then you can continue with a bland and easily digested food of the boiled chicken breast and white rice diet and provide plenty of fresh water. I also find that boiled, mashed skinless sweet potato is helpful for diarrhea. If they do not improve, has profuse vomiting or diarrhea, you notice fresh blood, they seems lethargic, in pain or depressed I would advise a trip to the veterinarian. I would also consider a worming treatment if you have not done so in the last 4 months; http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=35694 Here are some links to helpful resources for you; https://www.petcoach.co/article/most-common-causes-of-diarrhea-in-dogs/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-things-you-can-do-at-home-if-your-pet-has-diarrhea/ I hope that answer was helpful and more importantly that they feel better soon. Warmest regards to you both.