My dog has dark red bloody diarrhea. What causes it and is it urgent?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Miki! Blood in the diarrhea indicates inflammation with in the colon. It isn't uncommon for a dog with severe diarrhea or diarrhea for a few days to develop blood in the stool. The blood can cause significant dehydration so it is important to make sure he isn't very lethargic and it drinking. If the diarrhea is severe (accidents in the house, can't hold it and asking to go out often) then I recommend fasting him for 12-24 hours. Do not limit water. This will allow his GI tract to calm down. Then restart feeding with a bland diet of boiled chicken or hamburger with rice. Feed 1 cup per 20 lbs per day. If he is very lethargic, starts vomiting and will not eat or drink he should be seen by a Vet today. Otherwise you can do the above and have him seen, if needed, by your Vet when they open. I wish you and Miki the best!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. There is definitely blood in the stools. The most common cause of this is gastrointestinal infection but it also may be due to scavenging, intoxication, bleeding ulcer, low platelet count and more. Please, take Jersey to your local vets for a check. He definitely will need a few days of antibiotics but prior to this, your vet will possibly recommend a blood test or ultrasound scan to make sure there is nothing more serious going on.

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 Honor is experiencing this issue, I am sure it is unsettling. From what you are describing, diarrhea which becomes liquid and has fresh blood in it, it sounds as though Honor has colitis, or inflammation of the last portion of the large intestines. There are several causes of colitis in dogs, ranging from bacterial infections, parasite infestations, IBD, or ingestion of contaminated food. Since you have only noticed these episodes over a few hours I would continue to monitor Honor at home. Start by resting his gastrointestinal tract for a few hours. Then Provide a bland diet of boiled boneless chicken breast and white rice and plenty of fresh water. If the episodes continue into the evening, if Honor becomes depressed, passes large amounts of blood, vomits, or seems very uncomfortable take Honor to see his vet. Here are a few more resources to help you as well; 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 this answer was helpful and more importantly that Honor feels better soon. Warmest regards to you both.

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Poor Honey! I'm concerned about the amount of blood in that stool. It is very common to see small specks or streaks of blood in diarrhea - but it is more concerning in cases like this where the dog appears to be passing more blood than stool. This can be a sign of HGE or Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis, which can be a dangerous condition and warrants an immediate trip to the vet. Your vet will probably want to look at a fecal sample to check for intestinal parasites, and will likely recommend bloodwork (particularly a CBC) to look for evidence of anemia or the changes characteristic of HGE. Depending on Honey's overall attitude, exam findings, and labwork findings, they may be able to manage her as an outpatient with medication to control the diarrhea (and likely fluids to help with dehydration), or they may recommend she be hospitalized for IV fluids and injectable medications. Regardless, I definitely recommend having her seen sooner than later. Hopefully this is just a worse-than-usual diarrhea, but it's worth playing it safe if it might be HGE. HOpe this helps and she feels better soon!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I can definitely see that Koda's vomit is reddish in color and has some red flecks in it. It is possible that the vomit has blood in it, though I would not expect it to have flecks in it. It is possible that Koda ate something that was red/pink in color that made his vomit this color. However, even the possibility of blood in vomit is cause for concern as this can be caused by stomach ulcers, foreign bodies, or certain toxins. I recommend keeping a very close eye on Koda, and having her examined immediately if this happens again or your believe you are seeing something that looks like frank blood or dark coffee grounds in her vomit. She should also be seen immediately if you think there is a chance that she may have eaten something she shouldn't have or has gotten into human medications. Until she can be seen by a vet tomorrow, I recommend not giving her any food and only offering small amounts of water. There are emergency clinics in most cities that are open 24 hours. I hope this helps and that all is well with Koda!

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Daisy. Contact your local rescue groups, humane societies, low-cost clinics in your area and seek help. Persistent vomiting, bloody diarrhea and lack of appetite are emergent clinic signs due to fluid/electrolyte losses. This leads to dehydration, weakness, and further downward deterioration unless the vomiting stops and the appetite returns. I would advise taking Daisy to your vet as soon as possible to have her evaluated. Many causes are possible including intestinal parasites, dietary indiscretion (eating things dogs aren't supposed to), other dietary problems, gastrointestinal inflammation/infection from various sources, toxin exposure, foreign body ingestion, GI ulceration, side effects from drugs or products used, or even problems outside of the gut including pancreatitis, liver/kidney problems, among many others. Your vet can get a detailed history and perform a thorough exam. Once done, a diagnostic plan and preliminary treatment plan can be started. Most likely a minimum database of fecal/blood/urine tests and some x-rays will be advised. Treatment will be focused on the cause but early treatment could include fluids/electrolytes, anti-nausea/vomiting medicines, acid blockers, etc. Good luck with Daisy.