Maggie is pooing blood

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by katy-yorkie

The BUN was high but it was only off by a few numbers. A couple of other things were in the red but they were only off by a few numbers.

BUN in and of itself can simply imply dehydration. And often, even a slightly dehydrated/stressed dog will have a slightly elevated BUN. For example, a pre-op dog's BUN will often be high bc of the no-food-or-water after a certain time, and the fact they're burning fluids in the kennels while waiting for surgery.

[ladyjane]

I have had short bouts of bloody stools in pups in the past. They often were just a one time thing. I remember one night waking up to an awful mess. This was many years ago when I lived in NJ. Anyway...middle of the night and off to the vet. By morning the bleeding had stopped. The vet said that Maxwell probably had eaten grass and that a blade of grass had cut his intestines. I told him that he did not eat grass...and was totally baffled about the whole thing. A few days later it hit me what the cause probably had been....I looked up and saw Max eating a sunflower seed. My birds always dropped them outside the cage and Max always ate them. I have never given it much thought. Anyway...I bought a net to prevent the seeds from being tossed out and it never happened again. Was it the seeds? I believe so. If a dog eats something and it makes a small tear in the intestinal wall, there can be bleeding. So, perhaps that is what is going on?? Just a thought. They do eat some funny things outside. I have one that I have to chase out of the mulch...he eats it. Ick

[Lolasmom1211]

Hopefully, she just had a little bug! We tend to worry so much about these little ones. My son has started asking me lately how the grandkids are because he says I act like they are like children...little does he know - they are! I hope Maggie is past whatever was causing her problem.

[Ladymom]

Originally Posted by katy-yorkie

The vet also mentioned HGE. Meanwhile I am going to pick up the flossies. I had no idea so many people had issues with bully sticks and bloody stools. I feel really bad when they get sick and it could be my fault. Thanks for pointing me in the direction of those two threads.

Lady's had HGE three times.

If your vet did bloodwork it is very easy to diagnose. The packed cell volume (red blood count) is over 60 in dogs with HGE.

[Sweet Apple]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

You and I use the same vets and I can guarantee you they did consider pancreatitis but in that her lipase and amylase were normal probably ruled it out. I believe you requested the CPL which is specific for pancreatitis but they probably did not do it originally since the first thing they would normally do is basic testing.

You are fortunate to have good vets! I know you know that. I just wanted to clarify that they would never overlook that possibility.

Lin, you know I have all the faith, in the world, in our vet...To be honest, while wrecked about the 2nd serious episode (on a Sunday morning) I requested that test, in the ER...The ER doctor probably should have told me why they didn't run it at her vet's office...He had the test results right there in front of him...Could have saved $60, as well...I didn't, in any way, think our vet was remiss in any of her treatment...In my "laymans thoughts", figured it was all an order of operations, based on symptoms and what was going on, and our vet wasn't aware, yet, of the 2nd event...

[Sweet Apple]

Originally Posted by Ladymom

Lady's had HGE three times.

If your vet did bloodwork it is very easy to diagnose. The packed cell volume (red blood count) is over 60 in dogs with HGE.

If the test is the HCT, Apple's was 56.6%...Maybe that's why Apple's vet wasn't definitive about having HGE...It was just over the high side...If that's not the test you're talking about ('cause I don't know what's what w/these tests), which acronym (is it called an acronym?) for the pcv?

[Sweet Apple]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

I have had short bouts of bloody stools in pups in the past. They often were just a one time thing. I remember one night waking up to an awful mess. This was many years ago when I lived in NJ. Anyway...middle of the night and off to the vet. By morning the bleeding had stopped. The vet said that Maxwell probably had eaten grass and that a blade of grass had cut his intestines. I told him that he did not eat grass...and was totally baffled about the whole thing. A few days later it hit me what the cause probably had been....I looked up and saw Max eating a sunflower seed. My birds always dropped them outside the cage and Max always ate them. I have never given it much thought. Anyway...I bought a net to prevent the seeds from being tossed out and it never happened again. Was it the seeds? I believe so. If a dog eats something and it makes a small tear in the intestinal wall, there can be bleeding. So, perhaps that is what is going on?? Just a thought. They do eat some funny things outside. I have one that I have to chase out of the mulch...he eats it. Ick

Based on this post, Lin, Apple would fit right in this scenario...Those hibiscus hulls are very sharp, and she was eating at many as she could get away with, before I would grab her up and take her in the house...Btw, she's going out on a leash, now, because she still keeps trying to eat leaves, twigs, clover, and anything she can get in her mouth around...She's always been a hoover...

