Blood in the Stools (without diarrhea)

11.5.2 Blood in the Stools (without diarrhea)

If the stools are red or black in color, then there is bleeding into the digestive tract. This can be caused by many reasons, including poisons and rich foods. In livestock it is most serious if blood is accompanied by diarrhea.

If the bloody stools look very black, then the bleeding is happening in the stomach or in the beginning of the small intestine. If the bloody stools look more red, then the bleeding is closer to the rectum, probably in the large intestine.

If there is a wound in the wall of the stomach or the intestine, this wound is called an ulcer. Blood can come out from these ulcers. Wounds can also be caused by parasites - but then the animal usually has diarrhea as well.

Symptom/Diagnosis: See blood in stools.

Treatment: Give the animal some feed that is not too rich, but is easy to digest (like tender green grass).

Control/Prevention: All animals should regularly be given medicine for parasites.