Causes of mucus in dog stool and its treatment. What does the color of dog feces tell you?

What does the color of dog feces tell you?

Everyone shits - even your dog. And not only yours. But let's look at the question purely from a practical point of view. Poop can reveal a lot about your pet's health. According to Dr. Christina Shepard, some veterinarians spend much of their day discussing dog poop because its color is a clue to many of the mysteries surrounding canine health.

She also said that there can be countless reasons for abnormal bowel movements, so being aware of other symptoms (such as lethargy), changes in diet, possible access to toxins helps us solve the bowel movement puzzle.

So, here's a brief description of what each poop color could mean.

Brown. If your dog's poop is thick and has a delicious chocolate color, then you have nothing to worry about. Just like humans, healthy dogs have dark brown, semi-solid, log-shaped stools.

Orange. In some cases this color is normal. If the dog has had a major change in diet, or the food has passed through the gastrointestinal tract too quickly. But orange stool can also indicate serious liver problems, such as gallstones and others.

Yellow. The stool may turn yellow due to changes in diet. It may also signal problems with your pup's gallbladder, liver, and pancreas. If you are sure that it is not a food allergy or a response to a change in diet, you need to rule out a more serious problem such as giardiasis.

Grey. Sometimes the feces may be grey, small and hard. This may be caused by the dog being dehydrated. Drinking extra water, using laxatives, or other veterinary prescriptions will help bring stool back to normal.

White. Typically, dog poop is never completely white. But if you see something white in the stool, it could be worms.

In addition to observing the color scheme, you need to monitor how often your dog defecates and pay attention to the general appearance of the excrement. If there's something strange going on with your four-legged friend's stool, let your veterinarian make sure everything is okay.

Did we forget to mention something? Do you have anything to add or complement? Write to us!

The coprogram is important for diagnosing diseases of the digestive system and assessing the results of their treatment. Includes physical and chemical indicators and microscopic examination data.

CONSISTENCY
Normally, it is dense and well-shaped.
Dense, formed, except in normal cases - in case of insufficiency of gastric digestion.
Ointment-like - reasons:
2. Lack of bile flow.
Liquid - reasons:
1. Insufficiency of digestion in the small intestine (putrefactive dyspepsia or accelerated evacuation);
2. Insufficiency of digestion in the large intestine (colitis with ulcerations, increased secretory function).
Mushy - reasons:
1. Fermentative dyspepsia;
2. Colitis with diarrhea and accelerated evacuation from the colon.
Foamy - for fermentative dyspepsia.
Very dense (“sheep”) - for colitis with constipation.


COLOR
Normally it is brown.
Black (tarry) - for gastrointestinal bleeding.
Dark brown - reasons:
1. Insufficiency of gastric digestion;
2. Putrid dyspepsia;
3. Colitis with constipation;
4. Colitis with ulcerations;

6. Constipation.
Light brown - with accelerated evacuation from the colon.
Reddish - with colitis with ulcerations.
Yellow - reasons:
1. Insufficiency of digestion in the small intestine;
2. Fermentative dyspepsia.
Light yellow - with pancreatic insufficiency.
Grayish-white - when bile does not enter the intestines.

SMELL
Normally - fecal, unsharp, specific.
Putrid - reasons:
1. Insufficiency of gastric digestion;
2. Putrid dyspepsia;
3. Colitis with constipation;
4. Intestinal movement disorders.
Fetid - reasons:
1. Violation of pancreatic secretion;
2. Lack of bile flow;
3. Increased secretory function of the colon.
Weak - reasons:
1. Insufficiency of digestion in the large intestine;
2. Constipation;
3. Accelerated evacuation from the colon.
Sharp - for colitis with ulcerations.
Sour - for fermentative dyspepsia.
Butyric acid - with accelerated evacuation from the colon.

REACTION
Normally, it is neutral, slightly acidic.
Weak basic - with insufficient digestion in the small intestine.
Main reasons:
1. Insufficiency of gastric digestion;

3. Colitis with constipation;
4. Colitis with ulcerations;
5. Increased secretory function of the colon;
6. Constipation.
Sharply basic - for putrefactive dyspepsia.
Strongly acidic - for fermentative dyspepsia.

STERKOBILIN
Normally present.
Reasons for the downgrade:
1. Parenchymal hepatitis;
2. Cholangitis.
Increases in hemolytic anemia.

