Seeing your dog vomit can be extremely stressful, but observing your dog vomiting blood can spark a whole new level of concern and may even be downright scary.
You are most likely asking: Is a dog vomiting blood serious? And–what causes bloody vomit in dogs? Hematemesis, the veterinary term for vomiting blood, can be caused by a wide variety of things that range from relatively benign to very serious.
Types of Bloody Dog Vomit
While it is alarming, the appearance of blood in a dog’s vomit can give your veterinarian clues as to the underlying cause and definitive diagnosis.
Let’s discuss some of the more common ways that blood in your dog’s vomit might appear:
Bright Red Dog Vomit
The bright red color might mean that the blood originated from your dog’s mouth or esophagus (the tubular structure that connects the mouth to the stomach). If your dog happens to be bleeding heavily from the mouth, the blood could even be swallowed and then vomited back up.
Bloody Dog Vomit with Mucus
Dogs that are vomiting blood and mucus (clear to white and phlegm-like) most likely have a condition that is causing inflammation and irritation in the stomach or upper portion of the small intestines.
Dark Red Dog Vomit (similar to coffee grounds)
When the blood in the vomit is dark red, it generally means that the blood has been partially digested and, therefore, is most likely coming from the stomach or the upper portion of the intestinal tract.
Foamy, Pink-Tinged Vomit
Foamy, pink-colored vomit typically indicates the presence of irritation and/or inflammation and is usually not as serious as the appearance of blood in dog vomit.
Specks of Blood in Dog Vomit
Specks, or tiny spots, of blood in your dog’s vomit are very similar in origin and degree of severity to that of the immediately preceding foamy, pink-tinged vomit.
10 Possible Reasons Your Dog Is Vomiting Blood
While there are numerous reasons why your dog may be vomiting blood, we are going to examine some of the most common:
1. Ingestion of Foreign Bodies
When your dog ingests foreign bodies that are sharp or can easily splinter into pieces, (like bones and sticks), the sharp edges can cause significant physical damage to the lining of the stomach and upper intestinal tract. This can result in bleeding and inflammation.
Ingestion of foreign bodies may also result in obstruction (i.e., blockage) of the intestinal tract, resulting in vomiting, since food and fluids cannot move through the intestinal tract as they normally would.
2. HGE (Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis)
HGE is a disease that is characterized by dogs who have a sudden onset of severe, bloody diarrhea and generally also vomit blood. Unfortunately, not a lot is known about what causes HGE in dogs. Two main theories for the cause of HGE are an underlying bacterial infection or a hypersensitivity reaction after repeated exposure to a food your dog is allergic to.
Regardless of the cause, the result is significant internal bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract. Digestion of the blood in the upper gastrointestinal tract generally causes your dog to vomit the blood and, therefore, perpetuates the entire, vicious cycle.
3. Intestinal Parasites
Dogs, especially puppies, that are not on a regular deworming schedule can be susceptible to infestations with large numbers of intestinal parasites, such as hookworms, giardia, and coccidia. Many intestinal parasites attach to or infect the cells lining the intestinal tract, leading to inflammation, bleeding, and decreased absorption of nutrients from the intestines.
Hookworms, for example, attach to the lining of the small intestine and inject a substance that thins your dog’s blood, resulting in bleeding. If the hookworm detaches to find another site to feed in the intestine, the “old” site will continue to bleed. A large number of hookworms in the intestines, therefore, could lead to your dog vomiting blood and, most likely, also having bloody diarrhea.
4. Stomach Ulcers
Though not common in dogs, these can also cause bloody vomit. Dogs with stomach ulcers typically have an excessive amount of stomach acid that erodes the protective lining of the stomach, resulting in bleeding into the stomach and open erosions (“sores”) that are extremely painful. If your dog is vomiting what appears to be “coffee grounds,” they may have stomach ulcer(s). Bloody diarrhea, which consists of dark, tarry stools (due to the digestion of the blood), also commonly occurs in dogs with stomach ulcers.
5. Ingesting Toxins
This is a major concern and cause of bloody vomit in dogs, as many common household items such as batteries, human NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs such as AdvilⓇ and AleveⓇ), and household cleaners containing bleach can cause inflammation and ulceration of the lining of the stomach, resulting in ulceration and potentially bleeding in the stomach.
Other toxins, such as anticoagulant rodenticides, interfere with the normal clotting of your dog’s blood, resulting in bleeding potentially anywhere in your dog’s body. Bleeding into the stomach secondary to ingestion of anticoagulant rodenticides leads to your dog vomiting blood.
6. IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)
IBD is a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly the stomach or the small and large intestines. As a result of this ongoing inflammation, the lining of the stomach and intestines becomes infiltrated by inflammatory cells that then cause an allergic-type reaction that interferes with your dog’s ability to digest and absorb nutrients. If the stomach is affected, the chronic inflammation results in ulceration and bleeding of the stomach lining, similar to stomach ulcers. Therefore, bloody vomit can occur with this condition.
7. Viral or Bacterial Infections
Viral infections like parvovirus can be particularly serious, and even fatal, for young dogs or dogs that have not been adequately vaccinated. Parvovirus is a potentially deadly virus that invades and infects the rapidly dividing cells lining the intestinal tract. The virus also prevents the formation of new, healthy cells. This results in the destruction of the normal lining of the intestines, which then results in decreased absorption of fluid and nutrients and leads to diarrhea and vomiting. The severe inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract coupled with the potential for bacteria to move from the gut to the rest of the body and cause infection, due to lack of a normal intestinal lining, often leads to bloody vomit and diarrhea.
8. Pancreatitis
The pancreas is responsible for producing enzymes that aid in the digestion of food, as well as hormones like insulin that regulate your dog’s blood sugar. When the pancreas becomes inflamed, the condition is known as pancreatitis, and it occurs commonly in dogs. Pancreatitis essentially results in the digestion of the pancreas by the digestive enzymes it produces to digest food.
The exact cause is unknown, although some believe that it may occur after your dog eats a particularly fatty meal or could also be due to the administration of steroid medication. The severity of clinical signs can vary greatly but generally include vomiting, with or without blood, and diarrhea, in addition to abdominal pain and dehydration. Severe cases of pancreatitis may even be fatal.
9. Coagulopathy/Internal Bleeding
Coagulopathies, or lack of adequate blood clotting, due to underlying medical conditions such as liver disease, low platelet numbers, autoimmune diseases (conditions where the body essentially attacks itself and its red blood cells, platelets, etc.), and disorders like hemophilia lead to bleeding into numerous areas of your dog’s body.
Ingestion of toxins such as an anticoagulant rodenticide can have a similar appearance to dogs with a primary clotting condition. Finally, exposure to certain drugs or medications can lead to similar clinical signs of bleeding into the stomach and small intestines, and therefore, your dog vomits blood.
10. Vomiting Blood That Has Been Swallowed
Trauma to your dog’s oral cavity (mouth) can lead to both bloody vomit and diarrhea. The mouth bleeds very easily, so any trauma to the inside of the mouth can result in bleeding that is then swallowed and vomited back up. Injury to the mouth and bleeding can also occur from chewing on sharp objects.
Your dog may also vomit blood after swallowing blood that originated from the nose (epistaxis), coughed up from the lungs (hemoptysis), or licked from a wound on their skin.
Vomiting Blood Vs. Coughing Up Blood: How to Tell the Difference
Pet parents need to know the difference between a dog that is vomiting blood and one that is coughing up blood. Why? If a dog is coughing up blood, that usually means that the blood is originating from the respiratory tract (i.e., the trachea, lungs, etc.), while a dog vomiting blood generally indicates that the bleeding is occurring somewhere within the gastrointestinal tract.
While distinguishing between the two is ultimately something that your veterinarian will need to do, you can provide them with invaluable information by taking a video of your dog when they are “producing” the blood.
To put it simply, dogs who are VOMITING blood will have strong, visible abdominal contractions (movements) that occur immediately before the vomit is spewed from their mouth. In contrast, dogs who are COUGHING up blood tend to stretch their necks forward and cough. The blood may be expelled during the cough or after the cough and may even be swallowed again. Coughing dogs often conclude an episode of coughing with a gagging or retching sound (that appears similar to vomiting) because they have succeeded in coughing something up.
When Is Throwing Up Blood an Emergency?
While your dog vomiting blood is always alarming, it may not always be a medical emergency. However, it is generally recommended that you seek veterinary care as soon as possible, especially if your dog is exhibiting other clinical signs that may indicate a much more serious underlying cause.
For example, dogs who are vomiting blood repeatedly, are extremely weak or in pain, or are having difficulty breathing warrant an immediate exam by a veterinarian. In addition, if your dog is a puppy, you should seek veterinary care immediately, as puppies are more prone to infections such as Parvovirus, which can become worse quickly and even be fatal if not treated.