[katy-yorkie]

Maggie is always playing in the mulch. I don't know how much eats, she seems to always have something on her face. She does eat grass, although not so much lately. But she does eat it. I think she buries things in the mulch. She is always taking flossies out with her. We take them from her when we catch her. The things that showed up in red on the blood report are HCT - normal is 37.5-55, Maggies is 64.6, HGB - normal is 12-18, Maggies is 19.5, MCV - normal is is 60-77, Maggies 77.4 and BUN - normal is 7-27, Maggies is 31. None of those seem really high, but then I don't know anything about blood work unless it's pointed out to me. The BAT was done in November and it was negative. I hope it's something like a small cut and not an illness that won't go away.

[kjc]

The test that is done to rule out HGE is the PCV (Packed Cell Volume) and is done onsite at the vet's office. I doubt it would be in the list of tests sent out to a lab, unless to verify the results for whatever reason.

Dogs that have chonic blood in the stool (small amounts) may benefit from having a stool sample tested at a lab. Overgrowths of bacteria in the gut can also cause the intestines to bleed.

I do hope Maggie is feeling and doing better...

[TxVicki]

Sending healing prayers and good vibes for Maggie that her issue will resolve it's self fast.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Sweet Apple

If the test is the HCT, Apple's was 56.6%...Maybe that's why Apple's vet wasn't definitive about having HGE...It was just over the high side...If that's not the test you're talking about ('cause I don't know what's what w/these tests), which acronym (is it called an acronym?) for the pcv?

They are the same thing. Usually the hematocrit, which is what those two are, is higher...over 60.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by katy-yorkie

Maggie is always playing in the mulch. I don't know how much eats, she seems to always have something on her face. She does eat grass, although not so much lately. But she does eat it. I think she buries things in the mulch. She is always taking flossies out with her. We take them from her when we catch her. The things that showed up in red on the blood report are HCT - normal is 37.5-55, Maggies is 64.6, HGB - normal is 12-18, Maggies is 19.5, MCV - normal is is 60-77, Maggies 77.4 and BUN - normal is 7-27, Maggies is 31. None of those seem really high, but then I don't know anything about blood work unless it's pointed out to me. The BAT was done in November and it was negative. I hope it's something like a small cut and not an illness that won't go away.

Actually the hematocrit is a bit high. Did they mention HGE?

I doubt this is something that will not go away. At least I hope not.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by Sweet Apple

Based on this post, Lin, Apple would fit right in this scenario...Those hibiscus hulls are very sharp, and she was eating at many as she could get away with, before I would grab her up and take her in the house...Btw, she's going out on a leash, now, because she still keeps trying to eat leaves, twigs, clover, and anything she can get in her mouth around...She's always been a hoover...

Oh I SO understand. Sunny D, one of my fosters, is like that. I had to take him to the EC one night...and to our vet another time. Once for eating wood and the other time for Motrin that I dropped on the floor. He swoops in when something hits the floor. I could not get him to vomit with the Motrin incident and ran him over to CCAH. I honestly don't know how he survives...he is always in the mulch. I try my darndest to keep him out of it, but he snatches it and runs.

[katy-yorkie]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Actually the hematocrit is a bit high. Did they mention HGE?

I doubt this is something that will not go away. At least I hope not.

He did mention HGE. But then again, he wasn't sure. I'm hoping it is something that will go away. I've been trying to find out more about HGE but I'll have to do more research tonight. I definitely did not miss my calling, I don't do well when I see blood. Especially when it's coming from where it should not be.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by katy-yorkie

He did mention HGE. But then again, he wasn't sure. I'm hoping it is something that will go away. I've been trying to find out more about HGE but I'll have to do more research tonight. I definitely did not miss my calling, I don't do well when I see blood. Especially when it's coming from where it should not be.

Well, when it comes from one of our babies, it is unsettling to say the least. Usually HGE can get pretty bad if not caught early...and the bleeding can be bad. They also have vomiting and they usually act pretty sick. It may not even be that.