Dog Has Bloody Stool

by Elizabeth
(New York, NY)

Reader Question: Why is my Dog's Stool Bloody?

My puppy that is 7 months old mixed Chihuahua weighs 5 pounds and was a rescue that was going to be put down. She was just spayed. It has been 8 days since the surgery. She was fine until yesterday until I noticed she was having problems with going to the bathroom.

She has raspberry colored stool not a lot but at the beginning and ending of the stool I noticed the mucus tinged stool. She doesn't seem to want to eat as much but I have had her eat chicken and rice with cottage cheese. I am unable to send her to a vet as I am on a small fixed income. She has all her shots and is an inside dog.

Thanks,

Elizabeth

Vet Answers Reader Question Regarding Bloody Dog Stool

Hello Elizabeth,

You mentioned that your dog is current on all her shots, but I’m concerned that with her history (she’s young, recently adopted from a rescue, and has been stressed by recent surgery) she is still potentially at risk for a serious infectious disease (e.g., parvovirus). I don’t know what her vaccination history is, but at a minimum she needs to have received two sets of injections given 3-4 weeks apart, and even then you can’t completely rule out the possibility of infection.

Other possibilities include intestinal parasites if she hasn’t had several, negative fecal examination and/or been dewormed thoroughly and a potentially serious disease called hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.

Keep in mind that diagnosing and treating a problem early is often the best way to keep your veterinary bills down.

Waiting until her condition deteriorates will only make treatment more expensive and decrease the likelihood that it will be effective. Many veterinarians will help you set up a payment plan when unexpected expenses arise and finances are tight.

Best of luck,

Jennifer Coates, DVM