Dog had spleen surgery. Is bloody stool a post-op complication?

Hello and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern! After any surgery involving the GI tract, some bleeding can be normal. I would expect this to lessen and resolve after a week or so. If the bleeding becomes more pronounced or Scooby does not appear to be doing well, I would get him to your vet for a recheck as soon as possible. You should also periodically check his gum color. The gums should be nice and pink. If the gums are pale or pale pink, I would get him seen by your vet sooner rather than later. Please let me know if you have any other questions concerns. I am also available via consultation

Hello. Ruby may have developed some colitis, or inflammation in the colon from the stress of her surgeries. If the bleeding is significant, she should see her veterinarian immediately. If it is just a drop or two, she may heal pretty quickly. Please watch her carefully to decide if she needs veterinary intervention now, or you can take a watch & wait approach. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It really depends on the type of surgery done, but this is not usually normal and indicates a problem within the intestines. Diarrhea is sometimes seen after surgery. This can be due to the drugs used for the surgery, stress of surgery, or possibly an infection. I recommend taking Boss in for a check-up to the vet that did the surgery. They will have a better idea about what's causing this and will be able to prescribe the necessary medication to clear this up. I hope that helps and Boss gets better soon.

There should never be blood in stools, so it is certainly abnormal. Some medications could cause bleeding in the GI tract, so I would stop any medications and call the vet for advice. He should be examined by a vet or emergency vet if additional symptoms develop, such as lethargy, poor appetite, or vomiting.

Hello. The surgical incision looks very good, & her stool is normal, so this may be a case of stress-induced colitis. If she is otherwise feeling well, eating & drinking normally, then I would not be too concerned. The blood should go away. If there is still blood present in the stool when you go back to have the staples removed, ask your veterinarian about trying a round of the antibiotic, Metronidazole. It has some anti-inflammatory properties & is an excellent medication for possible infections in the gut. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Chances of recovery would depend on the damage that has affected the stomach before resection. I can say that usually chances are fairly good. A small amount of blood is perfectly normal after this type of surgery and some vomiting episodes as well (both are due to the surgery and gastrointestinal inflammation). 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. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

This could be completely normal after the surgery and could be due to an inflammation of the last part of the colon. 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!