Bloody poo is certainly alarming and reason to do further investigation. Here are a few things: it could be giardia, an intestinal protozoan (dogs drink dirty water, ingest giardia from another animal who has pooped nearby and had giardia). Giardia can cause off and on diarrhea, plus or minus blood, plus or minus vomiting. A simple in-office fecal test determines presence of Giardia antibodies. Treatment is pretty simple. Allopathic medicine gives antiprotozoal treatment for 10 days. There are herbs to treat, and homeopathy treats the underlying predisposition.
Not giardia? It could be Salmonella, a pathogenic bacteria that lives in the intestinal tract of many seemingly healthy patients (many species carry Salmonella – remember Typhoid Mary from history?). Salmonella is normally controlled by the healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract. If the healthy bacteria get out of balance, the Salmonella can overgrow – blood in feces, to diarrhea, to systemic illness to death can follow. Salmonella is harder to detect – five fecal samples sent to the lab – they try to grow the Salmonella and prove its existence. Salmonella is treated with healthy intestinal support – good food. I mean good, not what the commercials tell you is good – no corn, to by-products, no animal digest, human-grade ingredients only. How about raw? Yeah – that’s controversial, mainstream veterinarians will tell you Salmonella comes from raw food; not high quality raw. Salmonella comes from food ingredients that are contaminated with fecal contents – this means commercial foods that say animal digest, meat meal, and by-products. Afterall, by-products can include “cleaned” intestines (less than 20% of the fecal matter remaining). Probiotics will help support the healthy bacteria and keep the Salmonella from overgrowing. Digestive enzymes may help, especially if the intestines aren’t working optimally.
Went through all the hoops and ruled out Salmonella? How about rectal polyps, constipation/obstipation, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)? A thorough exam by your veterinarian will help you figure out which one. Questions about IBD, click here.