Note: A black tarry stool indicates bleeding from the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine. Bright red blood in the stool indicates that the source of bleeding is in the lower gastrointestinal tract (colon or rectum).
Disease: Many causes including gastritis, gastroenteritis, and colitis due to bacterial infections (Salmonella, E. coli, etc.); viral infections (parvovirus, coronavirus); parasites (hookworms, roundworms, whipworms); gastric ulcers; inflammatory bowel disease; tick-borne diseases (ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever); liver disease; coagulation disorders (congenital and disease-related); rectal polyps; and gastrointestinal neoplasia.
What to do: Take the dog to a veterinarian to diagnose and treat.
Foreign Bodies: Gastrointestinal foreign bodies (various types and locations).
What to do: Take the dog to a veterinarian to diagnose and treat.
Toxicity: Anticoagulant rodenticides such as warfarin and related compounds.
What to do: Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Center to find out if you should administer any antidote or treatment at home. Do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by your veterinarian or APCC personnel. Immediately take the dog to a veterinarian to diagnose and treat. If possible, bring along the container of the suspected toxin.
Medicine: Medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or cortisone compounds.
What to do: Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Center to find out if you should administer any antidote or treatment at home. Do not induce vomiting unless directed to do so by your veterinarian or APCC personnel. Immediately take the dog to a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment. If your dog got into something he shouldn’t have, bring the container.
Trauma: Penetrating wounds.
What to do: Take the dog to a veterinarian to diagnose and treat.
Disclaimer: DogChannel.com’s Dog Medical Conditions are intended for educational purposes only. They are not meant to replace the expertise and experience of a professional veterinarian. Do not use the information presented here to make decisions about your dog’s ailment. If you notice changes in your dog’s health or behavior, please take your pet to the nearest veterinarian or an emergency pet clinic as soon as possible.