If you find clear mucus in your pet’s stools you need to watch for any other accompanying symptoms of illness. If the clear mucus passes off within 2 days you needn’t worry. However, if the mucus is accompanied by symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy and fever you must conduct a vet check to determine what the pet is suffering from.
Other Stool-Related Symptoms to Watch for:
- Straining to defecate
- Trouble urinating
- Blood in feces
- Weight loss
- Listlessness
- Constipation
- Fever
- Pale gums
Causes of Clear Mucus of Dog Stool
There are several reasons why your dog may be passing out clear mucus in his stools. If your pet has overeaten or consumed foods that are toxic in nature, he will pass mucus in his stools and may also suffer from accompanying symptoms like abdominal pain and vomiting. Dogs suffering from intestinal parasite infections like whipworms, tapeworms and hookworms also pass mucus in their stools. As a pet owner you need to therefore examine your dog’s feces occasionally to find out he is suffering from a parasite infection. One clear indication of an intestinal parasite infection is the presence of worm segments in the feces.
Other Causes of Stool Mucus
Apart from the conditions mentioned above, dogs suffering from food allergies may also have mucus in their stools. Food allergies occur when the pet’s body becomes hypersensitive to certain ingredients that are present in meals. Dogs suffering from food allergies may also show signs of skin reactions or hives on the body. If you notice that your pet shows signs of a skin reaction and develops hives or facial swelling, it’s best to seek prompt medical care as the dog may be either allergic to medications that are being administered or ingredients that are present in food.
Diagnosis of Clear Mucus in Dog’s Stool
To find out the real cause of the problem the vet will palpate the dog’s abdomen and look for signs of swelling or fluid accumulation. The vet will also take a fresh sample of the pet’s feces and send it for laboratory analysis. If the tests are negative it doesn’t necessarily mean that the dog isn’t suffering from a parasite infection. Repeat tests will be performed at a later stage to completely rule out intestinal parasite infections. Apart from this, the vet will also perform blood and urine tests. Abdominal X-rays and ultrasounds may be performed if necessary.
Treatment for Mucus in Stool
The treatment aims at curing the underlying problem that’s present. If the dog is suffering from a food allergy, the vet will put the pet on a food trial to find out what’s causing the allergic reaction. In most cases the dog will stop passing mucus in his stools once he is fed a hypoallergenic diet. Conversely, if the dog is suffering from a parasite infection, the vet will administer certain drugs to kill the worms that are present.
These medications have to be administered very carefully as the dog’s body may suffer from a shock if too many worms die all at once. If the cause of the mucus is associated with dietary indiscretion, the vet will ask you to keep the dog on a bland diet for a few days so that the symptoms subside.
While clear mucus in the stool is not a symptom of a serious condition, it needs to be diagnosed and treated at the earliest so that the underlying condition doesn’t progress and cause complications.