Expert: Jannie Balliett - 10/6/2010

Question
My 7-8 month old boxer (female) has recently had blood in her stools for almost a week. It is dark red blood, what could this be?  Can I give her antibiotics?  She has been eating normally and drinking water on a regular basis, and is still playful and lively.  
Recently though, she did get into the trash pretty thoroughly and there was a lot of foil and household items that shouldn't be eaten.  I'm wondering if she ate something that didn't agree with her stomach and could have caused this.  
She goes to the bathroom regularly but then a few moments later she will go to the bathroom again but with only a little blood in the stool.  Thank you for your advice.

Answer
I have to ask, and not meaning to be condescending, but what does it take to convince you to take her to your vet?

Blood in her stools for a week? Got into trash; foil and household items?

Don't you think a foreign object might be in her stomach or lodged in her bowels?

Do you really think you can resolve it on your own? Why on earth would you think an antibiotic is going to fix that problem? Antibiotics are for infections; and then, you need to know what kind of infection to know which kind of antibiotic to administer.

Really????!!!!!!!!?????


GET HER TO A VET FOR EMERGENCY TREATMENT IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!