My 6 month old bullmastiff just yesterday started having mucus in her stools. The stool itself looks normal, maybe a bit light colored but otherwise firm, but then at the end of it it is a string or a "casing" of mucus.

I did a google search of this and came up with collitus or irritable bowel syndrome, both which could be serious if not treated.

My dog has grain free kibble in the morning with kefir on it and raw at night - chicken (all kinds), liver (only once a week) and hamburger meat (also only once a week.) During the day she gets one carrot as a snack, and of course she is the normal puppy that eats trees and anything else she can get her mouth on. (Although she's smart enough to spit out kleenexes and cardboard after she's shredded them up). She also has a recreational bone in the afternoon, which we freeze first and make sure it's never pork.

Is there a reason to be concerned, or should I just watch her for a few days and have the vet check her if it doesn't clear up? (Can't get canned pumpkin here in Estonia, either). Or should I have her checked right away?

Thanks, Brenda

Hi Brenda,

Nickie also has mucus in his stool on occasion. I'm never quite sure what causes it - he has always seemed to have a "delicate" digestive system but is much better since he is on Canidae and the low-fat yogurt.

Hope someone else with more knowledge of this will reply. Our other dog Roxie never has had that problem and they are fed exactly the same.

My dog had the same problem a while back, and it coincided with a case of tapeworm. Got rid of the tapeworm, the mucous went away. I also remember reading somewhere that tapeworm can cause this, or it was one of the symptoms of tapeworm, sorry don't remember accurately. You might want to do some research on it, don't remember where I read it.

I think a small amount of mucus isn't necessarily a sign of a problem.
Large amounts/puddles of liquid mucus are a sign of worms or giardia.
A three day course of fenbendazol/panacur at double dose will kill the giardia and all worms except flea tapeworms, Praziquantel/droncet gets those.
If someone on the board uses a reliable natural dewormer I would like to know what you use.

Okay, thanks! Now I know better what to research and keep and eye out for.