blood in stool

[wvhunter]

what would cause blood in stool and some bleeding afterwards. my female hasn't eaten anything but dog food. she hasn't been out got into anything. she looks fine maybe alittle dazed but was wagging her tail when i was checking on her. what do you guys think?

[coolbrze]

Worms maybe? Have you run her hard? Any sticks or pieces of chain link in the kennel she might have chewed on?

[wvhunter]

no i haven't ran at all. and she's in an above ground kennel. the only thing is she may have eaten some straw as some do.

[Bunny Runner]

Explain what the stool looks like.

Is it runny, mocousy, is the blood bright red?

Give me some more detail and I'll try to give you some ideas as to what you could be dealing with.

[wvhunter]

it looked regular as far as firmness but it was black. but what concerns me is the drops of blood on her kennel floor and what appears to be a blood clot also. she's not in heat will she's fixed so it Really can't be spotting. haha

[Jane]

I just had the same problem a couple of months ago.
Switching to better food made a difference for my male. He had to be straining when he was pooping I think, he was wormed, he wasn't any different than the normally is, looks good and feels fine. Once the food changeover kicked in, I never had another problem.
I did rice/hamburg for a week to clean out his system and gave him a break from running. Added some yougart the last day to get some good bacteria in his body.
We had a warm spell and I had a chance to do a good cleaning to the concrete stones in the kennel. He's not use to a change in bedding, there was straw and shavings in the boxes for the winter, it could have been a bunch of different factors. But I am relieved that it's gone.
But I do keep an eye out for it if it flares up again I'm taking a stool sample in to the vet , that was suggested, and good advice.
My other 2 don't have any problems with the food ? whatever it was, it's gone.

[shotgunner]

could also be a stomach infection,mabe she eat something that was bad.sometime it dont take much,my german short haired had a problem that sound like that.took him to the vet.some antibotics for a week fixed him up.vet said it could have been something in food,water.i think i would take her to the vet.

[Bunny Runner]

it looked regular as far as firmness but it was black. but what concerns me is the drops of blood on her kennel floor and what appears to be a blood clot also. she's not in heat will she's fixed so it Really can't be spotting. haha

OK, so the stool itself was firm, but black (tar-like?) and there was a red mucous-like blood "clot" with some drops of blood. You said she looked "dazed", what exactly do you mean by this? Is she eating well, how's her body condition? What age dog is she? What is your worming protocol? When was the last time she was vaccinated?

There cold be more than one thing going on here with the black stool (which indicates small intestine bleeding) and the red mucous-like clot (which indicated large intestine/colonic bleeding). My first inclination would be, treat her for intestinal parasites just in case. Make sure to use a good wormer that gets hooks AND whips, as these can be the ones that will cause the mucous-like "clots".

One thing that concerns me, is the "dazed" appearance. Lethargy can indicate a condition that is more advance and more indepth than what you can treat at home (although it can be a simple "fix" as well). I would recommend above anything else, a trip to the vet to get a thorough exam w/blood work. Also, I would have them check her liver enzymes. There are a few liver disorders that have GI signs w/bleeding. These tests will rule out severe illnesses, and can sometimes diagnose parasites. Keep in mind tho, whipworm infections often don't show up on fecal float tests.

No diarrhea would indicate your not really dealing with IBS or colitis (found with food sensitivies) which would normally be a large intestine sign, as this is where excess moisure is absorbed and if there is irritation, absorbtion is altered. It couldn't hurt however, to give her GIT a rest and feed an easily digested diet, such as what Jane suggested. Hamburger/rice or chicken/rice cooked well is a very good suggestion for GIT irritations. Just make sure to cook the rice to a paste like consistancey and drain the fat from the meat prior to adding it to the rice.

Keep us updated!

[high ridge joe]

I have a male that had a very bad bout with Giardia...He had it when I bought him....after all the treatments his diareah is still an issue.....the vet has decided that it must be IBD brought about by the Giardia infections..( he was on the meds 2 times and has been on doxycyline and prednisone twice since...) this has been done over a 6 month span....
What do I have to look towards for his long term health?
What is the best feed for him on a daily basis??

