If your dog’s vomit is black or dark red, there may be a problem that requires immediate medical attention. Black is the most disturbing color your dog might vomit. When bleeding inside a dog’s digestive tract, it is black or brown in color, with a coffee bean-like texture. This is cause for concern and should call your veterinarian immediately. The most common cause of gastrointestinal bleeding is stomach or intestinal ulcers. Your dog may also have gastrointestinal cancer or recent trauma.
Other symptoms in dogs with peptic ulcers maybe consists of:
- Anemia. This is due to blood loss and can cause your dog to get tired and have pale gums.
- Low or no appetite. The sores are painful and often make dogs feel nauseous. If left untreated, many dogs will lose their appetite with weight loss.
- Drooling. Nausea caused by sores will often cause dogs to drool.
- Fever. Some dogs may have a fever. However, having a fever doesn’t necessarily mean your dog has an ulcer.
What causes stomach ulcers in dogs?
Stomach ulcers can have many causes, but here are the most common ones:
- NSAIDs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as carprofen, meloxicam, piroxicam, and deracoxib are excellent pain relievers and anti-inflammatory agents. Rarely, these drugs can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers. This happens because these drugs reduce the prostaglandins of the digestive tract that help protect the lining of the intestines. This risk is increased when NSAIDS are prescribed along with steroids such as prednisone and dexamethasone.
- Steroids. Less commonly, steroids such as prednisone and dexamethasone can also cause ulcers in a similar way to NSAIDs. It is important that these two drugs are not used together.
- Human NSAIDs. Drugs like Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) are toxic to dogs and can cause ulcers along with kidney failure. These should not be given to dogs under any circumstances. If your dog consumes your pain reliever, see your veterinarian immediately.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Dogs with IBD often suffer from vomiting or chronic diarrhea due to inflammation of the lining of their digestive tract. This can progress to a stomach ulcer or a bleeding bowel.
- Evil. Certain types of tumors, such as mast cell tumors (MCTs) and some tumors of the pancreas, can cause gastrointestinal ulcers.
- Elite Athletes. Dogs that participate in high-intensity sports like sled dogs have a much higher risk of developing ulcers in their stomach or intestines.
How to prevent stomach ulcers in dogs?
If the thought of your dog having a bleeding stomach ulcer scares you, you may be wondering how you can prevent these medical nightmares from happening. Here are a few tips:
- Talk to your vet about the side effects of any medications you give your dog. Ask if sores are a possible side effect.
- If your dog is taking steroids or an NSAID and starts vomiting, call your vet right away. It is important to stop using NSAIDs immediately. You should talk to your veterinarian before stopping steroid use as the safest option may be to slowly discontinue it.
- Drug storage. Dogs are notorious for consuming entire bottles of their own medicine or even human medicine. Avoid risks to your dog and keep them out of reach.
How to treat stomach ulcers in dogs?
The good news is that ulcers of the digestive system are very often treatable. Treatment is usually given for several weeks to a month. Here is a typical treatment plan for a dog with a stomach or intestinal ulcer:
- Stopping certain medications. If your puppy’s sores are caused by steroids or NSAIDs, these medications should be discontinued. These medications probably won’t be recommended for use again for your dog’s life. Be sure to tell your prospective veterinarian about these sores even after they have healed.
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). This medication helps reduce acid in your dog’s stomach and may help heal ulcers.
- H2 Block. These also reduce stomach acid, but have a more immediate effect and in different ways than PPIs.
- Sucralfate. This medication comes in tablet form and is made into a liquid paste and then given to your dog orally. It acts as a bandage for the ulcer while also enhancing the healing process. It is given 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours after a meal. While this medication can be messy and inconvenient, it is a very important part of ulcer healing.
- Antibiotics. If your vet suspects that there is a bacterial cause or component of your dog’s sores, he or she may add 1 to 2 antibiotics to aid in healing.
While it may feel like this is a lot of medicine to take, taking all prescribed medications for the entire duration of your dog’s treatment plan is important for healing. complete ulcer. If you are having trouble getting your dog to take medication, contact your veterinarian for assistance. There may be simple adjustments that can be made to make the medication administration easier.
Why is my dog vomiting red?
if you see red in your dog’s vomit, it is important to note the amount of red material. If the vomit is accompanied by a small amount of bright red liquid, this is most likely caused by broken small blood vessels in the esophagus or back of the throat. This is because vomiting can damage tissues and can cause these small blood vessels to burst. Seeing this once or twice is nothing to worry about.
Frequent vomiting of bright red blood or vomiting of large amounts of blood is alarming. When in doubt, snap a photo and text or email your vet. Your veterinarian can help determine if medical attention is needed.
When to Call the Vet When Your Dog Is Vomiting
It can be difficult to know when you should call or see the vet. Here is a list of red flags:
- Black coffee grounds appear vomiting
- Frequent bright red blood in vomit
- A large amount of blood in the vomit
- Uncontrollable vomiting
- Vomiting with diarrhea
- Dull and indifferent
If you see your dog vomiting a strange color including black or red, consider what they may have eaten before you panic. Here is a list of things Besides Blood can produce these colors:
- Some types of fruit. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and raspberries.
- This warrants a trip to the vet for other reasons!
- Cake. Like coffee, if your dog eats chocolate cake, call your vet.
- Food coloring.
- Colored pencils, markers and pens. While crayons are generally easy to digest, pens and markers can be problematic. Consult your veterinarian about the best plan to monitor your dog for the next 2 to 3 days if this happens.
Whether your puppy’s black or dark red vomit is an emergency or not, it can be stressful and scary! You may find it difficult to stay calm and think clearly. Make sure you have established a relationship with your veterinarian when your dog is healthy, to facilitate planning if and when your dog becomes ill urgently. If you are in doubt whether your dog’s vomiting is benign or something more serious, I always advocate contacting your dedicated veterinary support team! Take a picture of the vomiting, and record how often and when it happens. If you are still worried or confused, it is always right to ask more questions. After all, you are your dog’s best and most important protector!
