Bloody diarrhea in dogs is a serious health issue that needs immediate veterinary care and attention. It is good to know the major reasons behind it along with a few home remedies to help provide your pet dog some comfort and relief.
The presence of trace amounts of blood in a dog’s stool is quite normal. However, if your pet dog has diarrhea and the stool contains blood in large amounts, then you need to take the matter seriously. There can be various other noticeable symptoms accompanying the bloody diarrhea. These are vomiting, pale gums, increased urination, reluctance to move, loss of appetite and weight, and increased thirst. Timely medical intervention effectively treats such a condition.
Causes
There can be numerous factors that lead to bloody diarrhea in dogs. The most common among them is a digestive tract infection caused by microbes like bacteria and viruses. Examples of bacteria capable of causing bloody diarrhea are clostridium and salmonella. The examples of causative viruses are ‘parvovirus’ and ‘coronavirus’. Allergy against foodstuffs and other substances that are ingested can cause bloody diarrhea in dogs. It can also be a result of the action of intestinal parasites in dogs, like whipworm and ringworm.
Disease conditions such as cancer and inflammation of any parts of the digestive system may lead to its contraction. Certain bleeding disorders or coagulopathies in the body can lead to the presence of blood in stools. Other common causes of bloody diarrhea include the action of polyps and protozoans in the intestine, bowel injury, intussusception, and disruption of the colon or rectum caused by trauma to the pelvic region.
Treatment
Medical treatment for bloody diarrhea in dogs depends entirely upon the reason behind it. It involves a determination of the exact underlying factor, followed by its treatment. Once the reason is determined and cured, the dog begins having normal stools and leading a normal life. In order to detect the correct cause for canine bloody diarrhea, the veterinarian may conduct certain symptomatic tests. The diagnostic tests mostly include a urine test, stool test, ultrasound of the dog’s digestive tract, endoscopy, biochemical profile, serological tests, etc. Usually, the information obtained from these tests is sufficient to help the veterinarian diagnose the causative factor.
If the presence of parasites is detected as the cause for the presence of blood in your dog’s stool, then the veterinarian will prescribe de-worming medication to restore normal health. Similarly, for treating bacterial and viral infections, he will recommend some antibiotic or antiviral drugs respectively. Unfortunately, no effective antiviral drug is available to destroy parvovirus completely. Therefore, if your dog has contracted a digestive tract infection caused by parvovirus, then it can receive only some essential supportive care. This is the reason why it is so important to get your pet vaccinated on a regular basis.
Medical care and attention is efficacious enough in treating bloody diarrhea in dogs. Still, there are many things that you can do to provide your pet some relief and speed up the process of treatment. First of all, exclude the allergen from the diet of your dog. This will stop the immune reaction of the dog’s body, and hence will bring its health back to normal. Second, stop feeding bones to your dog. Since it is already experiencing bleeding in some part of its digestive system, the sharp pieces of bones can further aggravate the condition. Third, feed it soft and easily-digestible foods. The examples of such foodstuffs are boiled rice and chicken. This will reduce the workload on its digestive system.
Fourth, do not put additional pressure on its digestive system by feeding it large meals. Instead, make it eat small amounts of food so that its digestive tract gets a favorable condition for recovering fast. Fifth, add 2-3 cloves of garlic to your pet’s meal once a day. Garlic is highly-effective in treating bloody diarrhea. Garlic in dog food is a debatable issue for many dog owners. However, although it is toxic, it has been proven to be useful for dogs if given in proper, small quantities at appropriate intervals. Last but not the least, allow your dog to rest. This will assist its body in recovering quickly.
Sometimes, there is a foul-smell accompanying the bright-red bloody diarrhea. Such a condition occurs when some internal structure is bleeding heavily. This is a state that requires immediate medical attention. If you find your dog having similar symptoms, then take it to a vet as early as possible.
Disclaimer: This DogAppy article is strictly for informative purposes. Consult your vet before administering any medication or feeding garlic to your pet, to avoid any health complications.