BILIRUBIN
Normally absent.
Reasons for appearance:
1. Increased peristalsis;
2. Accelerated evacuation from the intestine;
3. Long-term use of antibiotics and sulfonamides (suppression of intestinal microflora - in case of dysbacteriosis).

SOLUBLE PROTEIN
Normally absent.
Reasons for appearance:
1. Putrid dyspepsia;
2. Colitis with ulcerations;
3. Increased secretory function of the colon;
4. Bleeding;
5. Inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract.

MUSCLE FIBERS
Normally absent or detected in small quantities.
Reasons for appearance:
1. Insufficiency of gastric digestion;
2. Violation of pancreatic secretion;
3. Violation of absorption processes in the intestines;
The presence of muscle fibers in feces is accompanied by a picture of putrefactive dyspepsia.

CONNECTIVE WOVEN FIBERS
Normally none.
Reasons for appearance:
1. Insufficiency of gastric digestion;
2. Functional pancreatic insufficiency.

NEUTRAL FAT
Normally absent.
The cause of its appearance is insufficiency of the secretory function of the pancreas.
FATTY ACID
Normally none.
Reasons for detection:
1. Lack of bile flow;
2. Insufficient digestion in the small intestine;
3. Accelerated evacuation from the small intestine;
4. Fermentative dyspepsia;
5. Insufficiency of pancreatic secretion;
6. Accelerated evacuation from the colon.

SOAP
Normally present in small quantities.
Appear in the feces in excess amounts in all conditions listed for fatty acids, with a tendency to constipation.

STARCH
Normally undetectable.
Reasons for the definition:
1. Violation of the secretory function of the pancreas;
2. Insufficiency of digestion in the small intestine;
3. Fermentative dyspepsia;
4. Accelerated evacuation from the colon;
5. Insufficiency of gastric digestion.

IODOPHILIC FLORA
Normally undetectable.
Reasons for appearance:
1. Insufficient digestion in the small intestine;
2. Accelerated evacuation from the colon;
3. Fermentative dyspepsia;
4. Violation of pancreatic secretion.

DIGESTIBLE FIBER
Normally absent.
Reasons for appearance:
1. Insufficiency of gastric digestion;
2. Putrid dyspepsia;
3. Lack of bile flow;
4. Insufficiency of digestion in the small intestine;
5. Accelerated evacuation from the colon;
6. Fermentative dyspepsia;
7. Insufficiency of pancreatic secretion;
8. Colitis and ulcerations.

SLIME
Normally absent.
Reasons for the definition:
1. Colitis with constipation;
2. Putrid dyspepsia;
3. Increased secretory function of the colon;
4. Constipation.

erythrocytes
Normally none.
Causes of manifestation:
1. Colitis with ulcerations;
2. Dysentery;
3. Polyps and neoplasms of the colon.

HIDDEN BLOOD
Hidden blood is blood that does not change the color of stool and is not detectable macroscopically or microscopically. Normally, less than 2 ml of blood is excreted in the feces (2 mg of hemoglobin per 1 g of feces).
Normally, it is not detected if the sick animal is properly prepared.
Proper preparation of the animal for stool testing for occult blood: 3 days before the test, meat feed is excluded from the diet, ascorbic acid, iron supplements, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are discontinued.
The reaction to occult blood can be weakly positive (+), positive (++ and +++) and strongly positive (++++), depending on the speed of occurrence of the reaction (staining) and the intensity of the coloring.
Reasons for a false positive reaction:
1. Violations in preparing the animal for stool examination for occult blood;
2. Excessively high sensitivity of the reagents.
The reasons for a false negative reaction are low sensitivity of the reagents.
Reasons for the positive reaction:
1. Ulcers of the stomach and duodenum;
2. Primary and metastatic tumors of the esophagus, stomach, intestines;
3. Idiopathic chronic ulcerative colitis, eosinophilic ulcerative colitis;
4. Infestation by helminths that injure the intestinal wall;
5. If blood enters the digestive tract from the mouth, larynx, or swallows blood during nosebleeds.

LEUCOCYTES
Normally none.
Reasons for appearance:
1. Colitis with ulcerations;
2. Disintegration of intestinal neoplasm.

CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTALS
Normally none.
The cause of its appearance is insufficiency of gastric digestion.

CHARCOTT - LEYDEN CRYSTALS
Normally none.
Appear when eosinophilic granulocytes enter the stool.
Causes:
1. Allergy;
2. Helminthic infestation;
3. Eosinophilic colitis or enterocolitis.

