When a dog vomits black or dark brown it indicates that is vomiting blood, which is known as hematemesis, which is alarming much to the tutors and that may be due to something very serious. The most common causes in dogs are erosions or ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract or the use of drugs such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or dexamethasone. Other causes are diseases in organs such as the kidneys, liver, lung and pancreas or tumors, among others.
In this article on our site we will talk about the causes that cause a dog to vomit black, as well as its treatments.
Why is my dog vomiting black?
The causes of hematemesis or vomiting blood in dogs can be very diverse, although they generally indicate that there has been a damage to the gastrointestinal tract.
Specifically, if what you vomit is red-colored blood, it is most likely caused by some damage in the first sections of the digestive tract, specifically the mouth, esophagus, or in some cases, the stomach.
On the other hand, if you wonder why my dog vomits dark brown color indicates that the blood is older or somewhat digested, looking like black coffee grounds, and the causes may be:
- Ulcer or erosion of the gastrointestinal tract (very common).
- Foreign bodies in the digestive tract.
- Ingestion of bones.
- Tumors: carcinoma, lymphoma, leiomyoma.
- Pythiosis: in young dogs of the southeastern United States.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
- Drugs: NSAIDs or glucocorticoids (dexamethasone).
- Liver disease.
- Renal disease.
- Pancreatitis.
- Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison's disease).
- Acute gastritis.
- Acute hemorrhagic diarrheal syndrome.
- Helicobacter.
- Poisoning.
- Gastric polyps.
- Thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) or dysfunction.
- Coagulation factor deficiency.
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).
- Extradigestive diseases: torsion of a lobe of the lung or lung tumor.
For more information, see this other article on Why is my dog vomiting blood?
Symptoms of hematemesis in dogs
In addition to the dark coloration of the vomit, a dog that vomits blood may have other clinical signs at the same time as:
- Anorexy.
- Anemia.
- Lethargy.
- Black stools.
- Abdominal pain.
- Dehydration.
Depending on the underlying disease, clinical signs may be accompanied by:
- Polyuria-polydipsia, uremia and weight loss in kidney disease.
- Jaundice, loss of appetite, and discomfort in liver disease.
- Weight loss and weakness in tumors.
- More abdominal pain in pancreatitis.
- Bloody diarrhea in acute hemorrhagic diarrheal syndrome.
- Difficulty and respiratory signs if there is pathology in the lung.
- Other bleeding and haemorrhage in cases of thrombocytopenia or coagulopathies.
Diagnosis of black vomit in dogs
Because black vomit can be caused by various intra- or extra-gastrointestinal pathologies in dogs, the diagnosis should be ruling out pathologies, starting with the simplest, such as analytics, to the most complex, which would be endoscopic or imaging techniques. In short, to diagnose the cause of black vomit in dogs, the following must be done:
- Blood analysis and biochemistry: perform a blood analysis and biochemistry to look for changes in the blood count, anemia due to bleeding, azotemia (increased urea and creatinine) in kidney disease or altered liver enzymes if there is pathology in the liver or bile ducts.
- Urine and feces analysis: It is also recommended to carry out a urine and feces analysis.
- Platelet count: Assess for a coagulopathy with a platelet count and measurement of the bleeding time of the buccal mucosa.
- Ultrasound: pancreatitis should also be looked for, with specific tests and ultrasound.
- Look for signs of poisoning: Investigate whether poisoning may have occurred.
- X-rays: Assess the state of the respiratory system and lungs by means of X-rays to determine if the bleeding is coming from there.
- Endoscopy or gastroscopy: Perform an endoscopy or gastroscopy to look for lesions and bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as an abdominal ultrasound to locate foreign bodies, masses or organic changes indicative of disease.
- Tracheal endoscopy: Endoscopy of the trachea and choanae may also be helpful to look for occult respiratory bleeding.
Treatment of black vomit in dogs
To carry out a correct treatment, it is necessary to determine the hematocrit and the total protein concentration to assess the danger of hypovolemic shock and if a blood transfusion is necessaryOn the one hand, he will be given a symptomatic treatment , which includes fluid therapy to rehydrate the dog, antiemetics, antacids and appetite stimulants.
On the other hand, if there is any specific disease, such as kidney, liver or pancreatic disease, a specific treatment should be performed to each pathology. Chemotherapy and/or surgery will be necessary in cases of tumors.
Sometimes the treatment of hematemesis will require a surgical operation to treat internal damage.
Prognosis of black vomit in dogs
As you have seen, when a dog vomits in a dark color, it indicates that it is vomiting blood, and the diseases that can cause it are very varied, from damage caused by certain drugs to more serious and worrying diseases like tumors. Because of this, you should bring your dog quickly to the vet so they can examine it and find the problem before it may be too late. In this sense, the prognosis is reserved
