Blood In Faeces - Any Ideas?

[squeak]

Just waiting to go to a vet appointment, but thought I would ask for ideas here...

Murphy (lab x collie) had liquid diarrohea(sp?) this morning on walk - if there was any indication that he was sick, I wouldn't have walked him. It was that liquid, I had no way of cleaning up the mess . This poo had a tiny bit of blood in it. Immediately took him back home and out into the backyard as he seemed to want to go again. Next poo wasn't quite as liquid, but had more blood. Also looks like he has had a tiny bit of diarrohea in his crate last night, though we didn't here him and somehow he managed to aim most of it outside of his crate... good thing that I had a sheet down to protect the new rug... as this is where most of it ended up.

Apart from the liquid poo, he seems to be perfectly normal within himself - probably trying to work out why "mum" is acting so weird following him around and looking at his poo and why he hasn't had breakfast!

ETA - should have mentioned that he was wormed early last week (at least 7 days ago). Have used the same wormer previously without any problems.

Edited March 15, 2009 by squeak

[persephone]

Hope he's ok

[cashew]

Sounds a lot like a gastro virus. Don't worry too much if he's still acting normally. Hope he will be alright soon.

[peibe]

How did he go?

I would recommend a vet visit just in case and maybe a dose of Baycox, but talk this over with your vet

[squeak]

Peibe - what is baycox?

Back from the vets. Honestly wouldn't have normally worried apart from"

a) blood that was in the poo

b) we were booked in to go away tomorrow and meant to be boarding them.

Vet still isn't sure - thinks that it might be bacterial, but didn't test stools. Have some lectade for him as he was slightly dehydrated (who wouldn't be with the runs?). Also have some antibiotics as a precaution.

Thing that I'm not sure about is, she said that it could be because he was wormed last week (about this time) and his bowel is may inflammed if he had worms at the time. She has recommended that we worm him daily for the next three days... I would have thought that if his bowel was inflammed, that would make it worse??? Unfortunately, I didn't think of this until I got home. Any thoughts on that, and also worming him when he's on antibiotics?

Edited March 16, 2009 by squeak

[Jigsaw]

Poor Murphy! Hope he feels better soon. Did the vet examine the stools to see if there was anything in them? I mean like fibres or something he may have eaten, chewed, destroyed without your knowlege and these are irritating the bowel. Did vet say anything about keeping him on a light diet as well while the bowel inflammation settles? It does sound a bit harsh worming for the next three days. I thought the worming drugs worked reasonably quickly and if he was to have had an adversive effect it should have happened closer to the dosage date. When Paxy's had the runs vet has recommended Peptosyl for a few days to help ease the inflammation but she wasn't on antibiotics at the same time. Hope you get some more definitive answers from people who know more than me about these things!

[squeak]

Yep, bland diet for the next 3-4 days and then gradually change over to normal diet.

Vet didn't check stools for anything - I would have thought she should have checked for worms (but maybe not since he was wormed last week?) or bacteria or virus? I was that stressed I didn't think of it at the time. I guess my concern is that if his bowel is inflammed because he had worms when we wormed him, that worming him for three days might make that worse??? I have called the company that makes the worming stuff, who basically say that it is safe to worm three days in a row and that vets might sometimes recommend this.

I guess my "gut" feeling is to let things settle, then do the three days of worming? I will probably end up calling the vet clinic this afternoon and see if I can speak to a different vet. Just took him outside for a toilet run, and he seems more "flat" than normal for him. Hoping that it is just because he hasn't had breakfast.

Poor Murphy is being a pampered pooch. More poor hubby. We were going away for our 10th wedding anniversary and he has had to cancel our hotel booking because stupid wife is too concerned to leave pooches!!!

Edited March 16, 2009 by squeak

[squeak]

I forgot to add that it is probably unlikely that he has chewed on anything without me knowing. He doesn't run offlead and spends most of his time at the back door when he is not inside - and we were home with him for most of the weekend. The only thing that I can possibly think of is that he may have caught a small lizard or snail - he loves chasing lizards.

I think it is finally time for me to get some breakfast!!!

Edited March 16, 2009 by squeak

[persephone]

Me? I would be seeing not just speaking with, another vet.

Did he have a high temp?

Did they do a parvo test?

Did they mention anything like Giardia ?

Edited March 16, 2009 by persephone

[Nekhbet]

if it was the wormer you would have expected to see something the days directly after you gave the tablets.

Red blood is lower down in the intestines - bacteria or sometimes if the dog eats something that doesnt agree it can irritate the bowels

Black blood - from further up in the GI tract and rather serious.

I agree with Persephone. would be seeing another vet and start keeping poo samples in clean jars (now you can really be crazy dog lady )

[Jigsaw]

To be honest I would probably think twice about putting him kennels too while he's not 100%. Hope you can rebook your trip or at least get a full refund on it.

Don't you just love whipping that poo jar/bag out of your handbag at the vet's! It's amazing what goes in your handbag sometimes!

[squeak]

Me? I would be seeing not just speaking with, another vet.

Did he have a high temp?

Did they do a parvo test?

Did they mention anything like Giardia ?

