Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 11/14/2010

Question
We just got a dachshund about 2months ago from a shelter. Lately he isn't eating that much and he licks his butt a lot. My mom noticed that it smelled like blood but when he poops there isn't any blood in it. So I went out with him today to go to the bathroom and when he pooped it was all red bloody in his butt whole I don't get it whats wrong with him is he going to die or is it just anal problem that can be fixed? I am so worried about him and want him to be okay.

Answer
Sorry, my internet was down yesterday and they just fixed it.
Most of the time, when a dog has a bloody stool, it's because their colon and rectum are irritated by something they are eating and the blood vessels break when they have a bowel movement. That's when you see the red blood. If the blood was darker then it would be from higher up in the intestines. Bloody stool is not usually indicative of an anal gland problem, but if they are infected it can show up there.

Since you didn't give me his age, what you are feeding him, his vaccination history etc., then I can only guess that it is his diet causing this. That is usually the first thing that does it.

However, if he is sick, he could be coming down with Parvo virus. You don't give me any vaccination history, and dogs from shelters often come down with Parvo, although not two months later. But if he isn't vaccinated against it he can get it because it's an airborne virus.

If his food is causing it, or other things he is eating, you must stop feeding him this food and get him on a higher quality food such as Science Diet adult formula. I would put him on the light formula for small dogs.

Garbage food from the grocery store, such as Old Roy, Purina, etc will cause this. Slowly switch him over to the new food in seven days, gradually decreasing the old food as you add more of the new. That will prevent him from getting diarrhea.

If changing the food doesn't help then he is sick or has a digestive problem that the vet needs to see. Hopefully he has been to the vets since you got him for vaccinations, heartworm medicine and a check up.

Call you vet if the new food doesn't help.