Reasons There’s Mucus In My Pet’s Stool

Understand the Common Causes of Mucus In Stools

While taking a close look at stool isn’t always the most fun activity, changes in your pet’s digestion can often be an indicator of a serious underlying health condition. Other times, it may simply be a reaction to a recent environmental change.

Before rushing to call animal poison control if you see mucus in your pet’s stool, understand the common causes and learn when any concern is warranted.

Reason #1

Diet Changes

One of the more obvious reasons there may be mucus in pet stool are diet changes. If you’ve always fed your pet the same food, but suddenly added new food in, the mucus in the still could simply be a reaction to the new food group. It could be a sign of an allergic reaction to a certain food, or it could just be their bodies adjusting to the change in their diet.

Reason #2

Intestinal Parasites

Intestinal parasites may also be to blame for the mucus in your pet’s stool. Common intestinal parasites include tapeworms or whipworms. These parasites live within an animal’s intestines and irritate the colon. This irritation can lead to digestive upset such as diarrhea and mucus in stool.

Reason #3

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

IBD, or inflammatory bowel disease, is diagnosed when there is chronic intestinal inflammation and irritation. IBD is a serious condition because it can prevent pets from absorbing important nutrients from their food that give them energy and keep them healthy. Signs of inflammatory bowel disease include regular vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, lethargy, and finding blood or mucus in their stool.

Reason #4

Gastrointestinal Infection

A gastrointestinal infection such as gastroenteritis can wreak havoc on a pet’s stool health. This infection inflames the stomach and intestines of animals and can lead to bloody stools, sudden vomiting, and excess mucus in the stools. While most pets can recover from gastroenteritis in a few days, if left untreated it could cause chronic digestive problems.

Reason #5

Cancer

Gastrointestinal cancer could also be the culprit of mucus in the stools. While cancer of the GI is rare, it can sometimes occur in older animals and show symptoms of illness such as loss of appetite, sudden weight loss, and stools that present themselves with too much mucus or liquid. To determine if cancer is the cause of digestive problems, a vet will need to perform a biopsy of the intestinal tract.

Reason #6

Stress

Many of our pets seem to live easy lives, but they too can become stressed. Stress can occur in pets from environmental changes such as another newly adopted pet, extreme weather, or because they are not spending enough time with an owner. When pets become too stressed, that stress can slow down their digestive systems and lead to mucus in their stools.

When To See a Vet

Mucus in the stool of a pet is not always something to concern you. In many cases, simple lifestyle changes could help their digestion become healthy and regular. However, if no at-home care is helping you should always consult a medical professional. A vet professional can provide proper testing administration and help find the root cause of any prolonged intestinal problems. Once the root cause is determined, a specialized treatment plan will be given to your pet to keep their digestion in tip-top shape.