If you ever notice traces of blood in your dog’s stool, what should have been a relaxing walk can quickly turn into a major health concern. What few strands of bright-red blood in stool look very unlike black, sticky fecal matter but both signs are related to a point of blood.
So, why would a dog poop blood?There’s not one. Blood in dog stool could be caused by minor local irritation in the rectum or large intestine, intestinal parasites, ingestion of food products, infections, foreign objects the dog has ingested, ulcer, poor clotting capacity or a more severe GI condition. According to veterinarian sites, stool with blood in dogs should be cause for alarm if it is associated with other symptoms like vomiting, weakness, abdominal pain, increased lethargy or repetitive diarrhea.
The appearance of blood tells part of the story but alone cannot confirm the source.
Freshly bright blood typically reflects an issue further in the lower part of the GI tract, whereas stool the consistency of tar and colored black suggests a bleed that was digested within the higher parts of the G-I system. But again, these are only rules and sometimes the exceptions.
The most useful question to ask in the case is this, not, “Why is my dog pooping blood?”, but rather, “What color is the blood, are there other signs, and just how urgently is a vet trip needed for my dog?”
Start with the color: fresh red blood is different from black stool
In addition to the above potential factors, carefully examine the stool itself.
Bright red blood (hematochezia) may appear as streaks on the outside of brown stool, as drops after defecation or when mixed with stool as liquid feces. Fresh blood usually indicates bleeding in the lower GI system (colon, rectum). It is normally due to some inflammation of or irritation of the lower bowel. Diarrhea of the large bowel is typically accompanied by frequent attempts to pass stool, mucous, straining, and a small amount of fresh blood.
Black, sticky, tarry stools are not this type of bleeding; they are called melena. Blood which has been digested as it travels through the GI tract has a black color. This may indicate bleeding in the stomach or small intestine. InGESTEd blood, for example from an epistaxis (nosebleed), also will become tarry.
Stool color, however, cannot provide a reliable estimate of the significance of the bleeding. The owner might need to take the dog to the vet. For instance, if other clinical signs are more dramatic than a gross examination of the stool, it may be of greater significance. The veterinarian will be able to conduct a physical examination, stool test, blood tests, as well as possibly obtain imaging and or performing endoscopy.
Why would a dog poop blood after eating something unusual?
Dogs have a propensity for eating all sorts of things never intended to be eaten as food. A sudden change in their diet, such as consuming table scraps, rotten food, garbage, or even something else considered a dietary indiscretion can aggravate the GI tract. Some inflammation associated with these events causes both diarrhea and fresh red blood in the stool.
In others, the situation may be more serious because the dog consumed a material that cannot transit the GI tract with relative ease.
In these situations foreign materials like chunks of toy, bone fragments, clothing, string, and other inedible items are found in a dog’s stomach or intestinal tract, where they can cause injury to the digestive system or obstruct the movement of food.
Gastrointestinal foreign bodies are one potential cause for veterinarians to consider whenever they are faced with the presentation of a vomiting dog, as well as those with a history of diarrhea, changes in appetite, and abdominal pain. It can sometimes be critical to differentiate between a dog with a small amount of blood in the stool from indiscretion as versus a dog presenting with bloody stools and signs like repetitive vomiting, abdominal distention and swelling, intense pain, inability to stand, and loss of ability to keep water and food down.
Colitis can cause bright-red blood and mucus
The most common presentation is inflammation of the colon, or colitis.
The colon’s role in canines is water absorption, storage of feces until defecation, and formation of the fecal mass. The dog’s instinct to stool again becomes hyper-stimulated.
He/she may squat multiple times and eliminate very small quantities of fecal material. The feces usually will be described as mucousy with fresh red blood. This looks different from the typically very liquid and often projectile type of diarrhea you may see with some intestinal motility/absorption (small-bowel) issues; the dog just acts like he “has” to poop even when nothing much comes out. Various things may cause Colitis such as dietary change, stress, parasites, infections, or others inflammatory diseases. All these things are not easy to differentiate just by looking from the out and not all bloody stool is automatically considered diet.
Intestinal parasites are another important possibility
However, the importance of parasite preventive strategies for dogs can get lost because many of our pups don’t have any visible evidence that their guts are invaded by the bad guys. There are however, several very important gastrointestinal parasite species whose activity is detectable – through effects that show up with and without visible worms. Certain gastro- parasites like tapeworm’s are sometimes visualized on top of the feces, while others like the lungworm are never really visible in feces and only picked up by microscopic methods.
Many of intestinal parasites – especially in moderate and severe concentrations – can contribute to bloody stools and diarrhea.