HEMOSIDERIN CRYSTALS
Normally none.
The reasons for the appearance are intestinal bleeding.

HELMINTH EGGS
Normally they do not occur.
Identified in various helminthiases.

PROTOZOTS
Pathogenic protozoa are not normally found.
Pathogenic protozoa are detected in the formed stool in the form of cysts. To detect vegetative forms, it is necessary to examine the feces while still warm.
It should be taken into account that cola may contain non-pathogenic protozoa, which must be differentiated from pathogenic ones.
Pathogenic protozoa may include:
1. Coccidia of the Isospora family - Cystoisospora canis and Cystoisospora ohioensis - oocysts are detected (dogs);
2. Giardia canis (dogs) and Giardia spp. (cats) - oocysts in feces or mobile trophozoids are detected during microscopy of fresh fecal smears;
3. Сryptosporidium sp. (dogs and cats) - detect oocysts in feces.

This article does not constitute veterinary advice and does not exclude an appointment at a veterinary clinic. Here is information that will help you make the right decision in favor of providing quick and effective care to your pet. After all, it’s better to play it safe and consult with a specialist than to regret what you could have done and didn’t do.

1. The volume of stool is larger than usual

The most common cause of increased stool volume is overfeeding. Perhaps you feed your dog dry food “by eye”. Weigh your dog and feed him as much food as the food manufacturer recommends. Make sure the main diet is a source of calories and any treats are kept to a minimum. If you feed your dog “from the table”, be aware that not all ingredients are suitable for the dog’s normal digestion. Sometimes changing your diet gradually by changing your protein and carbohydrate sources can be helpful.

2. Loose stools

There are many reasons why a dog may have loose stools. Some of the most common causes are overfeeding, sudden changes in diet, stress, and change in water source (especially for puppies).

Infectious causes may include:

• Bacterial infection – for example, Campylobacter, Salmonella;
• Viral infection – for example, parvovirus enteritis;
• Dysbacteriosis.

• Helminthic infestation - for example, roundworms;
• Protozoal diseases - for example, giardiasis, isosporosis.

Other reasons:

• Inflammatory bowel diseases;
• Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency;
• Intoxication;
• Pancreatitis;
• Foreign body in the intestine;
• Neoplasia (tumor);
• Protein-losing enteropathy.

This is by no means a complete list of possible causes. Be sure to consult with a specialist to identify and eliminate the root cause of the disease.

3. Rare bowel movements (constipation)

Some potential causes of constipation:

1. Obstruction or partial obstruction of the intestine (for example, if the dog has swallowed a stone, toy, bone);
2. Gastrointestinal obstruction or partial obstruction due to another cause (eg, tumor or polyps); sometimes the cause may be more serious than expected (for example, rectal abscesses, anal tumors, or prostate enlargement);
3. Endocrine (hormonal) problems such as hypothyroidism;
4. Worm infestation;
5. Neurological problems (eg, spinal disorders, nerve damage from injury) causing a condition called megacolon. It is assumed that megacolon develops as a result of disruption of the conduction of nerve impulses from the spinal cord to the smooth muscles of the intestine. Megacolon is primarily a problem in cats, but it also occurs in dogs;
6. Certain drugs (such as diuretics, antacids, opioids, and antihistamines).

Diet has a big impact on stool consistency. This depends on the amount of fiber in the diet. Therefore, one food that is ideal for one dog may not be suitable for another. Too much fiber in the diet can lead to diarrhea or, conversely, constipation; this is individual for each dog and depends on the specific case.

Fluid intake is another important condition. Constipation occurs when too much moisture is absorbed by the intestines from the feed. In such cases, increasing fluid intake may be beneficial. You can add water to dry food about 20-30 minutes before feeding or use canned food. Adding a small amount of oil to your diet may help relieve constipation. In addition, you can increase the frequency of meals up to 3 times a day, which leads to optimized activity and increased efficiency of the small intestine.

4. Presence of fresh blood in the stool

Small amounts of bright red blood may be a typical symptom of colitis. This occurs as a result of inflammation of the lining of the large intestine.

There are many reasons that cause colitis, ranging from improper feeding to infectious diseases. A large amount of blood may indicate a serious problem. Veterinary help should be sought immediately.

