Why does my dog ​​have mucus in his stool? Loose stools in dogs: causes

A small amount of mucus in a dog's stool is considered normal. This is necessary to facilitate the passage of feces through the intestines; the mucous secretion acts as a natural lubricant. A large volume of mucus, especially mixed with blood, is a reason for examination. It is important to pay attention to the act of defecation itself, how much the pet strains, and the frequency of sitting down.

Diarrhea with mucus in a dog is accompanied by additional symptoms: lethargy, abdominal pain, decreased/lack of appetite, changes in stool, etc.

Causes of mucus in stool

If a dog poops with mucus, this indicates problems with the gastrointestinal tract. There are many reasons, from unbalanced feeding, a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract, a disease that negatively affects tissues and organs.

• Colitis.

Inflammation of the large intestine can be caused by bacteria, protozoa, and helminth infections. Frequent urge to defecate, pain, and mucus are typical signs of colitis. Often, instead of excrement, thick mucus and liquid foam are released, sometimes with blood. It is a mistake to consider this a symptom of constipation; self-treatment on your own with an incorrect diagnosis only aggravates the course of colitis. In advanced cases, the disease is accompanied by vomiting.

When diagnosing, an external examination is carried out, palpation in the rectal area, and an x-ray of the stomach is taken. If necessary: ​​histological analysis of the mucosa and endoscopy of the colon.

• Dysbacteriosis.

It is characterized by changes in the microflora in the gastrointestinal tract, the growth of opportunistic microorganisms increases, the normal balance is disrupted, and the digestion process becomes worse. Dysbacteriosis is provoked by the use of antibiotics, stress, and poor-quality conditions for keeping and feeding the dog. Not only do you experience bowel movements with mucus, lethargy, and apathy, but your appetite also decreases. The intestines are “inhabited” by lactic acid and bifidobacteria, they stabilize the process of food digestion and protect the gastrointestinal tract from disorders. With their deficiency, pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, salmonella) become active.

• Helminthiases.

Mucus in the stool of an adult or puppy occurs when infected with helminths. The insidiousness of helminthiases lies in the fact that they may not manifest themselves for a long time, but the process of negative impact on the dog’s body has already begun and, if left untreated, complications occur. Routine deworming will help prevent infection or development of helminthiasis. Anthelmintics are prescribed only by a veterinarian; drugs sold in a regular pharmacy are not suitable for dogs.

A number of dangerous conditions

Additional reasons for the appearance of mucus in stool are:

• change of food or intolerance to certain ingredients;
• tumors, polyps;
• foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract;
• constipation;
• narrowing of the anus.

Gastritis, gastroenteritis, and ulcers also cause mucus to appear in the stool, sometimes with blood.

If your puppy or adult dog has diarrhea with mucus, it may indicate overeating. Some dogs eat “in reserve”, sweeping away everything that is edible within their sight. The gastrointestinal tract cannot accommodate and digest all the food that has entered the stomach; it stagnates and begins to rot. The body responds to this with a protective reaction against toxins - diarrhea, mucus impurities, while this is part of the protective reaction and a symptom of irritation of the mucous membrane of the large intestine.

Often an adult dog (or puppy) poops mucus due to the breeder feeding him low-quality food, or due to the animal’s passion for picking up waste from the trash heap.

Fact! A dog in the house is not a garbage receptacle; it should not put spoiled, old food in its bowl. As a result of improper feeding, diarrhea with mucus, in advanced cases with blood impurities.

A large amount of mucus with bloody discharge indicates the interstinal form of parvovirus enteritis. It is characterized by a serious violation of the absorption function of the intestine, and profuse diarrhea develops. At first, the feces are gray, gray-yellow, then change their color to greenish. A foul odor is a characteristic symptom of the disease.

Diagnosis and treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of mucus in the stool and the results of the dog's examination. For colitis, symptomatic therapy is prescribed, nutrition is adjusted, medications are prescribed (Loperamide, Sulfasalazine, rectal suppositories, etc.). In severe cases, the use of hormonal therapy and immunosuppressants is indicated.

For dysbacteriosis, probiotics, means to cleanse the intestines of toxins, and homeopathic medicines are prescribed.

