Bleeding from rectum

Question
My yorkie is about 1 year old and bleeding from his behind.  Not a lot of energy, won't eat.

Answer
Hi Robbie,

I will assume that you've only just noticed the blood in your dog's stools, and this hasn't been going on for more than 24 hours.

When the blood is bright red and on the surface of the stool, there is a good chance that something sharp, like a bit of bone, scraped the lining of the large intestine and made it bleed. The bleeding may continue for a day or two, but it probably won't last much longer. Even small scrapes can cause a lot of bleeding, so don't be surprised when the stools appear quite red.

Blood in the stool may also be a sign of parasites, like whipworms, which are irritating the intestine wall.  

If the blood looks dark, dry, or tarry and is mixed with the stool, there may be a problem in the small intestine. Some viral infections can temporarily irritate the walls of the small intestine and make it bleed. Blood in the stool can also be a sign of colitis, an inflammation of the large intestine.

Finally, bleeding can also be caused by an infection of the anal sacs -- two sacs on either side of the anus that contain a strong liquid that pets use to mark their territory. These sacs normally empty whenever your pet has a bowel movement. When the sacs are infected, however, they don't empty the way they should, causing them to swell. Having a bowel movement can irritate the area, causing blood to flow.

Keep an eye on your dog. It's time to contact your vet if:

* Your dog still won't eat tomorrow

* If you notice surface of your dog's stool has spots or smears of  blood

* If his stool looks dark and tar-like

* If his abdomen appears bloated

* Pushing on your dog's belly causes him pain

* Your dog hasn't eaten for 24 hours or more


If you've noticed blood in your dog's stool for longer than 24 hours, then it's time to contact your vet.


Best of luck,

Patti