Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My new rescue dog has soft, bloody stool with mucus. Is it stress?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Miniature Schnauzer | Female | unspayed | 6 years old | 10 lbs

I just rescued Penny. We went to the vet today for a wellness exam and she was given a clean bill of health. The only issue is that her stool is soft to runny with mucus and small amounts of blood. My vet said this was probably just stress, but I was hoping to get a second opinion. Thank you!

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on June 12th, 2020

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Penny. Good on you for recusing her and taking her into a vet right away! I agree, this stool could be due to stress. Moving into a new home is stressful, and that can lead to colitis (inflammation of the colon leading to soft stool and blood). I would keep an eye on her for now. If this stool continues over the next 48 hours or she has other signs such as vomiting, lethargy, or a loss of appetite, I'd take her back into the vet. I hope this helps!

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Last night my dog was in her crate for 30 minutes while I was out. On my way home I found soft poop/diarrhea and some bright blood. I'm not sure if she is in heat I just rescued her. She isnt fixed.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco. Diarrhea with blood is the hallmark of colitis (inflammation of the colon). It is usually caused by rapid change in diet, eating something naughty (getting into trash/something outside), or stress (new home, owner leaving). If you’ve rescued Sadie recently (especially in the last 1-2 weeks), I’m not surprised or particularly concerned. The good news is that the amount of blood is almost never a concern and that the diarrhea usually goes away in a few days once diet/routine are back to normal. Of course, other possibilities are parasites or being in heat. Look for other signs of heat like a large, swollen vulva or increased licking at the vulva. Try a bland diet (half plain boiled/canned chicken half plain cooked white rice) for a few days and I expect the diarrhea to improve after 1-3 days. (Then transition back to her regular diet slowly over 3-5 days.) If at ANY time she is lethargic, vomiting, not wanting to eat, or you have other concerns
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I recently adopted a rescue dog. The first day home he barely ate. Day 2, he started to eat a little. Day 3 he has diarreha dark and once with red jam looking mucus. A few hours later it was a peanut butter brown. He is eating more. Note he i
With these pups, there is always a potential for parasites or bacterial overgrowth to cause the symptoms. I would recommend to get Parks in for an exam and to have the stool checked for parasites. That is usually a good sign if you don’t see any more blood, which is what I’m concerned you were seeing in the stool. It’s better to be safe and also to make sure he doesn’t have any parasites to spread to his new human family. There are other causes for blood in the stool as well and these can vary from a new diet to internal organ damage. The first step is to rule out the most common things. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 4 year old dog has been pooping with blood for the last 4 days. His diet is the regular one and he goes for walks twice a day. The poop is soft. He had the same thing 8 months back but it stopped after he got vaccinated. There aren't experienced o
Thanks for using Boop by Petco. This sounds like a colitis (inflammation of the colon). This can be brought on by anxiety/stress (new animal or person in the house, leaving for business, changing work schedule, etc), diet/treat change, or eating something naughty. It is often marked by blood or mucus. It usually goes away on its own within 5 days or so but you can help things along by giving a probiotic like purina fortiflora and/or a bland diet. (Half plain cooked white rice, half plain boiled boneless, skinless chicken. Keep on this diet until one day after diarrhea stops, then transition back to regular food over 3 days.) You can also consider a dewormer (perhaps this is what the vet did that helped Cookie - not the vaccinations). Something like the one below (do make sure you get the right size range). Just follow the instructions on the box. Best of luck to you and Cookie! https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/bayer-quad-dewormer-tablets-for-dogs-26-to-60-lbs
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My family and I recently moved. I believe my dog is stressed since she dislikes change and we went from a house to an apartment. Day 2 of moving in, my dog has diarrhea with blood in it. She has been drinking a lot of water. On Nov 1st she did get he
Diarrhea with blood can be due to stress, or it can be from an infection or parasites. If she’s bright and alert and eating and drinking normally this should resolve quickly. If she’s lethargic, depressed, not eating well then please take her right in for an exam and treatment. They will give medication to control the diarrhea, and may check for parasites, and blood work to check for anemia and dehydration. I recommend taking her for long walks and playing with her like you normally do so she’ll relax in the new apartment. Thanks for using Boop by Petco to help you care for Lucy.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
