Your furry friend is a source of joy, happiness, and positivity in your life. A dog parent would agree to this. But there are times when your big-breed canine or small puppy might fall sick, leaving you feeling helpless.

One of the scariest moments that pet parents might face is when their pooch vomits with blood in it. Did you experience this? If so, it's natural to get scared and nervous. You must get in touch with your veterinarian and get them checked out. The faster you do this, the better the chances are for diagnosis.

However, when dog vomit has specks of blood in it, you must know a few facts about it. This article will discuss more on this and also list the ways to address it.

What Is Hematemesis?

A dog throwing up blood is medically termed ‘hematemesis’. ‍The way the blood appears can change, varying from bright red to digested blood that appears like coffee grounds. That aside, tarry, dark stools can also be taken as a condition for intestinal bleeding. It is essential to note and share it all with a veterinarian, which will help them find out the probable cause of this health condition.

It is also necessary to learn about the probable sources of hematemesis. It might include the following:

• Stomach
• Upper intestines
• Esophagus
• Respiratory tract
• Mouth

The bleeding can also occur because of irritations, inflammation, or injuries related to the affected organs. The link between vomiting and bleeding can be rather confusing. The former can cause irritation that results in bleeding, and heavy amounts of it can result in vomiting.

Throwing up & Coughing up Blood: What Is the Difference?

 

When your dog coughs up blood, it indicates that the source of the bleeding is in the respiratory tract. On the other hand, the presence of blood in vomit means that the source of bleeding is in the GI tract. It is highly crucial to know and spot the difference, and only your veterinarian can do that.

It’s always helpful to take a video of the dog puke or them coughing or vomiting, which will help the veterinarian detect the issue better. Usually, your pet will experience strong motions in its abdomen while expelling vomit from their mouth.

However, that is not true for all canines. It differs from one breed to the next. But for most, their neck gets stretched forward, and the cough resembles the sound of a goose’s honk. The blood can be present at the time of the cough or afterward. Some pooches end their coughing with a gag that appears close to vomit, as they are still coughing something up.

Reasons a Dog Throws up Blood in Vomit

When a dog is throwing up blood, it is not the puke that causes the bleeding. Rather, according to the American Kennel Club, the blood is present because of a set of underlying conditions, like:

• Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis
• Gastritis
• Parasites
• Infections such as parvovirus
• Intestinal and stomach ulcers
• Esophagus diseases
• Eating any foreign or household objects that are not food
• Toxins
• The presence of blood in the airways that gets combined with vomit
• Cancer
• Liver or kidney disease

PetCareRx states that the bleeding can also occur because of bilious vomiting syndrome. It’s a condition where there is a green or yellow bile buildup in the pup’s gastrointestinal tract, causing irritation and leading to blood specks in their vomit. This typically happens when you haven’t given food to your pup for a long time. The medication for this is Metoclopramide or any other medicine that secures the stomach lining.

You may wonder why is my dog coughing blood, so it is time to self-investigate and think of possible remedies and medications. Refrain from doing that. That’s because you don’t have the required know-how and medical training. Try to seek veterinary care at the earliest to make sure that your pet receives the best treatment for this bleeding once the underlying cause is determined.

Things You Must Do in Such a Situation

Are you wondering when to take a dog to the vet for vomiting? The answer is as soon as you notice it.

In the majority of cases, when your furball vomits blood, it is considered an emergency. What appears to be rather minor can aggravate into something severe in the next 12 hours or even a day if you delay medical intervention. The first thing you should do is get your pet’s blood checked.

A few other signs that you should look for are:

• Blood in diarrhea can hint at any problem concerned with the lower and upper gastrointestinal tract.
• Pale gums that can point towards shock or extreme internal bleeding.
• Tarry and black stools suggest your pet is probably swallowing and digesting blood.
• Lethargy and weakness.

If possible, take pictures of blood in vomit and then transfer the puke into a plastic bag. Also, take images of the food brand you use for your pet’s nutrition and reach the nearest emergency facility to seek medical advice.

You might have heard about giving bread to your canine buddy if they vomit blood. You should never do it, as it's not helpful. Doing so might highly complicate the diagnostic testing that is needed to detect the root cause of the bleeding.

How Do Vets Detect the Cause of a Dog’s Bleeding?

According to Pet MD, the veterinarian first checks the ailing pup and tries to make it stable and comfortable before proceeding with any tests and procedures. They are likely to ask you several questions about their medical history, diet, and daily routines. Once the initial assessments are finished, they will probably proceed to diagnostic testing.

Based on the situation, it can include a fecal test to check for parasites and basic bloodwork to determine if the organs are functioning correctly. The vet will also ask for blood-clotting tests that will ensure that the bleeding disorder is not leading to any other health issues. You will also have to get X-rays done to know if there are any foreign particles present in your dog’s body. Finally, a vet can also suggest you get an infectious disease test done.

Based on the results, your vet can ask for extra medical procedures. For instance, if your dog’s report suggests that they might have a foreign particle in their body, you might have to get surgery or an endoscopy.

In conclusion, a fido vomiting blood is never a pleasant sight. At times, dog vomit looks like poop and you might not know what to do about it. Don’t consider this to be minor and neglect medical attention. The causes can vary from infection to cancer, but it’s always best to let the veterinarian decide.

It is necessary to maintain proper care to ensure that your dog does not eat any household objects that can cause bleeding. But despite following every precaution if your dog still vomits blood, you need to head to the vet’s chamber as soon as possible.