Finding blood in your dog’s poo can be worrying, but it’s important to know that blood in your dog’s stool can be caused by all sorts of things and isn’t always something serious.  

In this post, we’ll go into what it means when you find blood in your dog’s stool, what the reasons could be for it and what you should do.

What does blood in dog stool mean

Blood in dog poo can mean a number of different things. There are all sorts of things that can affect the consistency, regularity and colour of your dog’s poop and can be the first sign of a number of different illnesses or problems.

In many cases the problem is fairly straightforward and can be easily treated by the vet or will heal on its own with a change in diet or behaviour. The best thing to do is speak to your vet and find out what the problem is. 

What causes blood in dog stools

There are many different reasons why your dog may have blood in their stools. Some of the common reasons include:

• food allergies
• constipation
• eating something they shouldn’t, such as a toy, socks or bones
• bacterial or viral infections
• colitis
• an injury
• cancer
• internal blockages
• parasites

The colour of the blood may also vary depending on what the problem is – in most cases it may just be a regular red, it can also sometimes be much darker, coming close to a black colour. This may mean that there may be something wrong with your dog’s stomach or intestines, such as inflammation, ulcers or even cancer.

How do you treat blood in a dog’s stool?

If you notice blood in your dog’s stool, it’s best to take them to the vet as soon as possible so you can get them checked out. In a lot of cases, at home care will be most appropriate, but it’s always best to see your vet first just in case it’s something more serious.

If your dog shows any other symptoms such as weakness, pale gums, vomiting, refusing food or water, or being unusually quiet, these could be signs that something more serious is causing the problem.

Here at Asda Money, we offer a range of pet insurance policies that can truly come in handy especially in situations like these – the last thing you want to be stressing about when your dog is poorly is expensive vet bills, so having insurance in place can mean you’re covered against those unexpected illnesses and injuries.