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My senior dog is pooping blood. What does it mean and what to do?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Jack Russell Terrier | Female | spayed

My dog honey who is 15years old she's a jack Russell and she is pooping blood I'm very worried about her

5 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Anna M., DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 20th, 2017

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!

3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on August 1st, 2017
Poor Lilly sounds extremely ill! I am concerned that she is pooping blood and vomiting, and she could be suffering from hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, cancer, liver failure, or may have eaten something rotten or toxic causing her symptoms. In a dog her age, she can quickly decline when she is this ill, and it's best she see a vet immediately. Please take her into one now.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Lauren Jones VMD
Veterinarian
Published on February 22nd, 2018
Blood in the stool can be caused by a number of issues, including intestinal parasites, irritation in the colon, ulcers in the intestines, masses in the colon/rectum, among others. Since Poli is a young dog, intestinal parasites would be my main suspicion, so I recommend taking a stool sample to her vet for microscopic evaluation. If the blood in her stool continues, or if she becomes lethargic, stops eating, or begins vomiting, Poli will need to go to a vet for evaluation urgently. I hope that all goes well!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on October 9th, 2017
It sounds as your pet is suffering from a gastrointestinal condition, possibly an infection. it could also be due to ingestion of a foreign body material. i would recommend taking Cookie to the vet the first chance you get, she will need to be checked first, if the vet thinks it's a simple gastrointestinal infection she will need an antibiotic course and a special food for a few days in order to get better.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Sarah Derksen, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 29th, 2018
Hi. Blood in the stool, if bright red, can be caused by anything that irritates the GI tract. These would include dietary indiscretion, stress, parasites, infection, all the way up to cancer/mass ( has to be on the list with older pets). It's great news she is eating and acting normal. Obviously though, the blood is abnormal. I would get her in for an exam, a fecal test, and a rectal exam by your veterinarian.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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