Assess Your Dog's Overall Health If They Seem Normal This could be a sign of parvovirus which is common in unvaccinated puppies and is fatal if not treated immediately. If your puppy is producing bloody stool, you need to get them to the vet immediately. The bigger question is whether blood in your dog's stool is actually an emergency that requires a trip to the closest emergency veterinary hospital. If you notice blood in your dog's stool, you need to contact your vet right away to get to the bottom of the underlying issue. If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.If you see blood in your dog's stool, you are likely going to be concerned because this is a clear sign of a potential health issue. However, feeding a good quality diet as recommended by your veterinarian and avoiding exposure to table scraps, garbage, plants and other foreign material is the best way to minimize gastrointestinal disease in your pet. Since the exact cause of IBD is unknown prevention is difficult. When treating IBD, it is very important to administer all medications prescribed by your veterinarian, as well as to follow any dietary guidelines he/she suggests. Dietary modification, which may include a prescription diet specific for treating IBD.Anti-inflammatory medications, such as steroids (prednisone), and other medications to suppress inflammation.Antibiotics, if a secondary bacterial infection is suspected. If your dog is diagnosed with IBD, your veterinarian will recommend medications that will treat his symptoms. Endoscopy or surgery to obtain biopsies of the stomach and small intestine for definitive diagnosis.Special fecal tests, such as cultures and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing.Fecal tests to identify potential fecal parasites.Specific tests to rule out viral infections, such as parvovirus.An ultrasound to evaluate the integrity of your dog’s digestive tract and other organs.X-rays of the abdomen to assess organ size and position and rule out obstruction, foreign body, or masses.Electrolyte tests to ensure your dog is neither dehydrated nor suffering from an electrolyte imbalance.A complete blood count to assess for inflammation, infection, anemia or other blood-related conditions. Chemistry tests to evaluate kidney, liver, and pancreatic function as well as sugar levels.If your pet has IBD, you may notice the following:ĭiagnosing IBD begins with a thorough physical examination and tests to rule out other possible causes of the diarrhea and/or vomiting. These dogs remain alert, active, maintain a good appetite, and don’t lose weight. Dogs with mild IBD don’t necessarily act sick, other than having GI signs. With IBD, the vomiting and/or diarrhea become frequent, alerting the owner to a problem. Unfortunately, the cause of this debilitating disease often can’t be determined.Īny dog owner knows that vomiting and/or diarrhea occasionally happen. IBD is one of the most common causes of persistent vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. This wreaks havoc on your dog’s entire GI system, and can impact the stomach and upper small intestine, causing chronic vomiting, and/or the lower intestine, causing diarrhea. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is a condition that results when your dog’s immune system turns against the lining of her gastrointestinal (GI) tract, causing an issue with the absorption of nutrients and ability to digest food properly.
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