The appearance of uncharacteristic impurities in feces and the presence of accompanying symptoms during defecation should alert the breeder. If a problem with your dog’s stool persists for more than 2 days, you must take your pet to a veterinary clinic or call a doctor at home.

Mucus fragments never appear in a pet's feces just like that. As a rule, the presence of mucus in them indicates disturbances in the functioning of the stomach, damage to its walls, and inflammatory processes. So, let’s take a closer look at the problem, the factors that contribute to its occurrence and therapeutic measures.

Possible causes of mucus in dog feces

Basically, this element of feces indicates that not everything is in order with the digestive system. Mucus in excrement can occur for the following reasons:

Diagnosis and treatment

Each of the above reasons for the problem requires diagnostic measures. But stool analysis is mandatory, regardless of the presence of other signs of trouble. A biochemical and general blood test will exclude the presence of viruses, protozoa, and helminths. Therapy is based on the results of the diagnostics. So, the following pathology treatment is offered:

1. If colitis is the cause, then symptomatic therapy and nutritional correction are prescribed. Veterinarians usually recommend taking Loperamide and Sulfasalazine. Additionally, rectal suppositories may be prescribed, and in rare cases, immunosuppressants and corticosteroids.

Many dog ​​breeders have repeatedly encountered the problem of diarrhea in dogs. Indigestion is not a separate pathology, but signals functional failures and disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract. Diarrhea in animals occurs for a variety of reasons. Diarrhea is often harmless and often goes away without any treatment. In some cases, this phenomenon requires an immediate response from the owners, especially if the dog has diarrhea with blood and mucus. The problem should not be ignored, since this type of diarrhea most often develops against the background of serious diseases of various etiologies.

Diarrhea (diarrhea) is a clinical problem, which is often characterized by the release of liquid, pasty, watery stool. Depending on the root cause, the stool may contain foam, mucus, undigested food residues, and bloody substances (clots, threads, inclusions).

Diarrhea occurs in animals acute which goes away without any noticeable symptoms And chronic– lasts more than two weeks.

If your puppy or dog is diarrhea, it is very important to determine the root cause that caused the stomach upset. Prolonged diarrhea can cause dehydration (dehydration), exhaustion, and electrolyte imbalance in the body.

Important! Prolonged diarrhea is dangerous for small puppies, pregnant and lactating bitches.

In most cases, the nature, color, and consistency of feces can determine the cause of diarrhea in animals.

Black liquid stool with mucus in dogs and other domestic animals indicates the presence of digested blood. The stool appears to have a tar-like consistency. A similar phenomenon occurs due to bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

If it is noticeable in your pet's stool bright scarlet blood, bloody substances - this is a symptom of bleeding of the large intestine. The blood is not affected by enzymes and is excreted unchanged in the stool.

If the stool is normal in color but contains , foam,, such diarrhea most often occurs with acute inflammation in the digestive tract.

Causes of bloody diarrhea with mucus

The presence of blood, bloody clots, inclusions in the dog’s feces, profuse bloody diarrhea is a characteristic symptom of many serious, life-threatening diseases for the pet. In this case, first of all, you need to determine where exactly the bleeding site is located.

Bacteria that cause salmonellosis and leptospirosis damage blood vessels and affect the mucous membranes of the digestive tract. Erosive foci, small bleeding ulcers, and ulcers appear on the walls of the intestines and stomach. Acute inflammation develops in various parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

Important! Mucous, bloody, acute diarrhea in animals is a characteristic symptom of the atypical form of rabies.

If there is a large amount of mucus in the pet’s stool, bloody substances are noticeable, very often this phenomenon develops against the background hemorrhagic gastroenteritis. In addition to diarrhea, dogs suffer from debilitating vomiting and severe thirst. In sick animals, the temperature rises sharply, activity decreases, and there is no appetite.

Other causes of bloody mucous diarrhea in dogs include: feeding with low-quality prepared feed, raw meat products of dubious origin, poisoning with potent chemicals, poisons, and medications. Vomiting, mucous, bloody diarrhea often occurs due to intestinal obstruction, the presence of foreign objects in the lumen of the colon that injure the walls.

If there is mucus, bloody clots, or inclusions in the stool, the cause is often due to dysbacteriosis. The disease can develop due to long-term use of medications after antibiotic therapy.

