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My senior dog is pooping blood. What does it mean and what to do?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Jack Russell Terrier | Female | spayed

My dog honey who is 15years old she's a jack Russell and she is pooping blood I'm very worried about her

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Anna M., DVM

Veterinarian

Published on September 20th, 2017

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Poor Honey! I'm concerned about the amount of blood in that stool. It is very common to see small specks or streaks of blood in diarrhea - but it is more concerning in cases like this where the dog appears to be passing more blood than stool. This can be a sign of HGE or Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis, which can be a dangerous condition and warrants an immediate trip to the vet. Your vet will probably want to look at a fecal sample to check for intestinal parasites, and will likely recommend bloodwork (particularly a CBC) to look for evidence of anemia or the changes characteristic of HGE. Depending on Honey's overall attitude, exam findings, and labwork findings, they may be able to manage her as an outpatient with medication to control the diarrhea (and likely fluids to help with dehydration), or they may recommend she be hospitalized for IV fluids and injectable medications. Regardless, I definitely recommend having her seen sooner than later. Hopefully this is just a worse-than-usual diarrhea, but it's worth playing it safe if it might be HGE. HOpe this helps and she feels better soon!

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 1st, 2017

    Poor Lilly sounds extremely ill! I am concerned that she is pooping blood and vomiting, and she could be suffering from hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, cancer, liver failure, or may have eaten something rotten or toxic causing her symptoms. In a dog her age, she can quickly decline when she is this ill, and it's best she see a vet immediately. Please take her into one now.

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