My dog has bloody, watery diarrhea and is losing weight. What's wrong?

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.

These signs could be compatible with an inflammation infection of the gastrointestinal system and surrounding organs (like pancreas and liver). Intestinal worms seem to be the cause of it but secondary infections may be present. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics and possibly further investigations (like abdominal imaging as ultrasound or radiographs) may be needed. 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.

Intestinal parasites are certainly possible given Michelle's soft, bloody stool and weight loss. Other possible causes of these signs include inflammatory bowel disease, viruses, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, among others. Since not every dewormer treats every parasites, your best bet is to take Michelle and a stool sample for her vet for evaluation to determine if deworming is indicated and if other conditions are suspected. I hope that all goes well!

She may have a bacteria, viral or parasite infection. Common causes of diarrhea in puppies that cause weight loss are coccidia, worms and parvo virus. Your vet can check her stool sample that will check for all of these as some are more severe than others.

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.

I am very sorry to hear about Luna! Diarrhea with blood is a concerning symptom and veterinary care is recommended in these cases. We can have a variety of causes depending on the dog's age and history including parvovirus, gastrointestinal parasites (worms/coccidia/giardia), hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, bacterial infections, dietary sensitivities and more. I would recommend making an appointment for Luna to be examined ASAP to help determine what is causing her symptoms and how best to treat her!

Recurrent diarrhea can be related to a number of different diseases. Some possibilities include intestinal parasites, a food sensitivity, a liver shunt, or inflammatory bowel disease. I would recommend discussing further testing with your veterinarian since Guga seems to respond to symptomatic treatment but the signs return with time. They may recommend some additional testing , or may recommend a food trial with a hypoallergenic food or a long deworming protocol. You may also want to ask about referral to an internal medicine specialist if available in your area - they are experts at managing these types of cases. Good luck!