Blood with stool... any ideas?

• Blood with stool... any ideas? Ashley Posted : 6/30/2006 5:06:06 PM Hello, Today on our walk, my dog had some blood come out with his stool enough to drip and streak his fur.  Could this be caused because I recently changed his food, or because last time at the vet he had his anal glands expressed (although it was a month ago)?? Any ideas would be great.  Other than the bit of blood today, he seems normal.  Thanks. LIKE 11 REPLIES 291 VIEWS LAST POST CAKANA Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• cakana Posted : 6/30/2006 5:09:17 PM Ashley - I'm not sure what this might be, but I would definitely watch it closely.  If it continues the next couple times, I'd get him to the vet.  I always worry about blood in the stool and would rather be safe.  I hope it turns out to be nothing serious though. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Ashley Posted : 6/30/2006 5:16:47 PM Thank you for your reply.  I worry too.. Sometimes too much I have been told.  I have a record of rushing the dogs to the vet as soon as I see something out of the ordinary! I will watch it close and hopefully nothing comes of it.. Thanks for your help.  I will keep you posted.  Oh ya, what types of conditions can be associated with blood in the stool? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• cakana Posted : 6/30/2006 5:32:13 PM Well, Coccidia or E. Coli or worms erhaps, but if there's no diarrhea, that's a good sign.  Is it possible he got a hold of anything he shouldn't have?  Is he acting fine otherwise - hungry, thirsty, playful?  0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• glenmar Posted : 6/30/2006 5:40:09 PM Let me preface this by saying that I am not a vet, nor am I an expert on much of anything.   There is worrisome blood and not so worrisome blood.  The dark, almost black blood comes from inside and is a "get to the vet NOW" kinda thing.  If the blood is bright red, it's more than likely coming from right in the rectal area...maybe a fissure?  I had a cocker who periodically scared the tar out of me with bleeding that was only a fissure...just a little crack in the skin of the rectum.  And it usually happened a few weeks after his anal glads needed expressing.   Please understand that I am NOT telling you this isn't something to watch closely and call the vet about.  But, I'd be rushing you the the emergency vet if this were dark blood. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Ashley Posted : 6/30/2006 5:46:34 PM Thanks Glenmar, The blood is bright red.  I was honestly wondering if maybe his new food has more fibre and has bulked up his stool enough to cause what you were talking about, a fissure.  I was feeding Natural Balance and have rotated to Solid Gold. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• cakana Posted : 6/30/2006 5:46:58 PM Glenda - you make a good point, and this is true for humans too.  Bright red blood usually means hemorrhoids (not always, but usually) and dark blood, usually means something higher up the intestinal tract and more serious. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• glenmar Posted : 6/30/2006 5:51:18 PM Ah, well, yes, IF the food is a higher fiber, it could make the stool a bit firmer and harder to pass.  But, still, do keep a watch on this.  And Cathy?  Thanks, sometimes I actually do make a little sense! [8|] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Ashley Posted : 7/2/2006 8:49:23 AM I checked both bags, old and new foods and in the new food there is 1.0% more fiber than the old.  Do you think that is a significant enough difference to make bulkier stool? 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• cakana Posted : 7/2/2006 12:16:28 PM I'm not sure if 1% difference would be enough to be causing this or not.  Any food change might cause digestive problems.  Sometimes it's permanent and you end up having to find a different food, but sometimes it's temporary while the body adjusts.   Are you still seeing blood in the stool?  If it continues, I'd go in for a check with the vet. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Ashley Posted : 7/3/2006 9:36:25 AM No I haven't seen anymore blood in the stool.  Hopefully it was a one time thing.  I always panic and want to wisk the dog to the vet as soon as something is different.  Sometimes I need to step back and monitor for a minute! Thanks for everyones help! 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• cakana Posted : 7/3/2006 10:11:15 AM I always panic and want to wisk the dog to the vet as soon as something is different. I tend to think the same way, but I'm getting better.  I have to remind myself that all those times one of the dogs was limping in the morning and fine that afternoon could've cost me a LOT of money in vet bills if I'd rushed them in.   I can't even imagine how I'd be if I had human kids []. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login