Heavy whipping will often show recent blood in the feces. Hook worms cause loss of blood and anemia; heavy infestation can be the culprit of tarry to darkly colored stools. All the more reason why you dog’s vet might check for the possibility of worms with unexplained diarrhea and bleeding perirectally (or if your pet exhibits bloody stools without any other cause being identified); though the efficacy of screening methods will vary by organism and whether or not diagnostic forms (ova, etc.) can be identified and when they can be detected during theirlife span.
Infections can cause bloody diarrhea
The infectious diarrhea can contain mucus or blood in the diarrhea, and might also have signs of poor appetite, fever, vomiting, malaise, or even collapse. – It’s particularly worth noting that infection with canine parvovirus (CPV), a particularly important infection especially for puppies or unimmunized dogs, can cause anorexia, depression, vomiting, and diarrheal losses of blood, mucus or both.
Puppies infected at a very young age are predisposed to developing severe illness. Parvovirus is not the explanation for every situation that occurs with blood in stool, but it does go to explain why your puppy may not simply want to come back from the day’s activities if it’s got what we might expect from this terrible virus. BecauseCPVsare not easily inactivated in the environment, vaccination as well as hygiene are essential for prevention.
Acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome can develop suddenly
Here is another serious condition veterinarians assess: Acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome, a condition previously known as hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. Its hallmark symptoms include acute, copious amounts of bloody diarrhea, usually associated with vomiting, lack of appetite, abdominal pain, lethargy, and potential collapse. References by vets note that affected dogs’ stools can appear as a red, bloody substance, somewhat gel-like in consistency.
This condition often has a rapid onset, and the greatest concern is usually not the appearance of the diarrhea itself but the systemic effects, particularly the severe loss of gastrointestinal fluids that can quickly lead to dehydration and shock.
In summary, an affected dog does not suffer from a case of uncomplicated diarrhea. When your canine companion starts producing copious amounts of bloody diarrhea, and perhaps is even vomiting and appears weakened, a trip to the vet should be made on an emergency basis (e.g. VCA describes significant bloody diarrhea/vomiting associated with AHDS as a veterinarian emergency).
Could a swallowed object cause blood in a dog’s poop?
Yes. A foreign body can inflame, perforate, or block the gastrointestinal tract. Many objects-socks, toy parts, bones, sticks, stones, and so on-may be swallowed in their course.
Some pass without problems; others remain stuck or damage the intestinal lining.
Blood in the stool is more troubling if the dog is showing signs consistent with an obstruction (e.g. Repeated vomiting; anorexia; vomiting; pain; distention and tenderness of the abdomen; marked lethargy; repeated, ineffectual vomiting attempts). It is a common, potentially fatal, mistake to assume no obstruction has occurred simply because the dog defecated. As much as half an obstruction can occur, or more, depending on the placement of the foreign body and the completeness of the blockage, yet some stool will be passing through.
If there is a good chance your dog swallowed a foreign body, inform your veterinarian of what took place instead of simply hoping the object will eventually be passed.
Ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding can produce dark stool
Blood isn’t always from the colon. If there are ulcers or inflammation in the stomach or upper intestines, the bleed might be digested before it gets to your dog’s stool and result in a black, tarry stool instead of obvious red bleeding. According to VCA, there are several potential causes for gastrointestinal bleed like, lesions (ulcers), inflammation, masses (tumors), foreign objects, and others.
Some medications can alter a dog’s gastrointestinal tract which is an example of why not to administer any over-the-counter (OTC) medications or any other types of medicine to a dog without consulting your veterinarian (which is listed by the Emergency Care guidelines for vomiting as something not to do unless directed by your vet).
If your dog exhibits black ortarry feces, especially over a short period, it is certainly a signal that your dog should see his or her veterinarian.
Bleeding disorders can appear as blood in the stool
It is not always the case that the problem is somewhere within the gut. A blood, clotting (platelet) related protein related, orbleeding regulation problem can have effects in many sites. It is not unusual, when your dog is showing blood in his stools to see some evidence of blood coming from another part of the dog’s body as well – e.g.
From the nose, bleeding gums, bruising, or a scattering of tiny red-purple spots of blood on the skin or gums.
Immune mediated thrombocytopenia can cause signs including bleeding from the GI system as well as nosebleeds, subcutaneousbleeding etc. Blood in the stools and the dog is bleedingfrom another site. The tests run at the vet clinic should include blood work and some otherTests related to blood cloting to determine the clotingcapacity of your dog. Some poisons can do this and cause internalbleeding as well.
If the dogs has been poisoned- don’t wait to call the veterinarian if other symptoms of poisoning appear!
