Bloody diarrhea in dogs is often a cause of concern for their owners. This is understandable, as it may be a symptom of serious diseases such as hemorrhagic gastritis, a condition that can be fatal if not properly treated. For this reason, it is very important to take your dog to the vet whenever you notice blood in their vomit or stool. That way, a professional can run the appropriate diagnostic tests and start the necessary treatment. However, you should also know that bloody diarrhea is not always alarming and sometimes is only a symptom of mild conditions.
Bloody diarrhea in dogs and other symptoms
As we have seen, bloody diarrhea in dogs is one of the possible symptoms of hemorrhagic gastritis. Other symptoms of this condition include:
- Vomiting (with or without blood)
- Lethargy
- Loss of weight and appetite
- Dehydration
It is important to observe the stool
It is essential to carefully observe the color of the blood in your dog’s stool. This information is very helpful for later diagnosis and treatment. In general, there are two types of diarrhea depending on the blood color:
- Red color. A bright red color means the blood has not been digested. Therefore, the bleeding comes from the lower small intestine, colon, or rectum.
- Black color. In this case, the blood has already been digested. This indicates that the hemorrhage occurred in the upper small intestine or digestive tract.
Causes
The causes of hemorrhagic gastritis are mainly infections or diet. However, there are other factors that can lead to intestinal bleeding.
Infections
Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and intestinal parasites can cause infectious gastritis that may result in bleeding. Specifically, E. coli, Salmonella, and Corynebacterium are the most relevant intestinal pathogens, since they can be transmitted between animals and humans.
Diet
Often, sudden changes in diet can also cause inflammation of the intestinal walls, to the point of generating intestinal bleeding. Therefore, it is essential to gradually introduce new foods into your dog’s diet.
In these cases, we recommend the range of easily digestible dog foods from Only Fresh. A natural, hypoallergenic, and low-fat food to avoid allergies, intolerances, and heavy digestion. You’ll find a wide variety of delicious recipes made with rabbit meat as the only animal protein source.
Other factors
There are also other factors that may cause irritation leading to bleeding somewhere in your pet’s digestive system:
- High stress levels. Just as with humans, prolonged high stress levels can lead to stomach or intestinal ulcers.
- Ingestion of foreign objects. When a dog swallows an object that it cannot digest and it becomes lodged in the digestive system, this obstruction may cause tissue damage.
- Medication. Keep in mind that some medications have bloody diarrhea as a side effect.
Treatment
To improve the symptoms of bloody diarrhea in dogs, there are certain measures that can be taken, always under the supervision of a veterinarian.
- Hydration. When a dog has diarrhea, it loses a lot of fluid through the stool. Therefore, it is necessary to compensate for this dehydration by increasing water intake. There are also isotonic drinks specially designed to restore lost electrolytes.
- Bland homemade diet. A bland diet for dogs is very similar to the food humans eat in these cases: boiled rice or potatoes and boiled chicken or turkey, without salt or spices.
- Medication. Provide your furry friend with the prescribed medical treatment, following the vet’s instructions to the letter.
