German Shepherd Dog Has Blood in Stool

My 4-year-old German Shepherd Dog passed a small amount of mucous and blood in his stool. It was only a little bit on top and not throughout it. He is totally fine, eating, drinking and running around. Should I be concerned?

—Vicky

Hi Vicky,

A small amount of mucous and blood in the stool is an indication of colitis (irritation of the colon). Dogs (and cats) very commonly get blood in their stool from even a minimal amount of diarrhea or inflammation, unlike humans. This can be caused by anything from foreign material (sticks, grass, toys, hair, etc.) that may have been ingested, internal parasites, an early sign of infection, a food allergy, or it could be an early indication of another underlying problem. If it was just a small amount on top and not throughout the entire sample and it was just one time I would not be too concerned.

Young dogs tend to pick things up on walks or in the yard all the time as they are exploring the world with their mouths. Especially if he is otherwise feeling well and acting normal, you have nothing to be concerned about. If the problem persists or becomes full-blown diarrhea, take him to see your veterinarian for further evaluation. If you are not sure, you can always take a fresh stool sample to your veterinarian for a parasite examination first, as that is one of the most common things we see in dogs (and because some of those parasites are contagious to people!).

PHOTO: DailyPuppy.com

Dr. Hoag

More Posts – Website