Symptoms

Blood in Dog Stool: Why Is There Blood in My Dog’s Poop? Causes and When It’s an Emergency

If you’re the kind of person who freaks out at the sight of any blood in your dog’s stool, your dog is better off than if the opposite were true. Blood has no business being in the poop. Blood in your dog’s stool isn’t always the end of the world type of emergency, but you need to take it seriously.…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Mucus in Dog Stool: What Is The Slime in My Dog’s Poop?

What does mucus in the stool mean? Of course, the answer people are really looking for is an easy remedy. But things rarely work that way. What is mucus? Mucus is a slimy substance normally produced by the lining of body cavities and passageways. It has essential jobs: That includes the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Mucosal surfaces in the gut are…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Polka Dot Stools in Dogs: What Are Those White Things in My Dog’s Poop? Intestinal Parasites and When to See a Vet

If your dog’s poop looks like somebody just had a birthday party in their belly, somebody did. Those polka dots on your dog’s poop are cooties… in other words, parasites! Unfortunately, your dog’s polka dot stool will not look as cute as in this illustration. How fresh is the poop? If the pie isn’t freshly baked, the worms might not…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Difficulty Defecating in Dogs: Causes of Straining to Poop, Symptoms and When It’s an Emergency

If your dog is straining to defecate, it’s merely constipation, isn’t it? Not so fast. Constipation does make evacuating stool difficult, but it is far from the only reason that can make your dog strain to defecate. Don’t jump to conclusions if your dog straining to poop is the only clue Your dog could be constipated, sure, but it might…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Blood in Dog Vomit: Why Is There Blood in My Dog’s Puke?

Vomiting is a natural mechanism of your dog’s body purging things the stomach is not happy with. It is, however, not normal for it to contain blood. With most dogs, their stomachs get plenty of reasons to complain. In general, when my dog throws up once, I don’t panic. However, regardless of the cause, profuse or persistent vomiting—with or without…

by Jana Rade edited by Dr. Joanna Paul BSc BVSc

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer by day, dog health advocate, dog writer, member of the Dog Writers Association of America, and an award-winning author in my spare time. Jasmine, the Rottweiler of my life, was the largest female from her litter. We thought we were getting a healthy dog. Getting a puppy from a backyard breeder was our first mistake. Endless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine's health care into my own hands. I learned the hard way that simply seeing a vet is not always enough. There is more to finding a good vet than finding the closest clinic down the street. And, sadly, there is more to advocating for your dog's health than visiting a veterinarian. It should be enough, but it often is not. With Jasmine, it took five years to finally get a diagnosis for her initial issue. Unfortunately, other problems had snowballed for that in the meantime. Jasmine's health challenges became a crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. I had to learn, and I had to learn fast. Helping others through my challenges and experience has become my mission and Jasmine's legacy. I now try to help people recognize and understand signs of illness in their dogs, how to work with their veterinarian, and when to seek a second opinion. My goal is to use 20 years of hard-earned experience to save others from the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way, as I did.

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