Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 5/11/2006

Question
We just got a puppy from the pound where we live. She is about 3-4 months old. She has been going poop regularly, but very green and watery and sometimes she has a little blood in it. What can this be a result of?Is it serious enough to take her into a Vet. We don't have alot of money for doctor bills either.

Answer
Some puppies do not have good reactions to severe changes in their life.  Having gone from somewhere to a shelter and now to your house, there is a stressful change in environment, food, and water.  It is common for pups to have diarrheas after all of this stress. You can give Immodium or kaopectate to a puppy for diarrhea.

If the puppy is still eating and is active, it may take a few days for the pup's system to adjust.  However, puppies commonly get worms and other intestinal parasites, so it is a good idea to have thepuppy checked over by a vet and have a microscopic analysis of the stool done to see if there are parasites.