Bloody Diarrhea

Overview:

Any amount of blood in the stool is not normal. The amount of blood and the age of the patient will determine which tests will be performed and how aggressive the treatment will be. Mild spotting of blood on top of the feces with no other clinical signs can wait to see the veterinarian in the morning, while large amounts of blood or other clinical signs such as vomiting and not eating warrant a visit to the vet the same day.

Causes:

Mild spotting of blood can be caused by straining or irritation of the colon. Bacteria, viruses, parasites, ingestion of garbage, or dietary sensitivity can contribute. If a patient has a large amount of bloody diarrhea, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, parvovirus, foreign bodies, inflammatory bowel disease, and toxicities top the list of suspicions.

Symptoms:

The blood can vary from spotting on top of normal stool to extreme, frank blood from the rectum. For less serious illnesses such as overgrowth of bacteria or corona virus, most pets are not having any other clinical signs. More serious illnesses such as parvo and hemorrhagic gastroenteritis will have the patient vomiting, not eating, and dehydrated.

Treatment:

Treatment depends on the seriousness of the illness but intravenous fluids and antibiotics are standard. Some pets will require a plasma transfusion if they have lost a large amount of protein in the diarrhea.Mild illnesses usually are treated with Metronidazole, probiotics, and a bland diet for 5-7 days.