Tumors and other intestinal diseases are less common but important
Rarely, tumors or other diseases affecting structural disease of the dog gastrointestinal tract are a cause of blood in the stool. “How likely the specific diseases is to be the one for my dog is going to change based on her age and history and symptoms and exam,” she added. “For example a puppy who has blood diarrhea concerns us far more than an older dog that has blood in their stool for ages and weight loss.”
And that will lead to vets ask what appear to unrelated questions.
“Has her appetite changed?
Have they lost weight?
Has stool ever normalized?
Any vomiting?
Is she straining?
Any dietary changes?
Are they up-to-date on vaccines?”
The information helps slim down the possibilities.
When is blood in a dog’s stool an emergency?
There is no reliable rule that says a particular amount of blood is automatically safe.
The overall condition of the dog matters.
Seek emergency veterinary care promptly if bloody stool is accompanied by:
- weakness, collapse, or difficulty standing
- pale, white, or unusually light gums
- repeated vomiting
- severe or worsening abdominal pain
- a swollen or distended abdomen
- large amounts of bloody diarrhea
- black, tarry stool
- significant lethargy
- difficulty breathing
- signs of shock or severe dehydration
- suspected poisoning
- suspected intestinal obstruction
VCA recommends urgent veterinary evaluation when blood is seen in a pet’s stool and emphasizes emergency care when the animal appears severely ill or has difficulty standing or walking.
Pale gums, weakness, rapid breathing, and other signs of circulatory compromise can occur with significant blood loss or shock and require immediate veterinary attention.
What if it is only a tiny streak of blood?
A tiny streak of bright red blood in an otherwise normal stool is not the same as multiple episodes of blood-tinged diarrhea but should be watched closely.
Fresh blood can be seen in cases oflower gastrointestinal tract irritation or with straining. There is, however, no sure way to know what is going on from simply looking at one stool.
If the dog is otherwise totally normal, the bleeding does not recur, and there are no other worrying symptoms present, calling your general veterinarian and getting their opinion on what to do could be prudent. If the blood occurs again, becomes worse, or is accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite, pain, or a behavioral change, then the dog should be seen by a veterinarian.
What should you do before seeing the veterinarian?
The best thing owners can do for their dogs is to obtain information instead of try to make an educated guess about what’s going wrong.
If possible, take a photo of the feces. Whether the feces have bright red blood or are dark and tarry, presence of mucus, frequency of defecation and whether feces are formed versus watery should all be documented.
Fresh stool samples can be helpful and it is common for veterinary clinics to check feces for parasites or other GI problems.
Be sure to let your veterinarian know about any dietary changes, table scraps, access to trash, new dog treats, medications (prescribed or human), possibility of toxin ingestion, travel, contacts with other dogs, or things that your dog might have ingested (e.g., sock).
Do not administer any over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medications, pain relievers, antibiotics, or any other human medications for your dog unless your veterinarian specifically tells you to. Some medications that are safe and effective for humans are very dangerous or can affect diagnostic interpretation when used by animals.
How veterinarians determine why a dog is pooping blood
There is no single test for “blood in stool.” Diagnosis usually begins with the history and physical examination.
Your veterinarian will likely perform a physical exam which will include checks for hydration, gum color, heart rate, temperature, abdominal pain, among others. Further diagnostic tests may be recommended based on the situation, and will include examination for parasites (fecal test), general bloodwork, urinalysis, abdominal x-rays or ultrasound, coagulation tests or other tests specific to the gastrointestinal system. In cases such as AHDS where multiple things can cause similar symptoms, a range of tests will be suggested, as it can sometimes mimic other sources of bloody diarrhea.
The tests are not being performed just to confirm that blood is present but to investigate why the dog is bleeding. Fecal tests can reveal parasites; bloodwork will determine if the dog is anemic or if there are underlying systemic issues; imaging may provide identification of a foreign body or structural abnormalities; coagulation tests can help explore the possibilities of an unidentified bleed. The correct tests performed will depend on the dog’s age, symptoms, severity of the situation and the dog’s overall history.
Common mistakes owners should avoid
It is the first big mistake to attribute all blood in the stool to some food item. It’s possible, and usually called indiscretion, but some parasites, infections, foreign body type problems, coagulation problems, or various other diseases will have the same appearance. It’s the second big mistake to try and determine seriousness based upon the appearance of the blood.
A small quantity does not make the underlying condition mild or the large amount to have the intended diagnosis established.
It is the third big mistake to wait because the dog looks otherwise well and active. Some GIs are quite painful and do not obviously debilitate the dog at first and some other emergencies have very rapid presentations which may or may not have other initial clues. Finally it is the forth mistake to try some home remedy or humans drug before calling. That solution which treats one problem can easily exacerbate others and those problems can become more difficult to treat with delay in assessment.
What prevention can reduce the risk?
