Why is my puppy's poop bloody but he's acting totally normal?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Colby. This falls into one of these categories since you say that he isn't acting sick- Any clinical sign (diarrhea) that persists, worsens, or other signs develop (nausea, vomiting, lethargy, etc) this indicates that Colby should be seen by your veterinarian to assess what is going on. So I would just monitor his stools over the next 6-12 hours and watch for other signs. If things worsen, signs persist, or new signs develop, take him in immediately and let your vet take a detailed history and do a physical exam. They may advise some tests which could include fecal/blood tests, x-rays, etc to determine if a problem is present. A treatment plan can be made once a cause is determined or suspected. Bloody diarrhea can be caused by many things including intestinal worms, dietary problems, dietary indiscretion (eating things a dog should not eat), exposure to a toxin by ingestion, infection, etc. Good luck with Colby.

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!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Waffle and for providing a picture, it's very helpful. This blood in his diarrhea could be due to intestinal worms, eating something rotten, a foreign body, parvo if he isn't vaccinated, or a severe stomach illness. He should definitely see a vet for this. As long as he is otherwise ok, it can wait until the morning. If he starts vomiting, has more bloody diarrhea, is very lethargic, stops drinking water, or is vomiting water, take him into an ER vet immediately. I hope this helps!

Fresh-appearing blood in the stool often indicates an infection or irritation of the colon. Sometimes, in the case of an irritated colon, this can be remedied by feeding a bland diet (i.e. cooked chicken and rice) for a few days. It's also good to ensure plenty of fresh water is always available. You can give that a try as you wait for the vet appointment. It's good that he's otherwise acting normal. This lowers any suspicion of a more severe disease affecting the colon. I hope that helps and Bowie gets better soon.

This is usually dietary related and if no other signs are present at this stage, the problem could be managed by 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 diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy or inappetence. If that is the case antibiotics 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. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

I am very sorry to hear that Theodore is 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. In young puppies eating something they shouldn’t have and gastrointestinal worms are very common. If you haven’t done a de-worming treatment with Theodore yet it would be a good idea to. Broad spectrum puppy safe dewormers are available at most pet stores and at your local veterinarian. Because you have only noticed these signs over the course of a few hours I would continue to monitor Theordore at home. Here is what you can do for him; Rest his gastrointestinal tract 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 diarrhoea. If Theodore does not improve, has profuse vomiting or diarrhoea, you notice more fresh blood, He seems lethargic, in pain or depressed I would advise a trip to the veterinarian immediately. 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 Theodore feels better soon. Warmest regards to you both.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry that Skye isn't feeling well. Bloody poop can be caused by a few different things including toxins (rat bait ingestion), gastritis (upset stomach from eating something she shouldn't, from eating bones, raw food, or garbage), something stuck in her guts and not moving through. If she is still bright, playing and active then you can try feeding her a bland diet of boiled/boneless/skinless chicken breasts and boiled rice, in small frequent meals for a couple days. If this is a mild gastritis it can resolve it without medications. I would also recommend deworming Skye. If it continues, or if she becomes lethargic, weak, starts vomiting, or the feces becomes more bloody and looking like jam, then it is important to get her to a vet ASAP. Best of luck with Skye.