Why is My Dog's Poop Red?

Note: A black tarry stool indicates bleeding from the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine. Bright red blood in the stool indicates that the source of bleeding is in the lower gastrointestinal tract (colon or rectum).

Seeing your dog’s poo a puddle of blood can be a quite scary event, perhaps mainly because we most usually associate it with cancer, but luckily in dogs the causes may be a lot less dramatic.

Bloody stools often occur as a result of something that does not agree with your dog or cat’s stomach. There are several reasons that your dog might have bloody stool. The presence of bloody stools may be a symptom of either a minor problem, or a potentially more serious problem in the animal. One episode of bloody stools may be a minor and temporary incident. Repeated or persistent bloody stools are more serious and should not be ignored.

Below are some of the most common reasons given by various veterinarians:

• Infectious agents, such as bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and intestinal parasites
• Dietary intolerance/allergy/indiscretion
• Cancer of the lower bowel
• Benign masses in the colon or rectum
• Digestive related disorders, such as colitis, diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disorder, stomach ulcer, and pancreatitis
• Trauma to the lower bowel or anal area
• Clotting disorders coagulopathy
• Viral, fungal or bacterial infections
• Liver or kidney failure

What to Watch For

• Bright red blood in the feces
• Possible straining to defecate
• Increased number of bowel movements produced
• Possibly no other clinical signs
• Possibly other systemic signs of illness, such as excessive drinking, urinating, vomiting and diarrhea, lethargy, poor appetite, weight loss

Natural Remedies Treatments

Natural remedies are often a healthier, gentler alternative to treating bloody stools than conventional medications. Not only does it protect the stomach and reduces the bacterial, it does help with the dog’s overall system to build up its immunity.

Bloody stools are not healthy or normal, and it is definitely a cause for concern!