Weird but true: Dogs lower intestinal tract glands produce a clear, jelly-like slime to lubricate the colon and help stool pass more easily. And sometimes, that slime can coat your dog's poop or accumulate at the end. “An occasional coating is normal, or it can indicate a self-resolving issue,” Huggins says.
Too much mucus in a dog's poop can be a sign of colitis
Excessive mucus in your dog's poop is often a sign of colitis, or inflammation of the colon. Most dogs with colitis will have soft or liquid stool, and may also have blood in their feces. Some, but not most, dogs with colitis will vomit.
Treatment of Mucus in the Stool in Dogs
In cases of indiscriminate eating or stress, it may clear up with no further treatment. A short term change to bland, easily digestible foods may be a beneficial change, and in some mild cases your veterinarian may recommend antidiarrheal mediations.
There are many possible causes of mucus in dog poop. Common ones include stress, dietary changes, bacterial or parasitic infections, and colitis. Often, a little bit of mucus in your dog's stool is a result of normal intestinal lubrication and isn't a cause for concern.
Diarrhea that looks like mucus or contains a larger amount of mucus may signal an underlying inflammatory condition, such as a food intolerance, gastrointestinal infection, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or hemorrhoids.
Mucus in stool caused by dietary changes
After changing to a high-carbohydrate (bread, pasta, rice) diet, stool consistency also immediately changes. If a large amount of mucus persists for several days, there is often another underlying cause.
Giardia infection in dogs may lead to weight loss, chronic intermittent diarrhea, and fatty stool. The stool may range from soft to watery, often has a greenish tinge, and occasionally contains blood. Infected dogs tend to have excess mucus in their feces.
Some of the signs of parvovirus include lethargy; loss of appetite; abdominal pain and bloating; fever or low body temperature (hypothermia); vomiting; and severe, often bloody, diarrhea. Persistent vomiting and diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration, and damage to the intestines and immune system can cause septic shock.
Larger amounts of mucus in stool, associated with diarrhea, may be caused by certain intestinal infections. Bloody mucus in stool, or mucus accompanied by abdominal pain, can represent more serious conditions — Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and even cancer. Elizabeth Rajan, M.D.
Generally, this type of inflammation will clear up on its own within a few days, but if it lingers, it's time for your dog to see the vet. Other dietary causes of mucus in the stool include intolerance or allergies to various proteins. Some dogs are more prone to allergies than others.
“Mucus is usually white to pale yellow and should warrant seeing a vet if it's more present than usual, but isn't overly alarming,” Dr. Emily Singer, VMD, an on-staff veterinarian at Fetch by The Dodo, says. A little bit of mucus in your dog's stool may be perfectly normal.
Mucus in stool is normal but when you see a lot of white or yellowish mucus, it means you may have a GI problem, like a stomach bug, IBS, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac, or other issue. It's important to make sure something in your diet isn't causing it and see a doctor to look for an underlying intestinal issue.
Summary. Having a small amount of mucus in the stool is normal. Excess mucus can occur due to IBS, Crohn's, UC, or proctitis. It may also be an indication of colon cancer. If a person is concerned about the amount of mucus in their stool or experiences other symptoms, they should talk with a doctor.
Although giardia flare-ups may come and go on their own, the parasite itself must be treated with medication. Metronidazole is the most common medication given for the treatment of giardia. It is an antibiotic that attacks the parasite and helps the dog's body recover more quickly.
Giardia is a protozoan parasite (a single-celled micro-organism) that causes intestinal infection. The technical term for this infection in dogs is “canine giardiasis.” While rarely fatal, giardia can cause discomfort for you and your dog.
Most dogs, and cats, with giardiasis are still quite bright and active, adds the vet; rarely will they vomit, and most retain a good appetite. The diarrhoea, however, will generally be watery, with a particularly bad smell and often appears a little greasy.
In fact, if a puppy with diarrhea DOESN'T smell a certain way, he doesn't have Parvo”. FACT: Oh, if only life were that simple. The scent generally associated with parvo is caused by blood in the stool. Dogs with bloody stools because of hookworms have precisely the same smell.
If you ask any veterinary professional, they will tell you that parvo has a distinct smell that cannot be forgotten. This smell is a result of the dying cells of their intestinal lining, leading to an overpowering scent. Parvo poop often has a sweet, yet rotten smell that is pungent enough to knock you off your feet.
“A soft stool containing or coated with mucus may indicate the presence of parvovirus or parasites, or other problems, so have it checked out by your dog's veterinarian. The treatment will depend on the diagnosis.”
Shigellosis is a bowel infection caused by bacteria from the Shigella family. Other names for shigellosis include Shigella infection, Shigella enteritis and bacillary dysentery. Common symptoms include diarrhoea that may contain blood, mucus or pus, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting.
If you get flu-like symptoms and your poop has blood or mucus in it, you may have food poisoning. It usually clears up within days.
Dehydration and constipation can cause mucus from the colon to leave the body. This gives the stool the appearance of increased mucus. Increased mucus can also be a sign of illness, especially if inflammation occurs and the mucous membrane breaks down.