[YorkshireLass]

Collie has come down with another bout of diarrhoea with some fresh blood/mucus in it. Seems bright in herself, proceeding with plain diet over weekend but ready to call vet. Last time I took her in she just got some probiotic paste.

Thing is, this has happened a few times over the years, but only when staying in a certain house/town and perhaps only after visiting a certain park.

Is there any kind of bug in soil or vegetation that could be doing this?

She doesn't really scavenge, and only eats the odd bit of grass. It's not been the right weather/time for pesticide spraying, and I'd expect more obvious or quicker symptoms from a proper poison.

[fsmnutter]

As a vet, this sounds like a colitis, an inflammation of the colon. It commonly results in diarrhoea, often with some fresh blood, in an otherwise bright dog.
It usually suggests a kind of sensitivity, so absolutely could be something she comes across in one place and not others, it could easily be a difference in the soil or plants. Also, it can be triggered by stress, so it could be that being in a less familiar environment sets it off.
If you can identify triggers, that can help, but it is often very difficult to do so.
As you are doing, bland diet and probiotic pastes will help, and there are daily probiotics (various formulations) that you can give thereafter, either every day, or just leading up to times or places where she may be susceptible.
Hope that helps.

[Marches Farmer]

Also, it can be triggered by stress, so it could be that being in a less familiar environment sets it off.

In my experience some collies are very sensitive to a change of location or daily routine.  What just looks different to a human will come with a whole host of different smells and noises to a dog, especially somewhere like a park where there will many new and unknown territorial marker scents.

[YorkshireLass]

Thanks. We're muddling through a not-ideal situation so all a bit frazzled, but it's not purely the house as it's not *all the time* while we're here - but it has *only* been while we're here!

Will order some more probiotic paste (have had a shop webpage open since last bout happened!)

[harmony]

Is she picking up that you are all a bit "frazzled"?

[in the hills]

Our dogs had similar in the spring. Little lab bitch came down with it just before we were due to go on holiday. She was really uncomfortable with it and was crying out and couldn't lie still. Took her to vets and to my horror she left a trail of fresh blood from the car and into the surgery. Vet reassured me that this was quite normal with gastrointestinal irritation. Delayed holiday for a day or so while she recovered. Older dog then came down with it on holiday and took him to vet. The vet said that lots of dogs came to his surgery with these symptoms while on holiday and yes, he said that factors such as stress or contact with unfamiliar bacteria in the soil or water were likely causes.

The older dog was given antibiotics and probiotic paste and the younger dog just the paste. Older dog recovered in a couple of days but it took the young dog over 3 weeks before her motions returned to normal. The vet wasn't concerned and said that it sometimes took quite a long time for full recovery until the bacterial balance went back to normal.
  that your dog recovers quickly.

[SallyintNorth]

I usually try a probiotic yoghurt first for any digestive upset - 9 times out of 10 that's all they need.

[YorkshireLass]

I usually try a probiotic yoghurt first for any digestive upset - 9 times out of 10 that's all they need.

Unfortunately Madam thinks normal yoghurt is beneath her    I used to let her lick the empty tubs of home made yoghurts, but I can't get hold of that at the moment and Lidl's offerings are just not the same 


I don't panic over a slightly dodgy stomach but I do when there's an impressive looking amount of blood :/

[SallyintNorth]

I don't panic over a slightly dodgy stomach but I do when there's an impressive looking amount of blood :/

Yes, I'd have been to the vet with that, too.  Could have been a perforated bowel, or anything; definitely worth getting it checked.

I just thought it was worth mentinoning that probiotic yoghurt is a good home remedy - and considerably cheaper than veterinary probiotic paste .  It was a pal who is a vet gave me the tip.  He'll never be rich but he has a lot of loyal customers.

[in the hills]

How is she YorkshireLass?

[YorkshireLass]

All fine, thank you moving back to normal diet from chicken and potato (much to her disappointment!).
We haven't been back to the suspected park either.

[in the hills]

Glad that she's on the mend. 

I know that it's a worry when you see the blood!

[YorkshireLass]

It occurred to me - she cleans herself like a cat does, so she only has to walk through or be splashed by something, to then lick it and ingest it.