Should I take her to the vet?

Question

Sorry if this is kind of gross...

I am looking after my parents' dog while they are on vacation. She's 13 years old, and has been pooping in my house. I noticed that her poop has a bit of blood in it - bright red, and slimy. She is acting normal, she sleeps a lot but that's not out of the ordinary. She's happy and has lots of energy when she's awake. My brother seems to think it's just caused by stress because she is away from my mom. Should I take her to the vet? Thanks!

Answer 1

I do think in this situation it may be stress. How long have you had her and how much longer will you have her? You do know that she did not have this probelem before she got to your house?

Answer 2

Stress would NOT cause bloody stool, in my opinion. It could be a severe case of worms, which you would need to have diagnosed by the vet.

Over the counter wormers do NOT treat all types of worms, that is why it is so important to get the dog's stool tested by the vet.

Once that is ruled out, the vet will look into other possibilities.

Answer 3

Giardia is a parasitical protozoan infection, it's not just the term for "bloody stools" and it is NOT caused by stress.

Bloody stools aren't caused by stress either.

I'd call the vet. She's 13, that's not a very forgiving age, and you would probably be very upset with yourself if something happened to your parents' dog while she was under your care. It might be nothing major, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Answer 4

YES TAKE HER TO THE VET, any ammount of blood found in animal/human stool (poop) is always a serious thing. I would take her to the vet just to be on the safe side, the blood could be a symptom to something more serious.

Answer 5

Call the vet and ask. It would not hurt to get her checked. Blood in stool don't sound. Could she having eat something that did not agree with her? My dog eats everything( i think her dad was a goat), she has had stool liked. The vet told me to give her a tablespoon full of cottage cheese to coat the stomach.

Answer 6

Hello, the way to tell if a dog has a serious bleeding problem is to check the gums to see they are nice & pink..not all white...but beings your just caring for her, don't know what's up & you seem worried..if this don't clear up in a day or 2 then I would definately seek a vet, also check for chew signs - in house & out, she maybe chewing on things she shouldn't ...Take Care :)

Answer 7

Any emission of blood through any orifice is serious. Take her to the vet - her regular vet (he has all Poopsie's records).

If it's stress related, perhaps the vet can prescribe a mild tranquilizer for her so she's not so anxious while Mommy is away.


But again, issuance of blood through any orifice is serious. Get her to the vet.

Oh one more thing - take a sample of the bloody stool with you for analysis.

Answer 8

Yes you need to take her to the vet. It sounds like she has an intestinal disorder called colitis. She will need treatment for it. Sometimes stress can cause it to flare up, and your parents being away can be stressful to her.

Answer 9

no
unless it's real runny, sounds like worms, maybe a different food as well as stress, your folks can take her when they get back as it is most likely just her straining if she's pooping alot, sounds like she stressed or not house broke to your house.

Answer 10

sometimes dogs get giardia (blood in stools) from a stressful event, perhaps one like you are describing. although it could be something else, like worms. definately take her to the vet!