I understand the rice and burger along with a daily vitamin...
Has anyone ever tried the Purina Beneful?

This is an outstanding male with 2 wins in SPO...He has been running well and handles conditioning well...we went to a trial this weekend...he made winners pack on friday but didnt place..next day he placed 4th...but i did notice blood in his stool.
He is spending a few days in the house for rest and relaxation..boy is he enjoying it.

Thanks..

[Bunny Runner]

Joe,

With a dog with IBD, it is recommended to feed a High fiber, low fat, moderate protein food. While the hamburger/rice diet is great to give the GIT a rest for a period of a week or two, it's totally inadequate to feed long term, as it's lacking in a balance of required nutrients.

I have a copy of a proceeding from a veterinary conference on this subject. I'll copy it here for all to read. It's very long and technical, but it's great information.

Dietary Management of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference 2002
Kathryn E. Michel, DVM, MS, Dipl ACVN
University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine
Philadelphia, PA, USA

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a general term that is applied to gastrointestinal disorders that present most commonly with diarrhea, sometimes in conjunction with vomiting, anorexia, and weight loss, and a histopathologic finding of inflammatory cell infiltration of the gastrointestinal mucosa. At times a specific etiology can be determined but more often the condition is considered idiopathic.

The pathogenesis of diarrhea in IBD involves many abnormalities, e.g., reduced absorptive surface area, reduced fluid and electrolyte absorption, increased fluid secretion, and perturbations in intestinal motility. In refractory or difficult cases of IBD, dietary and medical therapies are formulated to stimulate villus epithelial cell absorption, inhibit crypt epithelial cell secretion, stimulate circular smooth muscle cell contraction, and reduce inflammation.

Diet should play a central role in the management of IBD. Dietary factors are most certainly involved in some of the clinical manifestations of IBD and therefore it follows that dietary modification can be palliative. There is also speculation that dietary factors may be involved in the pathogenesis and perpetuation of IBD. The presence of luminal nutrients is required for maintenance of normal gastrointestinal mucosal structure and function. Food within the gut lumen provides a direct source of nutrients for the enterocytes, results in increased mesenteric blood flow, and the release of digestive enzymes and enterohormones, all of which can influence intestinal cell proliferation and differentiation. Conversely, dietary factors may cause a variety of adverse reactions including immunological and inflammatory responses, osmotic diarrhea, changes in the numbers and composition of gut microflora and altered gastrointestinal transit time.

Dietary management of IBD is primarily aimed at enhancing the absorption of nutrients and water through attention to overall diet digestibility as well as manipulation of the type and quantities of specific nutrients. The other strategies for the therapy of IBD stated above are principally achieved through pharmacologic means. However, the use of dietary fiber can influence gastrointestinal motility and absorption and diets containing novel or modified proteins could potentially reduce mucosal inflammation.

Finally, many patients with IBD have experienced some degree of malnutrition particularly if a protein-losing enteropathy is involved. Whatever dietary interventions are used, every effort should be made to insure that patients receive adequate calories and balanced nutrient intake.

Diet Digestibility
Factors affecting the digestibility of a given food include the source and quantity of protein, fat, and carbohydrate, the presence or absence of nondigestible carbohydrates (i.e., lactose, various types of fiber) and how it was processed (i.e., grinding, cooking, etc.) High digestibility is desirable in diets designed for the management of IBD for several reasons. Patients with IBD usually have some degree of villus atrophy and malabsorption. High digestibility should facilitate maximal absorption in the proximal small bowel. This should lessen the potential for the development of osmotic diarrhea. By promoting complete absorption, it should limit the availability of nutrients to enteric microorganisms, potentially limiting numbers of bacteria and decreasing the production of the gaseous by-products of fermentation.