5. Black stool, dark blood in stool

Black stool containing dark blood is also known as melena. Melena indicates bleeding in the upper intestines or stomach. Veterinary help should be sought immediately.

6. Light (gray) or yellow stools

Yellow/gray or lighter than normal stools may be a sign of pancreatic disease, liver disease, or giardiasis.

7. Greenish stool

Greenish colored stool may indicate the presence of bile. Alternative causes are giardiasis, rat poison poisoning.

8. Presence of mucus in stool

A little mucus in the feces may be normal. The intestines produce mucus to provide lubrication and moisture. However, if the mucus is excessive, contains streaks of blood, or is accompanied by diarrhea, veterinary attention should be sought.

Fecal analysis in dogs is one of the mandatory procedures when diagnosing many pathologies. Reasons for holding:

Preparation for delivery:

• collect the material in a sterile container for transportation. The best option would be to purchase special bottles with sealed caps at the pharmacy;
• 2-3 days before the examination, adhere to a certain diet: exclude animal feed that causes fermentation from the diet, and limit the amount of meat and fish;
• It is not recommended to undergo a scatological analysis after performing cleansing enemas, taking laxatives, or gastric lavages;
• if the dog underwent an X-ray examination the day before using a contrast agent, then the dog’s feces should be tested 2-3 days after the procedure;
• if medications are prescribed, the owner must notify the attending physician about this.

A dog's feces for scatological examination are usually collected during a walk. For this purpose, you must take with you a sterile container with a stick and gloves to maintain hygiene rules. After the dog has emptied the intestines of the contents, you should take a small amount of feces without impurities of blades of grass, dirt, sand, plant seeds, etc.

The collected material must be delivered no later than 12 hours after sampling. In this case, the container should be stored in the refrigerator. If stool analysis for protozoa is expected, the time is reduced to 30 minutes, otherwise the result may be unreliable.

Decoding the consistency of stool:

• too liquid are observed with dyspepsia, ulcerative colitis;
• feces in the form of an ointment are often a symptom of impaired bile outflow;
• a mushy pattern is characteristic of dyspepsia and colitis;
• If the stool looks like sheep's beans, then the pet may have chronic constipation or colitis.

Feces color depends on the animal’s diet, but changes in it can be used to judge pathological processes and diseases, for example:

• Black, tar-like stool may be a sign of life-threatening bleeding in your pet's digestive tube;
• dark brown color of feces often indicates the development of colitis in a dog, a violation of the enzymatic function of digestion and can accompany chronic;
• a reddish color is observed in ulcerative colitis;
• the light yellow color of a dog’s feces may be a sign of a malfunction of the pancreas or malfunction of the small intestine;
• a grayish-white color may indicate blockage of the bile ducts with stones.

If your dog's feces smell putrid, this is a sign of pathologies such as colitis, dyspepsia, and impaired intestinal motor function. Foul-smelling stool become, as a rule, with diseases of the pancreas, blockage of the bile ducts with stones. If fermentative dyspepsia develops, a sour odor is noted.

A general stool analysis in dogs involves determining the pH reaction. Normally, it is neutral or slightly acidic. Diseases such as colitis, constipation, and impaired secretory function of the pancreas are accompanied by a shift of the reaction towards the base. Tests have an acidic environment during the development of putrefactive and fermentative dyspepsia in dogs.

Normally, stercobilin is present in animal feces. Its increase indicates the development of anemia, and its decrease is observed in liver diseases. Bilirubin is not detected in healthy animals. Its presence indicates an increase in intestinal motor function and is often observed with long-term use of antibacterial drugs.

Detection of muscle fibers As a rule, it indicates the development of putrefactive dyspepsia, and may also accompany a violation of absorption processes in the small intestine and a malfunction of the pancreas.

If mucus is detected, then such a symptom may indicate problems with the large intestine: constipation, colitis, neoplasms. Presence of red blood cells in analyzes indicates that it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive examination of the large intestine and exclude tumor processes and dysentery. May also indicate a malignant neoplasm in the intestine white blood cells found in dog feces.

Normally, no pathogenic microorganisms are detected in a healthy animal. In case of infectious diseases, the following bacteria can be detected in stool tests in dogs: C. perfringens, C. difficile, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter jejuni, Yersinia enterocolitica and strains of Escherichia coli. The detection of a particular bacillus in feces is not the basis for making a final diagnosis. The results of the study correlate with the clinical picture.