When to contact a veterinarian

Having noticed that their beloved pet is diarrhea, there is blood in the stool, and a large amount of mucus, many owners are interested in the question: “What to do in such a situation and how to help the dog at home?”

The following symptoms are the reason for a visit to the veterinary clinic:

• prolonged profuse diarrhea for more than two days;
• foul odor of stool;
• vomiting, nausea;
• loss of appetite, refusal of food, water;
• increase in general temperature by 1-2 degrees;
• yellowness, anemia of the mucous membranes;
• lethargy, apathy, drowsiness;
• inadequate response to external stimuli.

Important! You should not self-medicate. Consult a veterinarian and take your pet to the clinic. After conducting a comprehensive diagnosis, the veterinarian will determine the root cause of diarrhea and select the optimal treatment regimen for your pet.

Treatment methods

Therapeutic therapy is primarily aimed at eliminating the root cause and normalizing the general condition of the animal.

If a dog is diarrhea due to severe poisoning, detoxification therapy, sorbents, probiotics, and enzyme agents to normalize digestive processes (Enterosgel, Lactobifadol, Festal) will be prescribed. To relieve intestinal spasms, no-shpa or its analogues are prescribed.

Important! In case of bloody mucous diarrhea, the animals are given IVs, which are necessary to restore the water-salt balance in the body.

For diarrhea with mucus and blood, gastroprotectors and medications that improve blood clotting are also prescribed - Vikasol, Etamzilate, calcium gluconate, Dicinone. Phthalazole, furazolidone, loperamide, enterofuril will help eliminate bloody mucous diarrhea. The veterinarian will select the drug and dosage.

To relieve inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, in addition to pharmaceutical medications, you can give your dog decoctions of medicinal plants. Chamomile, oak bark, St. John's wort, and blueberries help well. Decoctions based on medicinal plants have an anti-inflammatory, astringent effect.

For tumors, intussusceptions, and ruptures of the intestinal walls, surgical intervention is performed.

Feeding dogs with diarrhea

For 12-24 hours the dog is kept on starvation diet. It is mandatory to adjust the diet, prescribe a therapeutic diet or special food if the pet is kept on a ready-made diet.

Food in the first weeks, if bloody mucous diarrhea is caused by poisoning, should be nutritious and easily digestible. Give your pet low-fat cottage cheese, skim milk, and natural yoghurt in small quantities.

Offer your dog a small portion of rice cooked in chicken or beef broth. Divide the daily food intake into several meals. Feed your pet in small portions, 4-5 times a day. There should always be fresh drinking water in the bowl. As soon as the stool and the general condition of the dog are normalized, you can transfer the animal to its usual type and feeding mode.

Mucus in a dog may be observed in vomit or feces. Typically, this symptom alarms animal owners, but do not panic ahead of time, because in many cases the appearance mucus in dog stool- This is fine. However, in any case, it is recommended to take the dog to the veterinarian to exclude the possibility of serious diseases.

Causes of the symptom

Presence in feces dogs slime me is normal, since it is a natural lubricant that allows feces to leave the animal’s body without problems. But if there is too much mucus, this may indicate that the dog is sick.

If Dog poop in mucus accompanied by other symptoms, this may be a sign of one of the following diseases:

• Colitis.

This is an inflammation of the large intestine that causes the animal to suffer. The dog tries to go to the toilet often, but only mucus comes out. Many people usually mistake this symptom for constipation, but this is incorrect, and laxatives will only harm the animal. In advanced cases of colitis white foam with mucus.

• Dysbacteriosis.

With long-term treatment with antibiotics, severe stress and for a number of other reasons, there are fewer positive bacteria in the intestinal microflora. This provokes the appearance The dog has diarrhea with mucus. Typically, this symptom is accompanied by lethargy, loss of appetite, and apathy.

• Helminthiasis.

Treatment

If you notice that dog vomits mucus and the amount of mucus in the stool has increased, then it is necessary to urgently contact a veterinarian, since only he can prescribe the correct treatment.

Please note that the highlight is puppy slime- this is a more dangerous symptom than in an adult animal, since the growing body cannot yet fight all diseases well. If puppy has mucus diarrhea, you need to urgently call our veterinary center and, and while waiting for the doctor, give the baby plenty of water so as not to provoke dehydration.

