She's 8 yrs old, has been under heavy treatment for arthritic elbows for the past three years - two arthroscopies July 2021 and Jan 2023, one PRP injection à la Noel Fitzpatrick just last month, Librella each month for the past year, Previcox daily and a host of supplements...
Ten days ago she began spotting a little on and off, although she was spayed aged 2. We're talking three or four droplets per day, then a few days with no bleeding at all. Blood is not bright red, more a dull red, towards brown.
On Friday she began to look very weak and stiff in the back legs, sometimes walking on her knuckles very briefly, and the spotting had come back. We thought the bleeding was from the vulva, vet ruled out urinary infection and recommended gentle cleaning and close supervision. He put the weakness in the back end down to her Librella injection being overdue by five days, so she had the injection straight away and we brought her home.
This morning the bleeding was more apparent, though still just a few drops at a time. I got a look before she had a chance to lick the area, and realised it is actually, quite obviously coming from the anus not the vulva. Her stools are normal, not at all dark, although "going" has become a bit difficult what with her weak and stiff back legs.
She's at the vets now for bloods and scan and I've come home. Obviously I'm thinking the worst. I was too emotional to ask much at the vets... but could the bleeding actually be something that is treatable, and not at all scary??? Given it doesn't seem to be coming from deep inside??? I mean her stools are not at all dark.
We've always said we'd never put our dog through chemo, having seen how it has gone for our friends' dogs. If anyone has any thoughts it will help calm me until the vet calls. I know you can't diagnose her, but any experiences or ideas are welcome as I am panicking.