If your dog has bloody diarrhea, it is crucial that you act swiftly. Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis or acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS) can be fatal if left untreated and needs urgent medical treatment immediately.
HGE affects dogs of all ages and breeds, though toy breeds tend to be more vulnerable than larger breeds. HGE causes bloody diarrhea with jelly-like consistency that contains large quantities of red or black blood.
Contents
1. Fluid Therapy
Dogs suffering from vomiting or sudden bloody diarrhea may quickly become dehydrated, and if too much fluid is lost they could go into shock and die; in such an instance it’s essential that they be taken to their veterinarian as soon as possible.
Gastroenteritis (an inflammation of a dog’s stomach and small intestine) is one of the primary reasons pet parents take their dogs to a veterinarian; however, not every case requires immediate medical intervention; for instance, if a dog eats regularly and remains alert with no other symptoms present, then seeing their veterinarian may not be necessary.
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE), is an acute and sudden disease of the intestines characterized by rapidly progressing jelly-like diarrhea with red or black blood, which can quickly dehydrate a dog within 12 hours and result in vomiting; fluid therapy should be provided as soon as possible in order to avoid dehydration and shock.
2. Antibiotics
Dogs suffering from HGE experience rapid fluid loss, which leads to dehydration. To combat this complication, your veterinarian will implement IV fluid therapy treatment for your pooch.
Your dog may experience jelly-like stool that has bloody or black tinges. Diarrhea often leads to vomiting. Sadly, this condition often proves fatal for small breeds like miniature poodles and Yorkshire terriers; however it can affect any breed and age of dog.
Your vet will administer antibiotics to prevent an infection from spreading further and to manage symptoms associated with the disorder, while also providing medications to prevent nausea. They’ll monitor PCV and electrolyte levels during treatment in order to replace fluid deficit and avoid complications like sepsis or disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Potassium supplementation of 20-40 milliequivalents per liter may be especially crucial due to loss from gut mucosa loss.
3. Diet Change
If your dog seems healthy otherwise and their diarrhea is mild, a trip to the veterinarian might not be necessary. But bloody diarrhea indicates a potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal condition called hemorrhagic gastroenteritis or HGE and immediate medical attention should be sought as soon as possible.
HGE is an undiagnosed mystery disease with no known source. It affects dogs of all ages and breeds, though more frequently seen among young adult miniature and toy breeds like Yorkshire Terriers, French Poodles, Miniature Schnauzers and Pekingese. Some veterinarians speculate that stress plays a part in its onset.
HGE can cause blood clots in watery diarrhea that is very dangerous to your dog’s health. Fluid loss from vomiting and diarrhea leads to dehydration which could prove fatal without immediate medical intervention. Therefore, visiting the veterinarian is absolutely crucial for treatment and monitoring their progress – they can give your pup fluids or medications that help address dehydration, sepsis or shock from developing.
4. Monitoring
HGE is an acute condition that must be addressed quickly to avoid serious dehydration levels that could prove lethal to small breed dogs such as Yorkshire terriers and miniature schnauzers.
If your dog has shown symptoms that suggest jelly-like stool with blood, it’s time to call in a veterinarian. Your veterinarian will make a diagnosis based on his/her clinical history and symptoms as well as radiographs and fecal testing – with these being used to rule out parvovirus infections or blockages as possible causes.
Your veterinarian may recommend keeping your pup at the clinic so they can monitor them and prevent further dehydration from worsening. They may provide clear liquids such as water, Gatorade or Pedialyte until your canine begins eating solid food again; or may prescribe additional medication like anti-nausea or pain relievers from them to aid their wellbeing.