After long-term use of antibacterial drugs the number of enterococci, lactobacilli, and bifidobacteria is examined. Their significant decrease against the background of the detection of yeast-like fungi Candida, Proteus, Clostridia and Enterobacteriaceae indicates the development of dysbiosis in the four-legged pet.

Extended scatological examination includes indicators such as occult blood, hemosiderin crystals, calcium oxalate, Charcot-Leyden. The first ones appear when there is bleeding in the intestinal tube. The presence of calcium oxalate particles indicates insufficient secretory function of the stomach. With colitis and enterocolitis, Charcot-Leyden crystals appear in the stool of sick individuals.

The detection of occult blood in the studied samples indicates ulcerative processes in the stomach or small intestine, ulcerative colitis, the breakdown of neoplasms in the digestive system, if the intestinal wall is injured by helminths, or the animal has damaged the oral cavity or larynx.

Read more in our article about fecal analysis in dogs.

Read in this article

Reasons for stool testing in dogs

In rare cases, diagnostic measures in veterinary medicine do not require stool analysis in dogs. Fecal examination allows a specialist to answer many questions about the pet’s health. Scatological diagnosis of pets is usually carried out in the following cases:

Feces for scatological examination are usually collected from a dog during a walk. To this end You must take with you a sterile container with a stick and gloves to maintain hygiene rules. After the dog has emptied the intestines of the contents, you should take a small amount of feces without impurities of blades of grass, dirt, sand, plant seeds, etc.

After the tests are placed in containers, care must be taken that they are delivered to the veterinary office no later than 12 hours after sampling. However, the container should be stored in the refrigerator.

If stool is to be analyzed for protozoa, the time from sample collection to laboratory examination is reduced to 30 minutes. This is due to the fact that vegetative forms of protozoa are quickly destroyed in the environment, and the result may therefore not be reliable.

Watch this video about preparing your pet for a fecal test:

Decoding the results

As a rule, in veterinary diagnostics, the physicochemical parameters of animal feces are examined and a microscopic examination is carried out.

Total information

First of all, the laboratory pays attention to such general parameters as the color and consistency of stool, and smell. Too liquid feces are observed with dyspepsia and ulcerative colitis. Feces in the form of an ointment are often a symptom of a violation of the outflow of bile. A mushy pattern is characteristic of dyspepsia and colitis. If the stool looks like sheep beans, then your pet may have chronic constipation or colitis.

The color of feces depends on the animal’s diet, but changes in it can indicate certain pathological processes and even diseases. For example, black, tar-like stool may be a sign of life-threatening bleeding in your pet's digestive tube. The dark brown color of feces often indicates the development of colitis in a dog, a violation of the enzymatic function of digestion, and can accompany chronic constipation.

A reddish color is observed in ulcerative colitis. The light yellow color of a dog's feces may be a sign of a malfunction of the pancreas or malfunction of the small intestine. If the stool is greyish-white in color, your veterinarian may suspect a stone blockage in the bile ducts.

The reason why a dog's feces smell putrid is due to pathologies such as colitis, dyspepsia, and impaired intestinal motor function. As a rule, feces become foul-smelling due to diseases of the pancreas or blockage of the bile ducts with stones. If fermentative dyspepsia develops, veterinary specialists note a sour odor from the test sample.

A general stool analysis in dogs involves determining the pH reaction. Normally, a neutral or slightly acidic reaction is observed. Diseases such as colitis, constipation, and impaired secretory function of the pancreas are accompanied by a shift of the reaction towards the base. Tests have an acidic environment during the development of putrefactive and fermentative dyspepsia in dogs.

Normally, stercobilin is present in animal feces. Its increase indicates the development of anemia, and its decrease is observed in liver diseases. Bilirubin is not detected in healthy animals. Its presence indicates an increase in intestinal motor function and is often observed with long-term use of antibacterial drugs that suppress the natural microflora of the body.

Soluble protein and muscle fibers are not contained in the feces of healthy pets. If protein is found in the samples, the veterinarian may suspect colitis, dyspepsia, bleeding and inflammatory processes in the digestive canal. The detection of muscle fibers usually indicates the development of putrefactive dyspepsia, and may also accompany a disruption of absorption processes in the small intestine and a malfunction of the pancreas.

