Yellow Mucus in Dog Stool

If you notice yellow mucus in your dog's stool, you need to conduct a vet check as soon as possible. It could be signs of an intestinal infection that could eventually become severe if left untreated. Most pets will have a certain amount of mucus present in the feces. This is because the role of intestinal mucus is to lubricate the intestinal lining to facilitate smooth passage of stools from the intestines into the anus and out of the body.

What to Watch For:

Causes of Yellow Mucus in the Dog's Stools

Although there are several reasons why a dog could show signs of excess mucus in the stool, intestinal infections or parasite infections are the most common causes. Dogs suffering from irritable bowel syndrome or food allergies also pass out yellow mucus in their stools.

Yellow Mucus in Puppy Stools

If you notice yellow mucus in your puppy's stools, you need to seek immediate vet care, as it may be a sign of a severe infection. Since puppies lack a strong immune system, they become susceptible to various infections that sometimes prove fatal. Parasite infections in particular are known to cause intestinal blockage and severe bleeding.

Like younger pets, older dogs are also at risk of contracting infections. Therefore, look for changes in your pet's behavior and take a look at his stools to identify any concerns.

Diagnosis of Yellow Mucus

The vet will perform a thorough physical exam and find out if the dog has been fed a new diet or administered any medications. The vet will also take a fresh sample of the dog's stool and send it for a laboratory analysis to detect the presence of bacteria or parasite infections.

The vet will palpate the dog's abdomen to look for any distention or swelling. If necessary, additional blood tests, urine tests and abdominal ultrasounds will be conducted.

Treatment of Yellow Mucus

Once the underlying cause is identified, the vet will prescribe medications to bring relief from the symptoms. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotic medications, while parasite infections are treated with certain adulticides formulated for use in pets.

It may also be necessary to modify the pet's diet so that the gastrointestinal tract is given sufficient time to recover. Although rare, in some cases surgical intervention may be necessary if the dog is suffering from intestinal blockage.

Tips for Pet Owners

To help your pet recover quickly, you should administer all prescribed medicines on time and conduct followup vet checks. The vet might also want to re-test the dog's stool to determine the success of treatment.

Give your pet plenty of fresh water and avoid feeding him leftover table scraps or too many treats.

The earlier the diagnosis is confirmed, the better the pet's chance of recovery. You should also conduct fecal exams at least twice a year, to rule out the presence of underlying health problems.

 

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