Dog Vomiting Blood"Dog vomiting blood (hematemesis) is either caused by something temporary such as the ingestion of an object your dog picked up outside or dietary intolerance, or something systemically wrong such as with the digestive tract (GI), liver or kidneys. Treatment involves ensuring that your dog is not dehydrated and then removing the underlying cause." A dog vomiting blood (called hematemesis) can be due to something temporary or something systemic (a problem with your dog's gastrointestinal system). Problems range from a few drops of bright red blood in his vomit, or the vomit may appear very dark and resemble coffee grounds. For example, a few drops of bright red blood is more likely to mean gum disease or a cut in the mouth, while vomit that looks like coffee grounds is more likely to mean an ulcer or bleeding in the stomach. The most common causes of vomiting are listed below. These will be ruled out before looking for other causes. * Poison such as anti-freeze or toxins If vomiting is more severe or chronic, and the above list is ruled out, then your veterinarian will consider the following conditions: * Intestinal problems (called a Motility disorder) When observing your dog vomit, try and record for your veterinarian the following characteristics: 1. How long has your dog been vomiting?
Dog Vomiting Blood Symptoms and CausesIf your dog is suffering from a gastrointestinal disease vomiting of partially digested food happens within 8 - 10 hours after eating or something blocking the gastrointestinal system. Vomiting can be accompanied by other symptoms such as:* Nausea Gastrointestinal diseases include: Chronic gastritis If the vomiting is accompanied by diarrhea then your dog could be suffering from: Inflammatory bowel disease (IDB) Infectious diseases can also be a cause of the gastrointestinal distress. * Distemper Vomiting due to Abdominal disease- Disease in the uterus (Urogenital disease) Other causes- Stimulation of the glands near the vagina (Vestibulitis) Dog Vomiting Blood DiagnosisIf you have a dog vomiting blood take a sample of the vomit with you to the veterinarian for examination.Your vet will perform a thorough physical exam, do a blood test, and other tests as needed. He or she may do x-rays and an ultrasound. A gastroduodenoscopy, a test where the vet can look at your dog’s stomach, may be performed. In some cases, a biopsy or ultrasound may be necessary. Your veterinarian will go through the following steps: 1. History of vomiting episodes and relationship to feeding times and your dog's diet. If you changed your dog's diet recently it could be a sign of food intolerance. If your dog vomits 6 to8 hours after eating then diet is probably not the cause. 2. Once diet is ruled out, then other factors such as some type of obstruction or a disorder of the stomach and intestines. Causes include polyps or a growing tumor. 3. If vomiting is in the morning and appears bright red or dark red spots like "coffee grounds" then their is probably a problem in the GI tract or your dog has an ulcer. Other conditions where blood tends to be present include: * Hypoadrenocorticism (problem with the adrenal glands)* Early morning vomit or bile could be a reflux disease (enterogastric reflux syndrome).* Canine Uremia (the kidney is leaving too many toxins in the blood)* Inflammation of the stomach (called Gastritis)* Stomach tumor growth (gastric neoplasia) Dog Vomiting Blood TreatmentIf your dog has had severe vomiting, he may need to be stabilized with subcutaneous (under the skin) fluids for dehydration (intravenous) fluid. He should also have a bland diet until the vomiting stops. Your veterinarian may recommend that your dog stay at veterinary clinic for several days.The appropriate treatment for a dog vomiting blood depends on the cause of the bleeding. For instance, ulcers are treated with medication and a bland diet. The appropriate treatment for gum disease is keeping the teeth and gums clean with regular brushing. The treatment for cancer depends on the type of cancer, how advanced it is, and how aggressively the owner wishes to treat it. If your dog swallows a foreign object such as a sharp edged bone he or she picked up when outside of the home, your veterinarian will use a laxative to try and pass the bone particles and possibly an anti-biotic to reduce the change of infection. Intravenous fluids and a stay at the veterinary hospital for a few days are a possibility. SourcesWashington State University Veterinary CollegeThe Most Common Digestive Diseases: The Role of Nutrition A.J. German1 and J. Zentek2 Faculty of Veterinary Sciences University of Liverpool Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Berlin, Germany The Vomiting Dog--Diagnosis Chronic Vomiting in Dogs From Dog Vomiting Blood to More on Canine Vomiting
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