We just rescued a male corgi, 11 months, his stool is loose with clear liquid and bright red blood. Getting him into the vet tomorrow. He is up to date on vaccinations.
Thanks for using Boop by Petco. And thanks for rescuing Cosmo! If he is eating and bright and happy, the following applies: Diarrhea with blood is a hallmark of colitis (inflammation of the colon). It is usually caused by rapid change in diet, eating something naughty (getting into trash/something outside), or stress (boarding, change in routine or household). Cosmo likely had two of those three so I am not surprised at all that this happened. The good news is that the amount of blood is almost never a concern. Now, if he is lethargic, there is vomiting, or the diarrhea seems to be pure blood, that is a different story and Cosmo should see the vet ASAP. Best of luck to you and the new addition!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
We got a rescue puppy on the evening of 1/10. She was transported and was traveling for 2.5 days. She had diarrhea Friday night, it firmed up a little Saturday morning, and then was back to mushy that night and today. She's been pooping 3-5x per day,
Thank you for contacting Boop by Petco with your question. Congrats on your new puppy, but I'm sorry she has blood in her poop. It may be from stress or it could be something like intestinal worms, which are common in puppies. Given it's only a little bit of blood and as long as she is otherwise acting normally (eating, drinking), you can wait to have her seen by a vet in the morning. If the amount of blood in her poop increases, she starts vomiting, stops eating, or becomes very lethargic, take her into an ER vet right away. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has 2 small streaks of blood in her stool. Her stool was hard and crumbly. Overall she is otherwise healthy. Has a good appetite. She did vomit up some bike yesterday. I know she is stressed since we are moving this weekend and her routine is
If her feaces were hard, it could be that the blood is from straining to pass the poo. Maybe feaces were harder because of vomiting and being slightly dehydrated. As you say, she probably senses the move and the stress, I would recommend to monitor her for the time being but see a vet if blood persisting or if worried.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My 3.5 month old puppy just had a change in environment...he's eating less and having soft stools with some blood at the end of defecation. He recently was treated for giardia and cocci which has all came back negative. please help
If he's eating and acting fine give him a day or two to settle into his new environment. The soft stool with blood may be due to stress. If it continues please take another sample in to check again for parasites as they can come back even if he's already been treated. If Teddy is acting sick do take him in sooner for an exam. He could have an intestinal infection or fever that would need medication. Thanks for using Boop by Petco to help you care for Teddy.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
New Pet
We adopted Goldie a week ago, and would like to know if we should be concerned about her stools. They have been yellow and soft/runny, though today and yesterday she poops a normal stool, followed by the abnormal. We currently feed her after a brief
Hi, thanks for using Boop by Petco! Sometimes activity will loosen the stool, so you can try to feed her after the walk. But sometimes dogs will want to poop after eating. I would have a stool sample checked by your Vet for intestinal parasites since she is new to your house. Other causes for loose stool are food/allergy or intolerance to her food especially fi this is different than she was used to and stress of a new home. I would consider a probiotic like Purina fortiflora. If the stool sample is negative and the stool doesn't improve over 2 weeks with the probiotic, I would change her food as that is likely the cause. Good luck!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi ! Happy to join. English isn't my first language, so excuse my mistakes, and please answer with simple English. I bought a new female dog about two weeks ago , Today I was walking her and I noticed that her poop was weird, could you tell me w
Thanks for using Boop by Petco! I think your English is great. It looks like Jack is having loose stools that may also have some blood in it. This can be observed with conditions such as colitis, gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, intestinal parasites, among many other possibilities. I recommend that you have Jack evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. They may choose to check for parasites and to start medications for diarrhea depending on the results. Good luck! Hoping for a speedy recovery!
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Food Dog Health & Wellness Dog Stool Eating Deterrent Small Animal Supplies Dog Blood Pressure Medication Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Dog First Aid & Recovery Prescription Dog Digestive Medications Wet Dog Food Premium Dog Food PetAlive Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Pumpkin Patch Up! Sensitive Stomach Dog Food Perfect Poop Dog Health & Wellness Zesty Paws Dog Stool Eating Deterrent Pet Honesty Dog Stool Eating Deterrent Glandex Dog First Aid & Recovery Vet Worthy Dog Stool Eating Deterrent Perfect Poop Dog Vitamins & Supplements DOG by Dr Lisa Dog First Aid & Recovery Perfect Poop Dog Supplies
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored