It's relatively normal to find blood in a dog's stool, but it's important to know what it means. In most cases it is not a major problem and can be easily resolved with medical help. However, it is important to pay attention when your pet presents this symptom, as it is a clear sign of a disease that may or may not be more serious.
With that in mind, we've separated some possible causes of blood in your pet's stool to help you advise them in the best possible way.
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Causes
First of all, it is worth mentioning that several diseases are associated with blood in the stool and it will not always be possible to identify them only with this symptom. However, it is already possible to reduce the options and establish the most common ones, such as:
- metabolic diseases,
- tumors;
- Bacteria;
- Viral diseases;
- Intestinal parasites;
- Systemic diseases;
- Foreign bodies;
- Changes in intestinal flora.
The above diseases are very different from each other and only with the help of a veterinary professional will it be possible to possible to be sure which problem your dog has acquired and, consequently, offer the treatment necessary.
appearance and cause
Blood can appear in different shapes and textures and these aspects are important, as it gives us an idea of its origin. In this sense, we have two types of blood that can appear in the stool:
hematochezia
It is characterized by the presence of brighter blood, with intense red pieces and is due to injuries at the end of the intestinal tract, such as in the large intestine. It is usually associated with:
- Parasites, such as giardia;
- Hemorrhoids;
- Food poisoning and allergies;
- Tumors in the rectum and colon;
- Viral infections;
- Bacterial infections.
melena
This is already digested blood - it passes through the digestive tract - and therefore it is dark in color, indicating problems in the stomach and small intestine. As related problems we can mention:
- Inflammations;
- Gastritis;
- tumors;
- Intestinal parasites;
- Blood parasites;
- Kidney disease;
- Viral diseases;
- Bacterial infections in the stomach.
So, despite being a slightly uncomfortable situation, you need to take a good look at it and take pictures of the stool. Finally, this information will be crucial for the veterinarian to make a correct diagnosis.