My dog is vomiting blood
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Original Post
I just woke up to my dog vomiting blood. There are pools of bloody vomit all over the bedroom. She seems alert and ok otherwise, but the vet doesn't open until * and it's only 5ish here, now and I woke to this a 4:30, and I'm out of paper towels. I'm feaking out.
Posted at 5:12am Sep 28, 2009 EDT
Responses
Not good at all, could be an internal puncture. Do you have a vet ER in your area?
Posted at 5:13am Sep 28, 2009 EDT
Look in your phone book for a 24 hour emergency vet.
Posted at 5:13am Sep 28, 2009 EDT
How scary. Is there any chance she got ahold of some Rat Poison?
Is there any emergency Vets in your area, that does not sound good at all.
Posted at 5:14am Sep 28, 2009 EDT
I called the ER vet and they are telling me as long as she is alert I have a window of time and should wait for my vet. She started vomiting her food around 9pm last night, now it's become blood and mucous. She's drinking water. Her gums are pink, not pale, but yes, I'm worried, ER vet leaves at 6am, and by the time I get there, he'll be gone as the ER vet is in the next county over. We are in a rural area. So now I'm just praying.
Posted at 5:17am Sep 28, 2009 EDT
A dog vomiting blood (called hematemesis) can be due to something temporary or something systemic (a problem with your dog's gastrointestinal system). Problems range from a few drops of bright red blood in his vomit, or the vomit may appear very dark and resemble coffee grounds.
For example, a few drops of bright red blood is more likely to mean gum disease or a cut in the mouth, while vomit that looks like coffee grounds is more likely to mean an ulcer or bleeding in the stomach.
The most common causes of vomiting are listed below. These will be ruled out before looking for other causes.
* Poison such as anti-freeze or toxins
* Gastrointestinal Problems
* Motion Sickness
* Swallowing a foreign object such as a dog bone with sharp edges or garbage
* Drugs (eg; NSAIDS)
* Radiation
* Dietary Problem (food intolerance)
* Parasites
* Kidney Disease
* Liver Disease
If vomiting is more severe or chronic, and the above list is ruled out, then your veterinarian will consider the following conditions:
* Intestinal problems (called a Motility disorder)
* Difficulty defecating (Gastric hypomotility)
* Inflamatory bowel disease (IBD)
* Chronic gastritis
* Obstruction in the bowel
* Tumor (neoplasia)
When observing your dog vomit, try and record for your veterinarian the following characteristics:
1. How long has your dog been vomiting?
2. Medical History?
3. Diet
4. Where your dog has been (eg; outside)
5. History of coughing and sneezing
6. Does it only happen after your dog eats?
6. Odor
8. Frequency of vomiting
Posted at 5:17am Sep 28, 2009 EDT
No, def. no posion around here. No rats and we don't use any posions or even bug sprays.
Posted at 5:18am Sep 28, 2009 EDT
Dog Vomiting Blood Treatment
If your dog has had severe vomiting, he may need to be stabilized with subcutaneous (under the skin) fluids for dehydration (intravenous) fluid. He should also have a bland diet until the vomiting stops. Your veterinarian may recommend that your dog stay at veterinary clinic for several days.
The appropriate treatment for a dog vomiting blood depends on the cause of the bleeding. For instance, ulcers are treated with medication and a bland diet. The appropriate treatment for gum disease is keeping the teeth and gums clean with regular brushing. The treatment for cancer depends on the type of cancer, how advanced it is, and how aggressively the owner wishes to treat it.
If your dog swallows a foreign object such as a sharp edged bone he or she picked up when outside of the home, your veterinarian will use a laxative to try and pass the bone particles and possibly an anti-biotic to reduce the change of infection. Intravenous fluids and a stay at the veterinary hospital for a few days are a possibility.
Posted at 5:18am Sep 28, 2009 EDT