jenhuedepohl
Posted : 1/16/2007 12:45:17 PM
Mucous in the stools can be a sign of colitis or other irritation to the intestines. There are many causes, such as change in food, parasites like Giardia & whipworms (can't really see those), and autoimmune problems. A vet really is the only way to diagnose for sure, and even then, it's tough to pinpoint digestive problems sometimes.
He'll probably start off with a worming and an antibiotic like Metronidazole that can treat protazoal and anaerobic bacteria and also helps with inflammation. Some vets will throw in a steriod like prednisone, too. These are pretty cheap medicines, so if don't worry about cost. You'll probably also be asked to fast your pup for at least 24 hours then use only bland food for 2-3 days. Either a special vet diet or somethng like hamburger & rice.
I noticed in your earlier post that your dog was straining then producing watery stools. This is exactly what my Dal does when his colitis is flaring up. Usually, just fasting him for 24 hours then putting him on a bland diet clears it right up. He had hardly any flareups on a special low-residue diet but had a few lately while I have been trying to find a different food. Usually, high fat sets him off. If your pup is having a hard time, you may need to try a different food. If fat seems to be the culprit, try a low fat food. If that doesn't help, he may need an allergy diet.