While fat is one of the most digestible components of the diet, fat malassimilation is not uncommon in patients with IBD. Fatty acids reaching the colon will be hydroxylated by bacteria, and can have toxic effects on the mucosa that result in diarrhea. Therefore diets with moderate to low fat content (<30% of calories from fat) are advisable for patients with IBD. Having said that, cats with IBD appear to tolerate relatively high fat foods better than dogs do. Medium chain triglycerides (MCT) can be used to replace some of the long chain triglycerides in the diet as a calorie source. MCT are less dependent upon micelle formation for digestion and absorption than long chain triglycerides, and are absorbed directly into the portal circulation. Most cats do not find them very palatable however, so their usefulness may be limited. In addition there is one report in the veterinary literature of cats developing hepatic lipidosis on a research diet formulated with MCT.

Fiber
Fiber is a generic term encompassing the indigestible carbohydrate and lignin components of food. While it is not a nutrient, it does serve several important functions in the gastrointestinal tract including binding water, providing bulk, the modulation of nutrient absorption and digestion, and the maintenance of gastrointestinal function and mucosal structure. Fiber can be classified in several ways. Commonly fiber is divided into two broad categories: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fibers have a greater capacity to bind water and also are relatively fermentable by colonic microflora. Examples of soluble fiber include guar gum, pectins, and some hemicelluloses. Insoluble fibers have less of a water absorptive capacity, are relatively nonfermentable, and tend to decrease gastrointestinal transit time. Common examples of insoluble fiber are cellulose and lignin. The ability of fiber to bind toxins, bile acids, and water and to normalize gastrointestinal motility have all been proposed as possible mechanisms for the success of fiber in treating some individuals with diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disorders.

There is accumulating evidence in animal models of IBD and some human clinical trials that fermentable fibers may be therapeutic in the treatment of colonic inflammation. One of the by-products of microbial fermentation is the short chain fatty acid butyrate. Butyrate is the preferred metabolic fuel of the colonocyte. Since butyrate uptake by colonocytes is coupled with sodium uptake, the availability of fermentable fiber may promote sodium and water uptake in the inflamed colon and ameliorate large bowel diarrhea. Currently evidence for the therapeutic effects of fiber in veterinary IBD patients is largely anecdotal. The addition of fiber to the diet of a patient who is believed to have small intestinal inflammation may be counterproductive because of the effects that it may have on the diet's overall digestibility. However, a trial of fermentable fiber may be warranted in patients with evidence of idiopathic large bowel inflammation.

Novel And Modified Protein Diets
The gastrointestinal mucosal immune system protects the host against potential pathogens crossing mucosal barriers while at the same time provides immune tolerance of the barrage of dietary antigens and normal intestinal microflora that interfaces with the mucosa. IBD is thought to be the result of dysregulation of this delicate balance. While it is unlikely that dietary hypersensitivity is the primary cause of idiopathic IBD, it is possible that food antigens may be involved in the perpetuation of mucosal inflammation. One consequence of the inflammation seen in IBD is increased mucosal permeability. There is speculation that this could lead to sensitization to dietary proteins, which would in turn contribute to the ongoing inflammatory process.

Pets with clinical signs and histopathologic findings consistent with a diagnosis of IBD often respond to treatment with limited antigen diets. . A recent study of 55 cats with idiopathic gastrointestinal problems of greater than 2 weeks in duration found that 29% of the cats had food sensitivity based on an elimination-challenge diet trial and an additional 20% had complete resolution of clinical signs with the elimination diet although signs did not reappear when challenged with their previous diet. Clinical signs resolved in a matter of days after introduction of the novel protein diet. This study underlines the importance of investigating diet when working up patients with chronic gastrointestinal problems.

There are now available a number of prescription limited antigen diets. It is important to recognize that the canned products for dogs and cats are high in fat. Most of the dry products could be considered at best, moderate in fat content. Therefore, patients experiencing problems with fat absorption will likely have difficulty tolerating these products. For these patients, one of the lower fat, dry, limited antigen formulas is the best option.

Modified protein diets have been used to treat human patients with IBD, particularly Crohn's Disease, with good success. These diets contain hydrolyzed single protein sources such as whey or casein. This type of diet has recently been developed for dogs. These are truly "hypoallergenic" diets since the protein contained in them has been broken down into fragments too small to be recognized by the immune system. If the hypothesis concerning dietary hypersensitivity and the perpetuation of IBD were correct, this type of formulation would be well suited for dietary management of acute exacerbations of the disease. Currently there are no such diets available for cats but at least one is under development.

