[Dailydrool] need advice

[Marie Campbell]

 Marlene,
    Blood in the stool can be caused by a myriad of things.  Have you tried a course of the wormer Panacure???  Many times a dog can have intestinal parasite and still test negative.  After the hurricane here in Florida in 2006, my Newf girl Cheyenne was shooting pure bright red blood across the kitchen floor.  Needless to say, I was in a panic!!!  Of course this was on a Saturday and my vet's office was closed.  I rushed her to the ER and they tested her stools, IV'd her, ran blood tests....  All negative.  They kept her until Monday at 8 AM on Monday morning and she was sinking fast.  She could no longer sit up.  I rushed her to my regular vet and her blood panels were now showing liver damage and she was barely able to sit up or walk from blood loss.  Still her fecals were negative.  Long story short--while at my regular vet she finally had a blow out that contained a HUGE ball of hookworms.  After 10 negative fecal tests.  Fecal
 tests test for eggs not adults.  Your dog may be harboring adult worms but no eggs.  I have had Newfs have bloody stools since with no explanation and Panacure has always resolved this.  Please try Panacure for three days before paying for more expensive and possibly dangerous tests.  Giardia is another illness to consider.  When in doubt PANACURE/Worm your dog.  This should always be your first line of attack when faced with bloody stools and an adult dog.  Worms can cause hemorrhagic colitis and a myriad of other bowel problems.  Look for horses not zebras first.  A prophylactic measure I now practice is routinely worming my dogs every six month alternating  panacure/safeguard with strongid/pyrantal poamate (sp).  My Newfs were on Interceptor which is supposed to prevent and rid them of both intestinal parasites as well as heartworms BUT after the hurricanes, my vet said the hookworms had gotten more virulent.
Good Luck,
Marie Campbell and the Basset Crew  
Man Plans ~ God Laughs