Slightly raised temp, didn't say by how much. Didn't do a parvo test. Didn't mention anything like Giardia.

Okay, how do I got a poo sample - the only time he poos is on really long grass, and there isn't really anyway you can pick it up when it is liquid/sloppy. Poo seems a little more formed since this morning.

[squeak]

To be honest I would probably think twice about putting him kennels too while he's not 100%. Hope you can rebook your trip or at least get a full refund on it.

Don't you just love whipping that poo jar/bag out of your handbag at the vet's! It's amazing what goes in your handbag sometimes!

We were only going to stay a couple nights in the city (same hotel as the first night of the honeymoon). We've "only" lost $25 booking fee, so that's better than it could have been.

I trust the kennels where they were booked, it's just if our other dog gets sick, she tends to go downhill much faster than him - she has got very little body fat and frequently doesn't eat (even when she is well), so it can actually be hard to tell if she is sick sometimes, until she is very sick.

Edited March 16, 2009 by squeak

[squeak]

if it was the wormer you would have expected to see something the days directly after you gave the tablets.

Red blood is lower down in the intestines - bacteria or sometimes if the dog eats something that doesnt agree it can irritate the bowels

Black blood - from further up in the GI tract and rather serious.

I agree with Persephone. would be seeing another vet and start keeping poo samples in clean jars (now you can really be crazy dog lady )

It was fairly red blood - definitely not black. Over the last 3-4 days, he really hasn't had anything to eat out of the ordinary.

About Wed/Thurs last week, they both had a lamb flap, but that isn't unusual. The only difference was where I bought it - and that I had to cut a lot of fat off it, since it was much fattier than I would normally buy.

[persephone]

I trust the kennels where they were booked,

You may well do-and that's worth heaps!!

however putting a dog with a potentially infectious condition into a large group of dogs isn't the most responsible action ...do boarding kennels actually accept dogs with diarrhoea present???

[squeak]

I trust the kennels where they were booked,

You may well do-and that's worth heaps!!

however putting a dog with a potentially infectious condition into a large group of dogs isn't the most responsible action ...do boarding kennels actually accept dogs with diarrhoea present???

I asked this question of the kennels before I made the decision to cancel. Yes, they do accept a dog with diarrhoea present - they are able to keep him isolated from the rest of the dogs. However, I wasn't comfortable because it is potentially infectious of putting other dogs at risk.

BTW, I have already cancelled our booking with the kennel.

[persephone]

Yes, they do accept a dog with diarrhoea present - they are able to keep him isolated from the rest of the dogs.

oh

Ok... I didn't know- it has been a LONG time since I used a boarding kennel :p

Well done...apologies if you thought I was 'having a go'

[squeak]

Yes, they do accept a dog with diarrhoea present - they are able to keep him isolated from the rest of the dogs.

oh

Ok... I didn't know- it has been a LONG time since I used a boarding kennel

Well done...apologies if you thought I was 'having a go'

No, didn't think you were having a go, just thought that I should clarify. I guess it surprised me a bit as well, but sounds like they are set up for these things, where I imagine not all kennels would be.

Sorry if I come across as a bit testy - worried about two dogs at the moment and trying to work out if I should take him back to the vet (they already think I'm a loony... as does my husband). Worst of it is that I managed to miss one of the dogs pooing, so I don't know who left the solid mass in the backyard... even though I have been alternating them, I don't know if it was Murphy, or if I missed checking before I brought Stormy in. I had to leave Murphy outside for a short time while I tried to feed Stormy... he drools something fierce if he doesn't get fed!

What do I say to the vet receptionist if I call and ask for him to be seen by a different vet? Do I just say I want a second opinion, or what???

[megan_]

Yes, they do accept a dog with diarrhoea present - they are able to keep him isolated from the rest of the dogs.

oh

Ok... I didn't know- it has been a LONG time since I used a boarding kennel

Well done...apologies if you thought I was 'having a go'

No, didn't think you were having a go, just thought that I should clarify. I guess it surprised me a bit as well, but sounds like they are set up for these things, where I imagine not all kennels would be.

Sorry if I come across as a bit testy - worried about two dogs at the moment and trying to work out if I should take him back to the vet (they already think I'm a loony... as does my husband). Worst of it is that I managed to miss one of the dogs pooing, so I don't know who left the solid mass in the backyard... even though I have been alternating them, I don't know if it was Murphy, or if I missed checking before I brought Stormy in. I had to leave Murphy outside for a short time while I tried to feed Stormy... he drools something fierce if he doesn't get fed!

What do I say to the vet receptionist if I call and ask for him to be seen by a different vet? Do I just say I want a second opinion, or what???

Can you go to another practice? I have found with doctors (and I assume it would be the same as vets) they tend to back each other up (or at least take the easiest diagnosis which is the one that they already have). I had a major issue that went nowhere, I then tried another doctor and didn't tell them anything that my previous doctor had said, and he came up witha different set of options.

[squeak]

I've thought about that, but I haven't really been anywhere else, and not sure if I would trust another vet practice, if that makes sense. I have heard some shocking stories about vets around where I am.