Diarrhea is a very common clinical problem in both humans and animals. Among the features of the manifestation of loose stools, the sudden onset and short duration of this process are usually distinguished. Typically, diarrhea can last no more than 3 weeks.

If we talk about four-legged pets, loose stools in dogs are often accompanied by watery or mucous discharge. Also, in some cases, blood may come out with the stool.

Sometimes dogs suffer from fairly prolonged diarrhea, which can last up to several months. In some situations, diarrhea occurs constantly, and sometimes only once every few days. If the stomach upset was isolated, then there is nothing to worry about. However, in the case of constant loose stools in a dog, which has been going on for more than a day, it is necessary to contact a specialist as soon as possible. The fact is that this phenomenon is not at all harmless.

The consequences of diarrhea can be quite dire. Diarrhea may cause electrolyte disturbances, fluid loss, and dehydration. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the causes as quickly as possible, and begin treating loose stools in a dog immediately. Why do animals suffer from this disease? What to do if your pet has loose stools?

Loose stools in dogs: causes

As a rule, experts associate the appearance of diarrhea with a malnutrition of the animal. This can happen if you change your pet’s usual diet very suddenly. For example, if he switched from regular food prepared by his owners to ready-made food.

Diarrhea can also begin as a result of eating a stale treat that the owner gave to his pet. In some cases, this is an allergic reaction to one of the components of dry or liquid food.

Also, a dog may develop loose stools due to an accidentally swallowed foreign object. In addition, experts note that diarrhea develops in four-legged pets when viral infections occur. For example, such symptoms are characteristic of hepatitis or plague.

In addition, similar symptoms develop when:

• poisoning with chemicals or toxic substances;
• gastrointestinal diseases;
• mechanical intestinal injuries;
• stomach cancer.

Sometimes the causes of diarrhea can be determined by the color of the stool:

• A yellow tint indicates that the diarrhea will also contain blood or mucus.
• Black color is most often found with intestinal bleeding.
• White stools indicate possible liver disease.
• dangerous because it can be one of the symptoms of canine distemper.

Manifestation of diarrhea

To independently determine why your dog has loose stools, you need to pay attention to the following signs:

• feces have changed their density, that is, they have become liquid;
• a very pungent and unpleasant odor appeared;
• blood began to appear in the feces;
• During defecation, the animal experiences severe pain.

At the same time, pets often begin to behave very nervously. Dogs whine and stop eating as usual, which is why they lose weight very quickly. Very often diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting. In this case, the dog may lose control of bowel movements.

Diarrhea with blood

And if your pet has diarrhea with blood clots, then it is quite possible that the dog is suffering from a rather serious illness. In this case, you must definitely show the animal to a veterinarian. Most often in such situations, poisoning is diagnosed.

The fact is that dogs very often pick up various small objects and foreign bodies on the street. If they get into the pet's stomach, this can cause irritation of the intestinal walls. Also, liquid may appear due to developing parvovirus enteritis. Typically, this disease is observed in puppies between 2 and 12 months of age. Unfortunately, this virus most often leads to the death of a young pet. Therefore, it is necessary to help him as quickly as possible.

In addition, blood in the feces may appear due to the fact that the dog is suffering from traumatic enterocolitis. In this case, there is a possibility that the pet has eaten some sharp foreign body that could injure the walls of the stomach or intestines.

Acute form

This type of diarrhea occurs quite often in veterinary practice. In this case, the animal begins to suffer from bouts of diarrhea suddenly. In this case, the symptoms pass quite quickly, but constantly recur after some time. As a rule, such diarrhea does not last more than 3 weeks.

So, your dog has loose stools - what to do if the disease is acute? In this case, do not underestimate the danger of the situation. This disease requires appropriate treatment. If an animal suffers from acute diarrhea, the feces will be watery, sometimes containing blood impurities. If the animal defecates quite often, this will lead to disruption of the internal organs.

Chronic form

In this case we are talking about diarrhea, which can last more than 3 weeks. If a dog has loose stools with mucus, this is the first sign of a chronic form of the disease. Most often, such consequences result from the fact that the pet consumes low-quality products or damage to the gastric mucosa occurs. Sometimes this form of diarrhea can develop as a result of an infectious disease. Therefore, if your dog has loose stools with mucus, you should not turn a blind eye to it.

