my 9 week old puppy pooing blood

by amie
(somerset)

i just bought a 9 week old lab cross retriever, he was treated for worms from my vet and now no more worms in his stools, but this morning he started having blood in his stools, now it's runny and sometimes only blood.

the blood is bright red and thin, i was just wondering is this from the worms or could it be something else? we have just changed him from wet food to dry bakers puppy food, could his diet change cause it? this is my first puppy so i really am not sure! i would appreciate it if you could help me and fill me in, im going to call my vet tomorrow just to double check he's ok!!!! please help me!!!

worried first timer puppy mum!!!!




Hi Amie
It's always a bit tricky to tell whether a puppy is sick or reacting to something else in these kinds of situations.

The first few days, to a week, after you get a new puppy home is a period of adjustment for him. Sometimes a pup will sleep a lot, lose his appetite, suffer from diarrhea and so on. These can all be caused by stress, a change of diet, vaccinations/worming, or a real illness

The clue really lies in how your puppy is behaving otherwise. If he's happy, active (at least for periods during the day), is able to eat and drink without vomiting, and can be interested in toys, treats and so on - then the chances are he's doing okay. However, if he seems totally exhausted, can't (or won't) eat or drink, is experiencing repeated vomiting and/or diarrhea, and shows no interest in playing, toys, treats etc., then he needs to see a veterinarian right away.

Blood in his stools can be a sign of serious illness, such as Parvo, but it can also simply indicate colitis, or irritation of the colon. This can be caused by a sudden change in diet, medications and so on.

If the blood is bright red, it is less worrying than if it is dark red/brown colored, but it does still need to be evaluated by your veterinarian.

Overall, don't panic right away (I know this is difficult, especially with a 'first' puppy), but definitely talk to your vet and have him examine the puppy if you or he think it necessary.

Best of luck with your pup.