If mucus is found in your pet’s stool, which is absent in a healthy animal, then such a symptom may indicate problems with the large intestine: constipation, colitis, neoplasms. The presence of red blood cells in the analyzes indicates that it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive examination of the large intestine and exclude polyps, tumor processes, and dysentery. Leukocytes found in a dog's feces can also indicate a malignant neoplasm in the intestines.

If you have been tested for bacteria

Normally, during a scatological examination, no pathogenic microorganisms are detected in a healthy animal. For infectious diseases, the bacteria C. perfringens, C. difficile, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter jejuni, Yersinia enterocolitica and strains of Escherichia coli can be detected in stool tests in dogs. However, the identification of a particular pathogenic bacillus in feces is not the basis for making a final diagnosis. The results of bacteriological examination in this case correlate with the clinical picture.

Feces for dysbacteriosis in a dog

After long-term use of antibacterial drugs, with an appropriate clinical picture, a veterinarian prescribes a dog stool test for dysbacteriosis. At the same time, the number of enterococci, lactobacilli, and bifidobacteria is examined. Their significant decrease compared to normal values ​​against the background of the detection of yeast-like fungi Candida, Proteus, Clostridia and Enterobacteriaceae indicates the development of dysbiosis in the four-legged pet.

If you have been tested for protozoa

If an extensive stool test was performed

In some cases, a veterinarian may prescribe an extensive scatological examination. Decoding the analysis of dog feces includes indicators such as occult blood, hemosiderin crystals, calcium oxalate, Charcot-Leyden. Thus, hemosiderin crystals appear during bleeding in the intestinal tube.

The presence of calcium oxalate particles indicates insufficient secretory function of the stomach. With colitis and enterocolitis, Charcot-Leyden crystals appear in the stool of sick individuals.

The detection of occult blood in the studied samples indicates ulcerative processes in the stomach or small intestine, ulcerative colitis. Hidden blood in the stool can be due to the breakdown of neoplasms in the digestive system. In the event that the intestinal wall is injured by helminths, or the animal has damaged the oral cavity, larynx, hidden blood can also be detected in the feces.

A scatological examination helps a veterinary specialist understand the processes occurring in the digestive system of a furry patient. A general stool analysis is included in a comprehensive diagnostic examination of the animal. If necessary, an extended analysis can be prescribed, which includes the detection of occult blood, dysbacteriosis, and also allows one to exclude protozoal invasions and confirm a bacterial infection.

Useful video

Watch this video about what blood in a dog's stool indicates:

Normal dog poop should be brown. Stool with blood or white color is a deviation, the explanation for which is important to find in a short time. Feces are stained with bile. It plays an important role in digestion. Sometimes the stool becomes yellow or very runny. In this case, the owner’s attentiveness and detailed diagnostics are required.

Normally, dog poop is equal to the diameter of the dog's anus. The smell is moderate, the frequency is three times a day. If it’s less, that’s also normal. There should be no cracks or visible inclusions; the fur remains clean during defecation. There is a damp sheen on the stool. When dropped, the “sausage” should retain its shape for several minutes. If some circles of the same sausage fall out, then we are talking about a deficiency of fiber in the diet. If its quantity is normal, shine is observed.

Deviations

There are deviations from the reasonable norm for dog feces. By assessing the feces, an attentive owner can assess the pet's condition and take the necessary measures.

1. Decorated poop. At the end of the bowel movements, liquid porridge is poured on top. This is a signal of dysbacteriosis. There is a risk of infectious disease.
2. Feces are normal, but with the presence of mucus, sometimes with blood. Occurs due to pathologies in the large intestine and worms. Veined meat products also provoke similar stools.
3. Mushy stools that are yellow or light brown in color. In this case, undigested food with a sour smell is observed. The frequency of the trip is generally from 2 to 5 times a day. In this case, you need to radically change your diet.
4. Hard feces with a white coating, dry. Defecation 1 time per day. It is necessary to remove bones, meat with veins, and cartilage from the menu.

Danger Signals

The most dangerous feces are liquid feces and the presence of foam/blood. After discovering such a condition, it is important to immediately call a veterinarian at home or take your pet to the clinic as soon as possible.

1. A brown puddle with a green tint combined with vomiting indicates a viral gastrointestinal disease. Animals do not tolerate these pathologies well and can quickly find themselves in a dying state.
2. Severe diarrhea with foam, mucus and blood. The dog's condition is deteriorating rapidly. Bacteria without treatment will kill the animal in a few days.
3. If your pet is vomiting and does not walk for long, it is a sign of poisoning or a viral infection. In this case, the pet can eat a treat and drink water. Reason for an urgent trip to the veterinarian.

