When a dog's stool contains a lot of blood and mucus (often described as looking like raspberry jam), AHDS—also known as hemorrhagic gastroenteritis—may be to blame. Treatment includes supportive care, anti-nausea drugs, fluid therapy, and antibiotics.
If your dog's poop looks like jelly with a reddish color, this means they are producing diarrhea from HGE that is mixed in with blood from the stomach and intestines. Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis can be caused by stress or your dog eating things they shouldn't have.
Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis
The feces can often look like strawberry jam. Take your dog to the vet immediately if they show these symptoms as untreated hemorrhagic gastroenteritis can be fatal. No one knows what causes the disorder, but it may be related to a bacterial toxin or a food sensitivity.
Stress colitis is one of the leading causes of large bowel diarrhea in all dogs. Whatever the cause, the inflammation in the colon results in reduced water absorption and decreased ability to store feces in the colon. This causes the classic symptom of frequent small amounts of diarrhea, often with mucus or blood.
Common reasons for a dog pooping blood include food allergies, constipation, eating something unsuitable, bacterial or viral infection, colitis, or injury.
In any case, bloody diarrhea or vomiting is a veterinary emergency that could potentially be fatal if left untreated, so immediate veterinary care will be needed.
If bleeding is accompanied with diarrhea withhold food for 24hrs and start your pet cat or dog on small amounts of chicken and rice, working up to regular food over a 2-3 day period. However if your pet is diabetic switch to a bland diet rather than taking food away for 24hrs.
Noticing blood in your dog's stool is bound to be worrying, and could be a sign of a serious health problem. Whenever you see blood in your pet's stool it's a good idea to call your regular vet.
Mucus in dog poop is normal in low levels to help lubricate it along the digestive tract. If you are seeing a lot of mucus it could indicate colitis (inflammation of the colon), which can be caused by multiple underlying issues including parasites, dietary changes, inflammatory bowel disease, and stress.
The strawberry garden stool is an oversized ceramic version of the fruit that can be used as a chair, table, or with its unique look and bright color, used as a decorative accessory.
Answer From Elizabeth Rajan, M.D. A small amount of mucus in stool is usually nothing to worry about. Stool normally contains a small amount of mucus — a jellylike substance that your intestines make to keep the lining of your colon moist and lubricated.
Diarrhea with a lot of mucus can be caused by a viral infection, food poisoning, a food intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, or hemorrhoids. It can usually be treated with diet and medications.
When you have blood in your stool it can look a few different ways. You may have bright red streaks of blood on your poop or you could see blood mixed in with it. Stool could also look very dark, almost black, and tarry. Sometimes, you can have blood in your stool that's not visible.
Foods that can turn stool red include beets, cranberries, red candy, red frosting, red licorice, tomatoes, and tomato sauce.
Be watchful for: Reddish poop. This could be a sign of rectal bleeding or conditions such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers or even colorectal cancer.
Chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, a blockage in the pancreatic duct, or cystic fibrosis can also turn your stool yellow. These conditions prevent your pancreas from providing enough of the enzymes your intestines need to digest food.
Stool that is encased in mucus or extreme weight loss is usually attributed to whipworm infestation. Fortunately, whipworms hardly cause deaths. Roundworms tend to affect puppies, especially puppies living in close quarters. Puppies that come from puppy mills and pet shops tend to be inundated with this parasite.
If you notice blood clots and mucus in your stool, it's important to seek medical attention immediately.
“Sometimes blood in the stool can be caused by benign conditions such as hemorrhoids, a small fissure after constipation or an infection and can resolve on its own,” he says. “However, bleeding from cancer or inflammatory bowel disease can also be intermittent, and so any bleeding needs to be investigated.”
Rectal bleeding often represents a benign anal condition, such as piles or an anal fissure. However, it is important to rule out colorectal/anal malignancy and inflammatory bowel disease as potential causes. Other possible causes of rectal bleeding include angiodysplasia, diverticular disease and colonic polyps.
If you notice blood in the stool, it warrants a call to your physician. Red blood in the stool and rectal bleeding are associated with many diseases and conditions of the digestive tract, including colon and rectal cancer, diverticular disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), among others.
For example, a black, tarry stool is likely an ulcer or other problem in the upper part of the digestive tract. Bright red blood or maroon-colored stools usually indicate a problem in the lower part of the digestive tract such as hemorrhoids or diverticulitis.
A GI bleed can be caused by anal fissure, cancer, diverticulitis, a GI infection, hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease, polyps, or an ulcer. What can be mistaken for blood in the stool? Red foods and red food coloring can be confused for blood in the stool.