Cobalamin
Determination of serum cobalamin concentration has been useful in identifying and characterizing intestinal and pancreatic disease in dogs and cats. Intrinsic factor (IF), a cobalamin binding protein that promotes cobalamin absorption in the ileum, is produced by the stomach and pancreas in dogs, and the pancreas, but not the stomach, in the cat. A portion of cobalamin taken up by hepatocytes is rapidly re-excreted in bile. Cobalamin of hepatobiliary origin, along with dietary derived cobalamin, undergoes transfer to IF and receptor mediated absorption, thus establishing enterohepatic recirculation of the vitamin.

Cobalamin deficiency has rarely been reported in the cat though recent observations indicate serum concentrations can be subnormal in cats with EPI, intestinal, pancreatic or hepatic disease. Forty-nine of 80 serum samples submitted from cats with signs of gastrointestinal disease had cobalamin concentrations below the reference range for healthy cats (range 900-2,800 pg/ml; mean ± SD = 1775 ± 535 pg/ml SD; n=33). Cats with subnormal cobalamin concentrations (mean ± SD = 384 ± 272 pg/ml, range 3-883 pg/ml) were middle aged or older and were presented for weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia and thickened intestines. Definitive diagnoses in 22 cats included inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal lymphoma, cholangiohepatitis or cholangitis, and pancreatic inflammation. Serum concentrations of cobalamin were particularly low in cats with intestinal lymphoma, 3/5 of which also had subnormal serum concentrations of folate (< 9 ng/ml). The simultaneous presence of disease in the intestines, pancreas or hepato-biliary system in many cats made it difficult to determine the cause of subnormal cobalamin concentrations. There is some evidence that cobalamin supplementation may result in clinical improvement of cats with IBD, without recourse to immunosuppressive therapy. Cobalamin can be easily supplemented parenterally (SQ or IM). Recommendations are to give 250 µg once a week for one month and then once every two weeks (D. Williams).

Folate
Folate is absorbed passively when it is present at high luminal concentrations. This may be secondary to high dietary content or intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Once absorbed, folate is methylated in the cell to methyltetrahydrofolate. It is noteworthy that cats with intestinal lymphoma have low serum folate concentrations. This may relate to malabsorption or alternatively increased utilization by neoplastic tissue.

When interpretating serum concentrations of cobalamin and folate it is important to remember that serum concentrations are labile and reflect the balance between dietary intake, bacterial utilization and production, intestinal absorption, and body metabolism and losses. Normal serum concentrations of cobalamin and folate neither exclude nor support a diagnosis of intestinal disease.

[PLATEAUBEAGLER]

Let me ask a question while on the subject for a friend of mine that i can't answer his question although he is taking his hounds to the vet this week.
Ok he has 3 females in one pen and he don't know which one it is but one of them is passing blood that is just mucous with it , no stool, in it no sign of worms just blood and mucous and thats it, he don't know if it vomiting or passing it as a stool.
I have never seen this before and he is dedicated to worming on schedule,3 day dosage of Safe Gaurd, once a month ivomectin, alond with 3 day dosage of Valbazen also. He feeds nothing but dog food, all the hounds act ok maybe alittle thin but not bad.
What could it be?

[high ridge joe]

take the sample of it to a vet...might be coccidia..and if it is then all 3 will end up with it....

[PLATEAUBEAGLER]

thanks i will tell him to get it for the vet before he goes.

[Bunny Runner]

Just curious why your friend is using safe guard AND valbazen? Granted they are based with a different ingrediant (safeguard - Fenbendazole, Valbazen - albendazole) but they basically get the same things. It seems a bit like an over kill.

The bloody mucous is typical of whip worm infection and I've had good success using panacur for this (which is also a fenbendazole based product).

[high ridge joe]

GOOD POINT BUNNY RUNNER....