In order for feces to be impeccable in form and internal content, it is necessary to balance the animal’s diet. Correctly maintain the ratio of necessary elements - protein, carbohydrates, vitamins.

It is important to feed your pet high-quality foods that are quickly digestible. It is advisable to choose those approved by veterinarian nutritionists.

Blood in dog stool - causes

Blood in a dog's stool should be considered a dangerous pathology. This is a reason for a detailed examination. It is important to identify the cause and establish the location of the source where the blood is coming from. We are talking about the gastrointestinal tract or nearby areas. Blood impurity means that the bleeding is localized in the gastrointestinal tract.

If the blood has been affected by enzymes, it will be scarlet. It will also remain the same if the bleeding is localized in the distal region - the rectum, the area of ​​the large intestine. It will be more difficult to detect it if the enzymes still “caught up”. In this case, it will look like coffee grounds. This is a situation where the active focus is in the esophagus and stomach.

Blood in a dog’s stool is a reason for a detailed examination

The structure of stool and the amount of blood in it indicates the following diseases:

1. Parvovirus enteritis. It most often affects young dogs or puppies. The virus enters the animal through the nose when the pet sniffs someone else's feces and food. With this disease, one of the symptoms will be bloody stool;
2. Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. There are many reasons for the development of this disease. But its main symptom is severe diarrhea, when the masses become red due to a large amount of blood. The disease is such that until blood “inserts” appear, other signs may not come out;
3. Substances. Bloody diarrhea can be caused by medications and chemicals. For example, coumarin, which is included in the drug for mice. When sniffing this remedy, the next day the animal may begin to walk around with a lot of blood;
4. Plague. The disease is fatal. Accompanied by diarrhea with scarlet or maroon blood. Other symptoms are convulsions, trembling, vomiting, lethargy.

In addition to the above pathologies, traces of blood can also be observed in diseases such as ulcers, colitis, adenocarcinoma, Addison's disease, helminthiases, bruises, hemorrhoids, allergies. There are many reasons for the occurrence of non-standard feces, so if there is a deviation from the norm, it is necessary to carry out a competent diagnosis.

Video - Dog poops blood

Treatment of stool with blood

The treatment course and health-improving measures depend on the identified cause that caused the abnormal stool. The veterinarian's main recommendations are:

Helminthic infestation is completely eliminated with the help of drugs such as:

• Drontal;
• Dironet;
• Kanikquantel (weighing more than 1.5 kg).

Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis is treated by a specialist; self-medication is unacceptable. To restore electrolyte balance, infusion therapy is prescribed. If your pet has no appetite, you should not force feed it. Antibiotics are prescribed to eliminate infection in the intestines. To stop vomiting - antiemetics. In severe situations, plasma is used.

Enteritis. If enteritis occurs in a puppy, it is important to follow a diet and start therapy in a timely manner. It is better to feed your dog rice porridge with milk. Treat with penicillin and vitamins. They also give immunostimulants that enhance internal strength. Vitamin therapy helps normalize the general condition.

Plague. Accompanied by an inflammatory process in the stomach and pancreas. Therapy includes analgesics, fever medications and antibiotics. To normalize stool, astringents are prescribed.

Video - Distemper in dogs

Haemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are treated in animals in the same way as in humans. The drugs are similar. This is Relief or Procto-glivenol. Detralex is also given to the pet along with food. It is not forbidden to make a chamomile decoction for a sitz bath. The water temperature should be made 2 0 lower than the dog’s temperature. Sea buckthorn oil will also help if you lubricate the anus with it. You can also moisten a tampon and insert it into your pet’s anus; internal cracks will heal faster.

Poisoning by poison. If a dog accidentally/non-accidentally eats a dead rat or its “special” food, it is important to quickly induce vomiting in the dog. Also use laxatives and absorbents. It is recommended to get your bearings and empty your stomach as quickly as possible. The cleansing procedure should be repeated every 4 hours. If there are seizures, it is necessary to give the animal an anticonvulsant drug.

Video - First aid for dog poisoning

If you have a dog in the house, it is important to supervise him like you would a small child. Observe bowel movements and behavior. Only with a detailed study (without going into depth) can life-threatening conditions for the puppy be identified in time.