Other clinical signs to watch for that would indicate an emergency include bloody diarrhea (a problem potentially in both the upper and lower intestinal tract), black, tarry stools (because your dog is swallowing and digesting the blood), or the presence of pale gums (i.e. mucous membranes) that typically indicates internal bleeding or shock.
To reiterate, a dog vomiting blood is generally considered an emergency, and your dog should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Simply put, there are no effective “home remedies” for dogs vomiting blood, and these should not be a substitute for proper veterinary care.
However, some helpful things that you can do while waiting for your pet to be seen include withholding food and water if they are repeatedly vomiting, taking photos or collecting a small amount of the vomit for your veterinarian to examine, and attempting to determine if your dog could have ingested or been exposed to anything. Finally, it is important to remain calm as your dog will key in on your stress, which can make their condition worse.
Treatment Options for When a Dog is Vomiting Blood
Although the treatment of a dog vomiting blood largely depends on the underlying cause, some treatments will be routinely recommended for the more common underlying causes.
The following are a few of the more common treatments implemented by veterinarians for dogs vomiting blood and typically consist of two phases, supportive care and addressing the underlying cause:
- Intravenous (via a catheter) or subcutaneous (under the skin) administration of fluids to correct dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. More severe cases may require hospitalization of your dog for continued supportive care.
- Anti-nausea medications (usually in the injectable form) to help stop the vomiting.
- Antacids to reduce inflammation and irritation within your dog’s stomach.
- Medication to help coat the stomach lining and act as a “bandaid” for any inflamed or ulcerated areas.
- A bland diet that will be easily digested only AFTER the vomiting has stopped. Dogs who are vomiting blood should have food, and potentially water, withheld until they can be examined by a veterinarian.
More specific diagnostics, such as bloodwork and x-rays, and treatments may be needed in certain situations for dogs vomiting blood. For example, a dog who is vomiting blood because he ingested a foreign body will need to have surgery to remove the offending foreign body.
Dogs vomiting blood due to a severe intestinal parasite infestation will need to be treated (most likely more than once) with a specific deworming medication based on the results of a fecal analysis. Finally, some types of infections (like Parvovirus) and medical conditions (severe cases of pancreatitis) may require the use of injectable antibiotics until the vomiting has resolved.
Is It Possible to Prevent Bloody Dog Vomit?
While not all causes of dogs vomiting blood can be prevented, there are some simple things that pet parents can do to reduce the risk of it occurring.
These might include the following:
- Do not switch your dog’s food to a new food abruptly. It is generally recommended that transitions to a new dog food be done gradually over 1-2 weeks, depending on the individual dog.
- Supervise your dog when giving them chew toys, and do not allow them to chew on non-food items such as rocks, which can easily become lodged in the stomach or intestines. Foreign bodies are a common cause of blood vomit and generally require surgical removal.
- Do not allow your dog to chew on sticks, bones, or other objects that can easily splinter into sharp pieces that can physically damage the lining of the upper portion of the intestinal tract and result in bleeding.
- Keep your dog away from known poisons and toxins such as rat poison. Place rodenticides in areas that are not accessible to your pet. Certain rodenticides are responsible for causing problems with blood clotting and can result in bloody vomit or even death if not treated immediately and aggressively.
- One of the easiest things that you can do to prevent your dog from vomiting blood is to keep them on regular parasite prevention. Giardia and Coccidia are two of the most common intestinal parasites in dogs that can cause bloody vomit and diarrhea.
- Keep your dog up to date on routine preventive care, such as vaccinations. Viral infections, such as Parvovirus, can be fatal in puppies and unvaccinated dogs but is almost completely preventable with an adequately timed series of puppyhood vaccinations.
Conclusion
Observing your dog vomiting blood can certainly be scary. As we have discussed throughout this article, there are numerous reasons why your dog may be vomiting blood. While some causes of bloody vomit can be prevented, the general recommendation for ANY dog that is actively vomiting blood is to have them examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Because, as scary as it is, when the underlying cause of the bloody vomit is diagnosed and treated rapidly, the majority of dogs DO go on to completely recover and live a long, happy life! So, if in doubt, always “err on the side of caution” and get them checked out!!
Sources
https://www.petmd.com/dog/symptoms/why-my-dog-throwing-blood
https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/healthcare/dog-vomiting-blood?lightboxfired=true#
https://bondvet.com/b/why-is-my-dog-throwing-up-blood
https://www.fetchpet.com/the-dig/dog-throwing-up-blood
https://www.innovetpet.com/blogs/health-care/dog-vomiting-blood
