Dogs suffer from several health problems, just as we humans do. There are a number of medical conditions that are common to canines and humans, diarrhea being one of them. In case your dog has 5 or more bowel movements within a span of 24 hours, it means that he has diarrhea.
Apart from the increased frequency, your pet’s bowel movements are also likely to be a lot larger and more watery than usual. Dogs can get diarrhea for many reasons and not all of them are a major cause for concern. However, bloody diarrhea in dogs is a serious warning sign for a pet owner, as it could be an indication of a lethal health problem.
According to “The Veterinarian’s Guide To Your Dog’s Symptoms”, bloody diarrhea in dogs is an emergency situation. Seek immediate medical aid the minute you realize that your dog is passing bloody and watery stools.
Most people realize that the color red in stools is an indication of blood. The presence of bright red blood with diarrhea is known as hematochezia. However, bloody stools can sometimes be black in color too. Also known as melena, the blood is tarry in appearance, because of going through the digestive tract. Causes of Bloody Diarrhea in Dogs
There could be many causes of bloody diarrhea in dogs, such as –
• Swallowing a sharp object that has cut the dogs internal organs.
• Consumption of poisonous or toxic substances, like decayed trash and animal carcasses
• Illnesses like cancer, histiocytic ulcerative colitis, acute infectious enteritis and granulomatous enteritis
Vomiting and bloody diarrhea in dogs could also occur because of the ingestion of rat poison.
Bloody diarrhea in dogs is not really a condition, but is more likely the symptom of a serious underlying problem. To determine the possible causes and severity of the condition, the vet may check your dog for any other symptoms, such as –
• Seizures
• Loss of vision
• Constant licking of the lips
• Excessive panting
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sudden lack of coordination
• Unusual whining or whimpering Treatment of Bloody Diarrhea in Dogs
The treatment of bloody diarrhea in dogs depends entirely on the factors that are causing the problem. Be prepared for –
• Corticosteroids and antibiotics in case of enteritis
• Intravenous fluids and diet changes, in case of histiocytic ulcerative colitis
• Vitamin K injections and perhaps even blood transfusion, in case of exposure to rat poison
• Surgery, in case of damaged organs and swallowing of foreign objects
It is absolutely essential for the right treatment to be administered for bloody diarrhea in dogs without any delay. Never try to treat this condition at home, without consulting a veterinarian.
References
• A.J. German, E.J. Hall, D.F. Kelly, A.D.J. Watson, M.J. Day, An Immunohistochemical Study of Histiocytic Ulcerative Colitis in Boxer Dogs, Journal of Comparative Pathology, Volume 122, Issues 2–3, February 2000, Pages 163-175, ISSN 0021-9975, 10.1053/jcpa.1999.0353.
• Melanie Craven, Caroline S. Mansfield, Kenneth W. Simpson, Granulomatous Colitis of Boxer Dogs, Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, Volume 41, Issue 2, March 2011, Pages 433-445, ISSN 0195-5616, 10.1016/j.cvsm.2011.01.003.
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