Will a Sports Drink Help a Dog With Blood in Her Stool?
by A reader
A sports drink won't treat the cause, and the sugar and added ingredients can make diarrhea worse, so it's best avoided. Fresh water is the best thing to offer. Your vet may suggest a pet electrolyte solution if needed.
Small amounts of bright red blood with otherwise normal stool can come from mild colon irritation after eating something unusual. But a lot of blood, or bloody diarrhea that looks like raspberry jam, can be hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, which is common in small breeds and can cause dangerous dehydration within hours. Black, tarry stool means bleeding higher in the gut.
Please call your vet today, and go urgently if she's vomiting, weak, has pale gums, won't drink, or is passing a lot of blood. Make sure she couldn't have eaten rat poison or another toxin. If cost is a worry, ask your vet about a payment plan, or look for a low-cost clinic, humane society clinic or veterinary school near you.
See blood in dog stool and hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.
This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.
