Mary Allen
When your own dog vomits blood, the excitement is great. Many people panic and worry about their dog.
In fact, blood in vomit should always be taken seriously. But there doesn’t always have to be something bad behind it.
In this article you will learn what is behind it when your dog vomits blood and how you should behave in such a situation.
My dog is vomiting blood – what does that mean?
If your dog is spitting up blood, there can be a number of reasons. Whatever the cause, it should always be checked out and treated by a veterinarian.
Foreign body
If your dog ingests foreign objects, this can lead to injuries in the esophagus, stomach or intestines. Foreign objects can be bones, wood or chewed balls, for example.
Young dogs in particular tend to swallow foreign objects and injure themselves. If your dog vomits bright red blood, this usually indicates an injury to the stomach or esophagus.
Inflammation
Inflammation can also cause bloody vomit in dogs. Inflammation can be caused by foreign bodies. Gastrointestinal inflammation or inflammation of the pancreas can also cause blood vomiting.
Cancer and stomach ulcers
Tumors and gastric ulcers should be taken particularly seriously. If it is a tumor or a stomach ulcer, the blood is dark red in color.
In the worst case, the tumor or stomach ulcer can burst. Extreme caution is required here, as this is life-threatening for the dog.
Allergies
Some dogs are sensitive to certain foods and respond by vomiting. This cause is often accompanied by other symptoms such as itching of the skin or inflammation of the ears.
Parasites
Often behind the bloody vomit is an infestation with parasites. Worms and giardia are the most common. These can be dealt with relatively easily.
The veterinarian will prescribe a specific medication for the dog, which will then be mixed with the dog’s food. Some wormers are already effective against both types of parasites.
Infections
Infections are also a common trigger for bloody vomiting. These can be caused by either bacteria or viruses. Parvovirus and distemper are particularly dangerous for dogs.
In addition to the bloody vomiting, there is also bloody diarrhea. Quick help is required for these viral infections because they can be life-threatening for the dog.
Toxins
Toxins can be very dangerous for dogs, as many of them are deadly even in small amounts. Toxic substances are, for example, human painkillers such as ibuprofen, antifreeze or slug pellets.
Dog vomits blood after surgery
Vomiting blood after surgery is quite common. Vomiting occurs especially when the dog eats again too quickly. Small injuries may cause the vomit to be a little bloody.
It is important not to feed the dog too early after an operation. Food should not be given again until one day after the operation. Small amounts of water are allowed.
This not only supports your dog in the healing process, but can also prevent bloody vomiting.
What to do if my dog vomits blood?
As soon as your dog throws up blood, you should definitely contact the veterinarian. Because as a layman, it is not always immediately apparent what the cause can be. At the very least, you should always keep a close eye on your dog’s behavior.
For example, if your dog has previously chewed on a bone, there is a good chance that it has sustained a minor injury.
However, if your fur nose shows other symptoms or if its condition does not improve, the veterinarian should always be consulted.
The vet will also carry out various examinations. He usually takes a urine and stool sample for analysis. An examination of the organs or X-rays is also common practice.
When is blood in the vomit dangerous for the dog?
Blood in vomit is always dangerous when it comes to a serious illness. This is the case, for example, if the dog has a tumor or a stomach ulcer. These can burst and bleed, which can quickly become life-threatening for your dog.
Poisoning can also be dangerous for the dog if you don’t act quickly. If there is a suspicion of poisoning, for example from antifreeze, the dog should be taken to the vet as soon as possible.
Other symptoms and their meaning
Other symptoms may occur in addition to vomiting blood. For example, if your dog has diarrhea at the same time, an infection of the gastrointestinal tract is likely.
Fever, fatigue and weakness can indicate cancer. If the vomit also smells very strong, this is an indication of poisoning.
Your dog is vomiting blood but is fit
If your dog is vomiting blood but is otherwise perfectly fit, it probably just ate a foreign object. The foreign body can cause small injuries in the esophagus or stomach.
If the dog then vomits, there may be some blood in it. If the gums are injured or your dog has a small wound in the mouth, this can also lead to blood in the vomit.
In this case, vomiting blood is usually harmless, but should always be observed. Because even a foreign body can be dangerous. A sharp bone, for example, can lead to serious internal injuries.
If these bleed too much, it can be life-threatening for your dog. Foreign bodies can also cause intestinal obstruction.
The intestinal contents can no longer drain off, lingers in the intestine and rots. Left untreated, intestinal obstruction in dogs is fatal.
Therefore, it is always advisable to consult a veterinarian if the foreign body does not come off on its own and the bleeding does not stop.
Dog vomits blood and won’t eat
Not eating is usually an alarming sign. Because that means that your dog is unfortunately not doing well. Of course, it’s not always a dangerous sign that your dog is in danger.
For example, a severe infection or allergy can cause your dog to vomit blood and not want to eat.
However, there can also be a serious illness behind it. Therefore, a veterinarian should always be consulted if these symptoms occur.
Dog vomits blood and foam
When vomiting blood and foam, which is white in color, a foreign body is usually the trigger. So your dog swallowed something it shouldn’t have swallowed.
Dog vomits blood and bile
If your dog vomits blood and bile, or if your dog vomits bloody mucus, this is an indication of a serious illness. You should urgently have your four-legged friend examined by a veterinarian.
Dog vomits blood and has blood in stool
These signs indicate inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Injuries to the stomach and intestines caused by foreign bodies can also trigger the symptoms.
Conclusion
If your fur nose vomits blood, you should first keep calm. A serious illness does not always have to be the trigger for this. Nevertheless, going to the vet is essential, as the cause should always be clarified.
Especially in the case of poisoning or ruptured stomach ulcers, veterinary help is essential in order not to endanger your dog’s life.
Has your dog ever vomited blood and what was the trigger?