Content
- the vomit with blood
- Inflammatory diseases of the digestive system
- presence of foreign bodies
- Intoxications
- Renal insufficiency
- gastric ulcers
- Other causes of bloody vomiting
The appearance of blood in any secretion of our dog is always a reason for concern and, in general, the search for veterinary assistance. To explain why our dog is vomiting blood, it is first necessary to identify where the bleeding is occurring and how it is, since fresh blood is not the same as digested blood. As for the causes, they can be many.
In this PeritoAnimal article, we'll review the most common ones, insisting that any major bleeding should be treated by a veterinarian. Then discover the causes and treatments for a dog vomiting blood.
the vomit with blood
Before I go on to explain the possible reasons why we are facing a dog vomiting blood, you need to know that blood can come from many sources, from mouth to stomach. Once you detect vomiting, you can examine your dog to try to find any lesions in the oral cavity that could explain the bleeding. sometimes a gum wound or on the tongue, made from a bone, a stick or a stone, can cause bleeding that is mistaken for vomiting.
In addition, this bleeding can become very heavy, although a priori it is less severe than those of internal origin. If on this exam you find any abnormality such as a lump, a broken tooth or a foreign body, it will be necessary to consult your veterinarian.
Vomiting with blood itself, that is, that which originates in the digestive tract, is known by the name of hematemesis. Bleeding can also come from the respiratory system. Blood can be fresh, in the form of streaks or clots, and also digested, in which case the color will turn darker.In addition, your dog may vomit foamy blood, mucus, or more fluid.
Sometimes the dog vomits blood and makes bloody stools. These feces, known by the name of melena, have a very dark color as they contain digested blood. Lastly, you need to look at whether an acute episode of vomiting occurs or whether vomiting occurs over several days instead. Take all these data into account, plus any other symptoms such as pain, diarrhea or weakness, in order to provide the veterinarian all possible information for diagnosis.
Inflammatory diseases of the digestive system
Inflammatory diseases of digestive dystema can lead to a dog vomiting blood. In these cases, it is normal that he, in addition to the vomit with blood, have diarrhea, also bloody, but these secretions will not always contain blood. In addition, we will often see that the dog vomits blood and does not want to eat or drink. It is necessary to seek veterinary attention, since whenever there is bleeding, the conditions are conducive to development of an infection.
In addition, the loss of fluids without being replaced by food can cause dehydration, aggravating the clinical picture. The causes of this inflammation can be several and a serious case is produced by parvovirus or parvovirus, acute infectious enteritis, which mainly infects puppies, with a high mortality rate. Because it is a virus, there is no better treatment than prevention, vaccinating puppies from 6 to 8 weeks of age. In any case, it should be the veterinarian who determines why we have a dog vomiting blood and prescribes the appropriate treatment.
presence of foreign bodies
It is relatively common for dogs to eat all kinds of objects, especially when they are puppies or very greedy. These objects can be stones, sticks, bones, toys, hooks, ropes, etc. Some of them have sharp edges and, therefore, when ingested, they can cause considerable damage in different parts of the digestive system, even causing drilling.
If you suspect that the reason a dog is vomiting blood is because of ingestion of an object, you should go to the vet without wasting time. By taking an X-ray, it is sometimes possible to distinguish the swallowed object and its location. Other times, however, it is necessary to resort to endoscopy, with which it is sometimes also possible to extract the foreign body. If this is not possible, the treatment will undergo abdominal surgery. To avoid these situations, prevention is essential, preventing your dog from having access to potentially dangerous materials and offering him only safe toys.
Intoxications
Whether deliberate or accidental, dog poisoning or poisoning can also explain why we have a dog vomiting blood. Some substances, such as rodenticides, act as anticoagulants and cause spontaneous bleeding. Symptoms, in addition to vomiting, can include nosebleeds and rectal bleeding or bruises. is needed veterinary attention immediate and the prognosis will depend on the substance ingested and its quantity in relation to the animal's weight.
If you know what the dog ate, you should let the vet know. In addition, it is important to maintain a safe environment for your partner, preventing him from having access to toxic products, such as cleaning products. When going out for a walk, or if you have access to the outdoors, it is also important to maintain care, bearing in mind that he may find garbage or harmful plants. Safety measures and quick intervention will be the key to avoid risks or minimize damage in case of intoxication. is treated with vitamin K, and transfusions may be necessary.
Renal insufficiency
Sometimes, behind the blood in the vomit, there is a systemic disease like renal insufficiency. In this case, the reason our dog vomits blood is the failure of the kidneys, which are unable to eliminate waste. The buildup of these toxins is what causes the symptoms.
Although the kidneys that start to fail can compensate for a long time, when we finally discover the disease, they are usually already badly affected. Bankruptcy can appear in a way acute or chronic. In addition to vomiting blood from gastrointestinal bleeding, we can see that our dog drinks more water and urinates more, looks listless, is thinner, has drier fur, and an ammonia-scented breath. Sometimes, mouth ulcers and diarrhea may also be seen.
Through a blood and urine test, you can confirm the problem. The prognosis will depend on the degree of affection, and treatment, in chronic cases, usually consists of a specific diet for dogs with kidney failure, in addition to medication. Acute renal failure requires intensive veterinary care with fluid therapy and intravenous medication.
gastric ulcers
Ulcers consist of mucosal injuries of the digestive system that can be superficial or deep, single or multiple, and of varied sizes. That could be the reason we find a dog vomiting blood. They usually occur in the stomach. Among the causes of these injuries, the consumption of anti-inflammatory drugs stands out. Ulcers mainly cause vomiting, although anemia can also be present and you can see that the dog is losing weight.
You may notice fresh, digested blood or clots in these vomits. It is a serious situation, as considerable bleeding can occur quickly, causing the dog to go into shock. Stools can also appear darkened by the presence of blood. Also, the ulcer may end in a perforation that can cause peritonitis. Veterinary assistance is required and the prognosis is reserved.
Other causes of bloody vomiting
As we said at the beginning, there are several factors that can explain why we are facing a dog vomiting blood. Finally, we must also highlight that, in addition to the causes already mentioned, we can find ourselves in front of others, such as the following:
- Tumors, more frequent in older dogs.
- Liver or pancreatic diseases.
- Injuries caused by accidents such as falls or being run over.
- Coagulation disorders.
For both these causes and those mentioned above, it is normal for the veterinarian to do diagnostic tests and analytical (blood, urine, feces), radiographs, ultrasound, endoscopies or even exploratory laparotomy.
Whenever bleeding occurs, you should consult your veterinarian, as this can sometimes be the result of very serious conditions that compromise the dog's life. As we have seen, both treatment and prognosis will depend on the source of the bloody vomit.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Dog vomiting blood: causes and treatments, we recommend that you enter our Other health problems section.