Dog had spleen surgery. Is bloody stool a post-op complication?

Question

Today my Shepherd had surgery. Her spleen was removed and her intestines had folded over themselves cutting off an artery. I have just noticed red blood in her stool. Could this be a result of the surgery or a possible complication? Tia. Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Female | spayed | 4 years and 9 months old | 77 lbs

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

It may just be blood from the inflammation in the intestines caused by the folding over. However, it could be a very serious indicator of illness, and I would recommend that Holly go to the vet today for a quick recheck. If she were coming into my hospital, I would start with a CBC to check white and red cell levels. I would also review her current medications to make sure they were addressing all of her current issues. She may even need to be hospitalized for continued monitoring. It sounds like she had major surgery! Many dogs will remain in the hospital for 1-3 days after splenectomy to monitor for signs of complications.

Dog had spleen surgery. Is bloody stool a post-op complication?

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