Very strange feces/intestinal issue...

[Sush]

I work at an animal shelter and one of our long-time adoptable dogs is having a very odd and upsetting issue. Last week she suddenly started pooping pure dark blood. The vet had us put her on Metronidizole and have her eat low-residue food (I/d). He didn't really run any tests or have much concern.

So she did the course of meds and I really didn't see her poop once during that whole time. All of our dogs run around in yards all day but usually I keep her inside with me while I'm working. She went out with volunteers for walks but nothing strange was reported. I assumed she was doing better because she was still acting normal and eating and drinking normal.

Just today I brought her into the office and she immediately started pooping out what looked like a really thick pink mucous tinged with blood. Upon further inspection (gross I know but nothing much grosses me out these days) it really appeared to be intestinal tissue. I bagged some up and took it to the vet to look at.

We haven't gotten word back yet but I wanted to see if any of you have had experience with something like this or know of it as a symptom for something in particular. The dog is a 7yr Chi who hasn't changes any behavioral habits and is acting totally fine but pooping out your insides is not fine...ideas until the vet gets back to us?

 

[Kat09Tails]

Pancreatic issues would be my first guess.

 

[Sush]

Can you expand a little?

 

[Kat09Tails]

DIC, cancer, diabetes down the line would be my best guess based on the information presented. It is possible it's parvo but it's unusual in adult dogs ime and I imagine your vet would recognize it fairly quickly if that the case.

By chance is this a fairly fat dog?

 

[Sush]

No she is actually on the thinner side. One of the vets mentioned Parvo but she thinks everything is either parvo or distemper so it's hard to take her too seriously. What is DIC? Is blood work the first thing that would need to be done to rule out any of these things or maybe an ultrasound of x-ray? I get really frustrated because the vets here do as little as possible for shelter dogs as far as diagnostics.

 

[Saeleofu]

A chi/small breed pooping blood (especially large amounts) would put HGE at the top of my list.

 

[darkchild16]

A chi/small breed pooping blood (especially large amounts) would put HGE at the top of my list.

This^ Those were the signs when my moms dog had it.

 

[Zoom]

HGE would also be my guess.

And welcome back!

 

[Kat09Tails]

No she is actually on the thinner side. One of the vets mentioned Parvo but she thinks everything is either parvo or distemper so it's hard to take her too seriously. What is DIC? Is blood work the first thing that would need to be done to rule out any of these things or maybe an ultrasound of x-ray? I get really frustrated because the vets here do as little as possible for shelter dogs as far as diagnostics.

Sael has good insight too. While I understand how frustrating it must be for you for many shelters it's a game of numbers. If the cost to diagnose and save one would get 10 adopted sometimes it's best to PTS. Just the reality of things however if they continue to *not* pursue a cure or a resolution to me that is a huge flag. If you are able to get a diagnosis and it would result in special diets or something else that would require the dog to be put to sleep it might be better to get that dog pulled by a sanctuary or a rescue that's willing to work with her.

 

[Sush]

Thanks for brainstorming with me you guys

We actually are a rescue shelter, non-profit and no-kill. We pull dogs from other shelters and have had this little girl for close to a year now. I guess I shouldn't say the vets do as little as possible, it's really my director that's not willing to spend much $$ on diagnostics and I understand how things work. It's just hard when it's one of your favorite dogs We don't have a paid vet on staff but we do have a general practice right next door that we use for spay/neuter and other vet needs. Unfortunately if they need any further medical attention that's not a complete emergency it's like pulling teeth to get my director to OK it. If we see blood in the feces it's just an automatic Metronidazole prescription and bland diet.

I looked up HGE and it sort of fits except for the dog is acting COMPLETELY normal other than what's coming out of her rear. The blood started at least a week ago and since then she's had an appetite, no vomiting, isn't lethargic, doesn't look like she's in pain (even though most dogs won't).

Do you think deworming would hurt her at all right now? Just to rule out a horrible case of worms causing this? She hasn't had the triwormer since she first came in and recently we've been battling fleas with her. I'm just trying to think of things I can do until I can fenagle more tests.

 

[Kat09Tails]

I would NOT deworm this dog or introduce any mystery chemicals until you have a diagnosis.

Also, no kill doesn't mean it's ok for there to be sick dogs in house and bloody stool is a textbook vet trip every time. I'm pretty sure around here if a dog had bloody stool and an animal control officer saw it that it would be grounds for a seizure if the owner didn't have a vet appointment scheduled or a diagnosis explaining why the dog would be crapping blood.

 

[GlassOnion]

What color is the blood?

 

[Romy]

Thanks for brainstorming with me you guys

We actually are a rescue shelter, non-profit and no-kill. We pull dogs from other shelters and have had this little girl for close to a year now. I guess I shouldn't say the vets do as little as possible, it's really my director that's not willing to spend much $$ on diagnostics and I understand how things work. It's just hard when it's one of your favorite dogs We don't have a paid vet on staff but we do have a general practice right next door that we use for spay/neuter and other vet needs. Unfortunately if they need any further medical attention that's not a complete emergency it's like pulling teeth to get my director to OK it. If we see blood in the feces it's just an automatic Metronidazole prescription and bland diet.

I looked up HGE and it sort of fits except for the dog is acting COMPLETELY normal other than what's coming out of her rear. The blood started at least a week ago and since then she's had an appetite, no vomiting, isn't lethargic, doesn't look like she's in pain (even though most dogs won't).

Do you think deworming would hurt her at all right now? Just to rule out a horrible case of worms causing this? She hasn't had the triwormer since she first came in and recently we've been battling fleas with her. I'm just trying to think of things I can do until I can fenagle more tests.

I agree with Kat about not giving her any internal meds at this point without a diagnosis and guidance from a vet. From what I understand, Revolution is supposed to take care of intestinal worms minus tapeworms? That might only be for cats though. You might chat with the vets and see if that would be okay for her.

 

[Sush]

So the fecal came back posisitve for a severe case of coccidia. I'm used to coccidia in puppies but I guess I've never really seen a case in a mature dog and never with that much blood. She's been on a special diet as well as meds for the coccidia and she is rapidly improving.

Glass, the color was dark, dark red.

Kat, I'm well aware of what no-kill means and we don't just let sick animals go untreated here. We would not be able to stay in business for nearly 35 years if we did so. Then again, if every dog/puppy with blood in their stool recieved a full vet work up it would be impossible to stay in business as the vet costs would be through the roof. Bloody Stool= Metronidazole, bland diet and fecal test. Then we deal with the results appropriately.

Thanks to everyone for your concern I'm so happy to see blood-less poop and a happy dog sitting on my lap right now. So glad it wasn't something worse!