66.67% survey participants agreed that blood in stool is an emergency.
I already elaborated earlier that blood belongs into blood vessels and has no business being anywhere else. That includes external bleeding, internal bleeding, blood in vomit or blood in feces.
It is interesting that a majority of people seems to agree that blood in vomit or stool is serious, and only very few feel that bleeding, in general, is an emergency.
As I explained before, the urgency mostly depends on the amount of bleeding.
Diarrhea can aggravate the gut lining enough to cause small amounts of fresh blood in the stool. You need to understand that this happens because there has been enough damage to the gut tissue to cause it to bleed. Then the question remains what is behind all the damage. Is it an infection? Is it parasites? Is it an inflammatory disease? Trauma? Foreign body? Is blood not clotting properly? Or even more serious things such as cancer?
Just because the stool might be solid doesn't mean the reason for blood on it is not serious.
The thing is that you have no way of knowing.
If you find blood in your dog's poop, you absolutely need to see a vet.
If there is a tiny amount and there are no other serious symptoms such as signs of pain, vomiting, lethargy etc, you might be able to wait till the morning or next day to see your vet.
The more blood and the sicker your dog appears, the more urgent it is they get medical attention. If your dog is a young puppy, also don't wait at all.
If you found blood in your stool, would you seek a doctor?
Same should apply to your dog. I recommend higher caution with a dog because unless like with yourself you can't always know how your dog is feeling exactly. You may or may not be able to read signs of pain, weakness and other serious symptoms.
Related articles:
Dog Medical Emergencies Survey
Dog Medical Emergencies Survey Results
Is Unproductive Retching an Emergency?
Is Difficulty Breathing an Emergency?
Is Panting an Emergency?
Is Severe Pain an Emergency?
Is Limping an Emergency?
Is Vomiting Bile in the Morning an Emergency?
Is Profuse Vomiting an Emergency?
Are Convulsions or Seizures an Emergency?
Is Loss of Appetite an Emergency?
Is Reduced Activity an Emergency?
Is Severe Lethargy an Emergency?
Is Inability to Stand an Emergency?
Is Inability to Urinate an Emergency?
Are Cuts and Abrasions an Emergency?
Is Bleeding an Emergency?
Is Blood in Vomit an Emergency?
Do you know what your dog is telling you about their health?
Learn how to detect and interpret the signs of a potential problem.
An award-winning guide to better understanding what your dog is telling you about their health, Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog, is available in paperback and Kindle. Each chapter includes notes on when it is an emergency.