Consequences of diarrhea

The most dangerous thing for a dog is diarrhea with blood. If there is abundant bloody discharge in the feces, then you need to immediately call a specialist and not wait until the last moment. It is worth considering that in rare cases very terrible diseases, such as rabies, manifest themselves in this way.

Also, if an animal suffers from acute diarrhea and there is strange discharge in the feces, then this may indicate damage to the internal organs by some object. If measures are not taken in a timely manner, the animal may die from blood loss or disruption of internal organs.

Self-treatment of loose stool in a dog or ignoring problems can greatly affect the pet’s health, even to the point of death. Also, do not self-medicate if there is blood or mucus in the stool. However, in some cases, you can try to help your beloved pet yourself.

A dog has loose stools: how to treat it at home

In a situation where diarrhea lasts less than 2 weeks and there is no blood or mucus in the feces, self-treatment can be done. To do this you need to follow these steps:

• Stop feeding your pet. This diet should last 1-3 days.
• Give him as much drinking boiled water as possible.
• When your pet stops vomiting and he doesn’t run to the toilet so often, you can prepare rice water for him.
• In the subsequent diet, include only fermented milk products (give for about 3 days).
• Give him the Regidron solution.
• Prepare medicinal decoctions of plants such as sage, St. John's wort, blueberry or alder.

It is very important to monitor the animal’s body temperature. If it increases, then in this case you need to stop self-medication and immediately contact a veterinary clinic.

In the case of an infectious form of the disease that leads to the appearance of loose stools, antibiotic therapy is used. It is strictly forbidden to treat your pet with such strong drugs yourself!

If your pet suffers from traumatic intestinal injury, surgery will most likely be required. This procedure also cannot be performed at home.

What to give your dog for diarrhea

To try to help the animal cope with unpleasant symptoms, you should first prepare rice water. It also helps to consolidate feces, so the animal will not suffer from severe diarrhea. To prepare such a mixture, you need to pour rice cereal into a small amount of water. After this, just put the mixture on the stove, collect all the grounds, and give the broth to the dog.

Features of animal nutrition with diarrhea

If an animal does not want to eat on its own, then you should not force feed it. However, when a pet refuses water, it is necessary to take any measures, but force him to drink the liquid. To do this, you can purchase the largest syringe at the pharmacy, remove the needle, pour water into it and thus give your pet water.

When the dog feels better, you can introduce low-fat foods into the diet, for example, boiled eggs, chicken or fish. However, during the first 3 days, the dog must be given rice water.

Prevention

To prevent your animal from getting sick again, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

If the owner notices even the slightest discomfort in his pet, then he needs to consult a specialist as soon as possible.

Husky

As already mentioned, rare breeds of dogs suffer from such ailments much more often. Therefore, you need to select a diet based on the characteristics of the animal.

To prevent your husky from suffering from such ailments, you need to feed her immediately after she comes from a walk. Moreover, the amount of food directly depends on how old the pet is, as well as on the conditions in which it lives.

A huge amount of specialized dry food has been developed for this breed, which can form the main diet of the animal. You can also give him canned food and some types of natural food.

Shar Pei

It is worth considering that this breed of dog has a rather poor appetite. At the same time, they have a very sensitive gastric system. Therefore, the composition of the food must be developed for these dogs on an individual basis. Shar-Peis should never be overfed, as they may become less active, and as a result, the pet will develop kidney disease.

Diarrhea in these dogs very often begins due to an allergic reaction. This is due to food sensitivities. Therefore, you should not change food too often; it is better to choose a specific menu with a specialist and stick to it. In addition, Shar Peis should never be given liquid food (for example, broth). You need to make sure that the food is thick and dry, so it is best to feed the animal dry food.

Labrador

If we talk about diet, then it is necessary to calculate the norm for each meal. The fact is that these animals spend a lot of energy and constantly want to eat, but under no circumstances should they be overfed. It is recommended to feed Labradors natural meat, but vegetables and cereals should be given to them as rarely as possible. Pasta products are also contraindicated for these animals.

Smaller representatives of rare breeds need increased attention. It is important to consider the reasons why your dog has loose stools. We described what to do in this situation in the article.