Ugh. I waited so long for this puppy...

[AgilityPup]

and now she's scaring the hell out of me at every turn of the head!

I wrote the other day about how she had really soft stool. She's had a few good stools since then, and we were thinking she was doing better, but then today she tried to poop, but all that came out was a little drop of what looked like blood. She's had soft stool all day, but when she goes she's grunting and straining like she can't poop.

She's eating normal, drinking normal, playing and acting normal. Not lethargic at all. If anything, she gets more spunky everyday.

I'm just not sure what to do at this point. I wanted to ask opinions because it's a Friday night, after hours, so we'd rather not rush off to a vet right this minute, but if we think we need to, we can take her to a vet that's open tomorrow. But since there's really nothing but the stool issue, I don't know if she needs to go to the vet.

I also feel like maybe I'm being over panicky, because I have waited for this puppy so long... Idea's we're throwing around right now are feeding her chicken and rice for a few days, a really bland diet, but I'm just not sure.

Breeder is out of town and left her mom with all of her dogs, or else I'd call her... so I turn to chaz. Help?

 

[SailenAero]

if there is any blood int he stool go to the emergency vet immediately - what breed of dog is it?

 

[AgilityPup]

She's a German Shepherd Dog. 8 week old puppy.

We were worried it was a blockage, but her belly isn't hard at all, and she's pooping a few times a day, but also straining and nothing coming out a couple times a day. And she's drinking water like normal.

urgh!

 

[SailenAero]

I would take her. Blood in the stool is not good and needs to be checked out. I'm not trying to freak you out but it could be anything from Parvo to an intestinal blockage.

Dogs may have a little bleeding or discharge from the rectum for many reasons: damage done to the rectum while defecating, impacted/infected anal glands, parasite infection polyps, Parasites and infections such as coccidia. Because your dog is just a pup they can be exposed to intestinal parasites.

So just be safe and get to the vet and best of luck

 

[AgilityPup]

Would a fresh de-worming rule out parasites? Because she's been de-wormed very recently (within the past 1 1/2 weeks).

We're going to keep an eye on her tonight and I'll try to get her into a vet tomorrow morning.

 

[Renee750il]

Vet. Definitely.

 

[AgilityPup]

To be a little clearer... there's not blood IN her stool. It's a matter of she poops sometimes, but then other times, or after she's just pooped, she strains and nothing comes out in terms of stool, and just a little drop of dark brown/red blood. I'm wondering if it's from the straining of having had soft stool for the past few days?

I e-mailed a friend who's a vet and asked what she thought and who's open for vets on a Saturday that aren't dinks in our area. Hoping she gets back to me soon.

 

[Renee750il]

It could be the dewormer didn't get them all completely and she's got some that are "loose" and irritating her.

 

[AgilityPup]

The breeder de-wormed her a couple weeks ago, and mom just redid her the other day (urgh..), so you'd think all of them would have been gotten... also, if she had them bad, wouldn't I be seeing something in the stool? There's nothing in it. It's all clear of sharp bits, blood in the stool, worms, etc.

 

[Aleron]

This sort of thing is so hard to guess from posts on the internet. Since she's had it for several days and hasn't gotten sicker, Parvo doesn't leap to mind first. It is always in the back of my mind with puppy+diarrhea because I had a litter with it that didn't have all of the classic symptoms initially. Could also be coccidia, giardia, worms (not all wormers are effective against all worms), EPI or any number of other things. In general, if you have a young pup with ongoing diarrhea a vet visit is probably in order. If nothing else because it's definitely better to be safe then sorry. Sending good thoughts that it's minor and easily remedied.

 

[AgilityPup]

Dear lord, I hope it's not EPI. That has been at the back of my mind since she had her first soft stool. Even though I know very little about it, I know it's pretty crappy to deal with.

Would fasting an 8 week old puppy for 12 hours be recommended?

 

[oakash]

*****vibes***** For the little puppydog!

I'll be thinking of you tomorrow, and I hope she feels better soon <3

 

[Southpaw]

I think it's a little concerning that you say it's dark blood? If it was fresh, bright red blood, that's usually no big deal--that indicates that there is irritation low in the digestive tract, and loose stools for a period of time is definitely enough to cause that sort of irritation. But if it's dark blood, then it's from somewhere higher in the digestive tract--and that's a bigger issue because then you need to figure out what's causing it.

 

[AgilityPup]

I think it's a little concerning that you say it's dark blood? If it was fresh, bright red blood, that's usually no big deal--that indicates that there is irritation low in the digestive tract, and loose stools for a period of time is definitely enough to cause that sort of irritation. But if it's dark blood, then it's from somewhere higher in the digestive tract--and that's a bigger issue because then you need to figure out what's causing it.

It's not like... brown... urgh. It's also not like, bright bright red either.

Man, this sucks so bad. I'm major stressed.

 

[AgilityPup]

There has also been a food change. The breeder sent her with Fromm, which I think she was on at one point, but I think most recently she'd been feeding something else, so I think essentially she's gone from some food I don't know to Fromm and now to a mixture of our food and Fromm...

 

[Toller_08]

I don't really have anything to add aside from what's already been said, but I just wanted to say I hope it's nothing serious! Poor girl. How stressful for you, too.

 

[SailenAero]

Don't fast her - just take her to the vet

 

[AgilityPup]

I've contacted a vet, waiting to hear back from her.

 

[Saeleofu]

Honestly, blood + runny poop + puppy would have me running to the vet. I'd at least test for parvo. Some pups can be absolutely fine except for a bit of blood, and the next day be on their death bed.

 

[Legend]

Honestly, blood + runny poop + puppy would have me running to the vet.

Same as me, no doubt.