The Zim Family Cocker Spaniel Forum

Good Morning,
I am brand new to the forum, and a brand new American Cocker owner. Molly is now 4 months old and I have a concern. Nothing like joining a forum and getting right into it...poops. Her poops are a good consistency, but are followed by a large amount of a jelly like substance. I will do my best to explain: This morning (1:30am) she scratched at her crate (located by my bed), I let her out and she immediately pooped. It was a good consistency - praised her then headed back to bed. 45 minutes later...more scratching at her crate...let her out again and she was in the 'poop position', but only the jelly substance came out. This isn't the first time...it happened yesterday in the evening, and again a night episode on Monday night.
Yesterday morning, I let her out first thing. She had a great poop (yay) and pee. I let her back in with lots of praise. After I was done getting ready for work, I noticed another (fresh) poop (again, good consistency), then to add insult to injury she did another (in the house) poop with a lot of the jelly substance. I am clueless! . I have had dogs in my life for my whole life, but have never come across this issue.
I am starting to get concerned...her appitite is fantastic (too good ) and she is a good weight.
The only thing I can think of is that on our off-leash walks, she tries to eat a lot of rabbit poop (her version of Glossett raisins I think). Could this be the culprit??
I am looking to you wise Cocker owners for some advise on this issue. Again, I apologize for joining the forum and getting right into the 'stink' of it all, but I have found great resolutions to other issues on this forum.
thank you in advance!

I would call the vet and see if the bunny raisins are the culprit. I know they can get some illnesses/infections from the snacks.

Sometimes mine have that. Never took them to the vet and was always ok.
edit; Now that I think about it I may have taken her to the vet once and maybe they gave a pill for it. Can't remember. It is nothing serious though just icky.

I would be to differ here. I would not assume it is nothing serious in a young puppy without the evaluation of a vet.

A vet visit or call is definitely in order...with a small stool sample as well.

I have had a dog with colitis and often mucus such as you describe occurred right before a flare. I also have dogs with seasonal allergies and often (usually about the same time as my hubby is getting drippy with allergies) my dogs also have had something similar. HOWEVER - I would still get a vet's input before I'd figure that's what it was. My rule of thumb for many years has been "if I can't look at my pup and know with 100% assurance what it wrong, they go to the vet". There are too many things that look minor that are serious and too many things that look serious and are minor. I always let the vet make the call. That's why it is important to have a vet you can trust to be honest and informed and respectful of both you and your furries. It may cost me extra money to have my pups checked but I don't think I've ever been sorry.

These things happen from time to time especially with cockers usually something they ate that didn't agree.Plain foods for a couple of days should clear it up but like everyone says if it doesn't a trip to vet would be in order.

Thank you everyone!! It is so nice to have a place to share concerns. Again, thank you.

That happened when our Lily was a young pup. She ended up not being able to corn in her food.

Had my former cocker, Julie have bouts of Colitis, from IBS....because of rabbit poop eating. She was prescribed something like Flagyl also....now the present two cockers are also bunny poop eaters and have had no issues ( as yet ?) So a vet call would be in order, most definately. :)

Don't take any chances---and take your baby in for a Vet's visit. Kelly had the "gastros" and the Vet gave her 3 different meds to clear it up. Yes, it was an expensive "upset tummy" but better safe than sorry. After she was grown up, whenever she got the gastros, I dosed her with PeptoBismal and children's Benadryl. If she was still having the poops, then it was back to the Vet's for meds. And I love my Bissell Pet Spot Bot carpet cleaner---it's a must have! Love and hugs that your baby gets over this quickly.

I echo everyone else - my Buffy still has bouts with the same thing occasionally. A trip to the vet (always take a stool sample) - some meds and in two or three days all is well. I do however, always follow up with a round of
Acidophilus/Probiotics to put the good bacteria back in her system.

Hello Everyone...Just an update on my Molly. I had a vet appointment booked, but everything cleared up before I could get there...I must have over-reacted?? Anyway, I have an eye on the situation (run out after she does her business to check it out) and will head to the vet at the first sign of trouble.

I just wanted to thank you again for all the great suggestions. I am doing my best to avoid the rabbit 'raisins', but that is sometimes an impossible task.

Sheri