Mucus in Dog Poop: Causes, When to Worry and What to Do

What Does Mucus in Dog Poop Look Like?

Mucus looks like a slimy coating, or like jelly on or around the poop. Sometimes it has streaks of fresh red blood.^1,4 When it comes from colitis, you may also notice:^14,4,3

• Going much more often, passing small amounts each time
• Urgency and accidents in the house
• Straining, especially at the end
• A little bright red blood near the end

Weight loss is rare with colitis, and vomiting happens in fewer than a third of cases.^4,15

Causes of Mucus in Dog Poop

• Stress: boarding, travel, a new home or visitors can trigger "stress colitis." Most dogs are back to normal within 3 to 5 days.^4,5
• Eating something they shouldn't: garbage, scraps or other irritating material.⁵ In UK vet records, scavenging was the most commonly recorded trigger of sudden diarrhea.¹⁶
• A sudden diet change or food intolerance.^5,4
• Whipworms: cause diarrhea streaked with mucus and fresh blood. Their eggs can survive in soil for years, and a dog can be infected for about 2½ to 3 months before eggs show up in a test.^17,18
• Giardia: causes soft, foul-smelling poop that may contain mucus.^19,20 See giardia in dogs.
• Other infections, including bacteria such as Salmonella and Clostridium.⁴ Coccidia can also cause diarrhea in puppies, though it is usually watery rather than mucusy.^21,22
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and chronic enteropathy: gut signs that last more than 3 weeks.¹¹ See inflammatory bowel disease in dogs.
• Parvovirus: severe, often bloody diarrhea in puppies and unvaccinated dogs. This is an emergency.^9,23
• Acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS): sudden, large amounts of bloody "raspberry jam" diarrhea, especially in small and toy breeds. This is an emergency.⁶

Mucus and Blood in Dog Poop

Mucus with a small amount of bright red blood usually comes from irritation of the colon, as in colitis.^4,3 It is often mild in a dog who is bright and eating. Call your vet if it keeps happening. Go right away if there is a lot of blood, the poop looks like raspberry jam, or your dog is vomiting, weak or not eating.^8,6 See blood in dog stool and bloody diarrhea in dogs.

What You Can Do at Home

If your dog has a little mucus but is bright, eating, drinking and acting normally:

• Watch for 24 to 48 hours, and note how often your dog goes and what the poop looks like.⁵ A photo helps your vet.
• Make sure fresh water is always available.⁵
• Follow your vet's advice about what to feed. Don't change foods suddenly.⁵
• Don't give human anti-diarrhea medicines unless your vet says so.⁸
• Pick up poop promptly to reduce the risk of reinfection with parasites.^17,20

Call your vet if the mucus lasts more than 2 days, keeps coming back, or your dog develops other signs.^1,5

What Your Vet Will Check

Your vet will ask about your dog's diet, any stress or scavenging, and how long the problem has lasted, then examine your dog.^14,4 Tests may include:

• A fecal test for parasites, and a Giardia test. Some parasites shed eggs or cysts on and off, so a test may need repeating.^17,19,24
• Blood tests and X-rays.⁴
• For long-term cases, a diet trial, abdominal ultrasound, or colonoscopy with biopsies.^14,4

Treatment

• Treating the cause, for example a dewormer for whipworms or treatment for Giardia. Your vet may deworm even if a test is negative, because whipworm eggs are shed on and off.^14,17,19
• Diet: a highly digestible or hypoallergenic diet, or added fibre such as psyllium, often helps.^4,14 Ask your vet which food and how much fibre is right for your dog.
• Fluids and hospital care for dogs with severe bloody diarrhea, parvo or AHDS.^6,23
• Antibiotics are not usually needed for mild to moderate AHDS.^6,25,13 For colitis, your vet will decide based on the cause.⁴

For most dogs with colitis, the outlook is excellent.⁴ See colitis in dogs for more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is mucus in dog poop bad?

A little now and then can be normal. A lot of mucus, or mucus for more than 2 days, usually means colon irritation and is worth a call to your vet.

Why is my dog's poop coming out like jelly?

A jelly-like coating is excess mucus, usually from colitis caused by stress, diet, scavenging or parasites. Red jelly that looks like raspberry jam is an emergency.

Will mucus in dog poop go away on its own?

Often, yes. Stress colitis usually settles in 3 to 5 days. See your vet if it lasts longer or your dog seems unwell.

What should I feed a dog with mucus in their poop?

Follow your vet's advice. A highly digestible diet or added fibre often helps. Avoid sudden food changes and rich treats.

Can worms cause mucus in dog poop?

Yes. Whipworms often cause mucus, sometimes with fresh blood. Giardia, a single-celled parasite rather than a worm, can also cause it. Your vet can test a stool sample.

Does parvo poop have mucus?

Sometimes, but the main signs are vomiting and severe, often bloody diarrhea in puppies and unvaccinated dogs, with lethargy. It's an emergency.

What does stress poop look like in dogs?

Soft poop with mucus, sometimes with a little fresh blood, and frequent trips outside, often after boarding, travel or a change at home.