It isn’t always possible to prevent a cause of bloody stool, but there are daily things you can do that make it less likely your pet will suffer from preventable illness.
Always ensure vaccinations are up to date, especially as a puppy. Keep trash, old food, toxics, and chewable items out of reach. Follow recommended prevention protocols for internal parasites (vet’s advice for parasiticides or regular fecal tests). Make dietary changes slowly, rather than in quick succession.
Dogs who are prone to chewing and swallowing toys, cloth, bones, rocks, or house materials are good candidates for extra supervision.
Good preventive care establishes a baseline. When you are aware of your pet’s normal food intake, activity level, stool characteristics, and eliminations, you are more likely to detect a change in any of those areas as being unusual.
The most important clue is the whole dog, not just the stool
Blood in feces. This is not a diagnosis- it is a symptom.
Dog health means a significantly different thing than a dog with a small streak of bright red blood and good energy would have on physical exam from the puppy with ill-smelling bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and weakness, or from the other with a small amount of fresh blood on the outside of a formed stool from that with melena (black, tarry stools).
This is why responsible Veterinary evaluation assesses the whole animal, including what the stool looks like, how much, how long, eating, drinking and hydration status, demeanor, and age, vaccination status and potential exposure history and other physical findings.
If you are dealing with a dog that currently has blood in its stool and you ALSO have a sick looking, weak, painful or quiet dog that is unable to articulate its problems to you, do not wait for the symptom to tell its own story.
Conclusion
So, why would a dog poop blood? The answer can range from inflammation or dietary irritation in the lower bowel to intestinal parasites, infection, foreign bodies, ulcers, acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome, clotting disorders, or other gastrointestinal disease. The appearance of the blood provides useful clues, but it cannot establish the cause on its own.
Bright-red blood on a dog’s poops is often suggestive of lower GI bleeding while black, tarry stool could suggest blood higher up in the GI tract is being digested. In either event, if this is happening repeatedly, chronically, or associated with other signs, it warrants investigation. The bottom line is to look at the dog and not just his poop.
Check your dog’s appetite and water consumption, see how they’re moving about, whether there’s associated vomiting or diarrhea, whether your dog appears weak, in pain or shows other signs such as dehrdration or gum color changes (pale gums or white gums usually indicate a more severe medical problem).
If your dog is obviously sick with heavy bloody diarrhea or substantial black tarry stool, is vomiting frequently, is collasping or showing other indications of shock, then emergency care for this dog is the priority. Blood in your dog’s poop is best left as a diagnosis to your veterinarian because it’s very difficult to do an adequate job simply from looking at a dog’s poop, and your veterinarian will be able to assess and best diagnose and treat the cause when this is happening.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is a little bright-red blood in dog poop always an emergency?
No. A small amount of bright-red blood can occur with irritation or inflammation of the lower bowel, particularly when a dog has been straining. However, recurring blood, increasing amounts, diarrhea, vomiting, pain, weakness, or other abnormal symptoms should prompt veterinary evaluation.
2. Why is my dog’s poop black instead of red when there is blood?
Black, sticky, or tar-like stool can indicate that blood has been digested as it passed through the gastrointestinal tract. This is called melena. However, swallowed blood from another source, such as a nosebleed, can also make stool appear black.
3. Can worms make a dog poop blood?
Yes. Some intestinal parasites can cause intestinal inflammation, diarrhea, blood loss, or anemia. Whipworms may produce fresh blood in feces, while severe hookworm infections can cause blood loss and dark, tarry stool.
4. Can changing a dog’s food cause bloody stool?
A sudden dietary change or dietary indiscretion can irritate the gastrointestinal tract and may contribute to diarrhea and fresh blood. However, blood should not automatically be blamed on food, especially if symptoms are severe, persistent, or accompanied by vomiting or weakness.
5. Can Puppies Poop Blood Because of Parvovirus?
Yes. Canine parvovirus can cause vomiting and diarrhea that may contain mucus or blood, particularly in susceptible puppies. Because parvovirus can cause serious illness, a puppy with bloody diarrhea should receive prompt veterinary assessment.
6. Should I give my dog medicine for bloody diarrhea?
Do not give human medication or other drugs unless your veterinarian specifically recommends them. Bloody diarrhea can have many causes, and treatment depends on the underlying problem. VCA specifically advises against administering human medications to dogs without veterinary direction.
7. When should I take my dog to an emergency vet for bloody poop?
Seek urgent or emergency care if blood is accompanied by severe illness, collapse, difficulty standing, repeated vomiting, severe weakness, pale gums, significant abdominal pain or swelling, large amounts of bloody diarrhea, or other signs of shock. Puppies with significant bloody diarrhea also warrant prompt veterinary evaluation because infections such as parvovirus can become serious.
