Noticing blood in your dog’s poo can be alarming and it’s easy to start thinking the worst. Blood in your dog’s stool can be caused by a wide range of different things. Common reasons for a dog pooping blood include food allergies, constipation, eating something unsuitable, bacterial or viral infection, colitis, or injury. It is possible that a dog’s bloody stools could also be a sign of something life-threatening such as cancer, toxicity (like eating rat poison), blockages, parvovirus or haemorrhagic gastroenteritis.

If your dog has blood in their faeces, please contact us so one of our vets can check your pet over. During the consult our Vet will ask you lots of questions. Be prepared to describe your dog’s poo (i.e., Is it hard or soft? Is the blood bright red or dark?), and any details leading up to the bloody poo that could help diagnose the problem. If you can collect a sample of your dog’s poo, even better.

What does blood in dog poo look like?

The blood in your dog’s poo can look bright red (and fresh) which is usually due to bleeding in the lower digestive tract, or dark/black and tar-like, indicating digested blood coming from the upper digestive tract. You might also notice drops of blood dripping from your dog’s anus as they pass faeces. The appearance of your dog’s bloody poo can help indicate what is causing it.

Is blood in dog poo an emergency?

It depends. The possible causes vary so widely that a bout of bloody poo could be a minor issue, or it could be a sign of something that requires urgent treatment. That’s why you should call us as quickly as possible and, after discussing your dog’s symptoms, we will be able to advise you on what to do next.

If this article has raised any concerns, then please contact us on 01665252250 or info@coquetvets.co.uk