Stressed out pup!
 

Thursday my baby got sick. He threw up one time and it was spit with blood mixed in it. Then later that night his stools were really tarry. It wasn't runny looked normal except for the color. He acted like he felt bad and of course I babied him like crazy! On Wed. we had to leave him for a long period of time. He goes just about everywhere with me and really hates it when we leave him behind. I did notice on Wed. when we got back he wouldn't bark. He was still running around and was very excited to see me like always. My vet was closed on Thurs. and I couldn't take him Friday because my DD had a doctor's appointment as well. By Friday he started acting more like his normal self.He also pooped a normal color and hasn't gotten sick anymore since Thursday. Today it is like everything is back to normal.

Has anyone ever gone through this before? I have been told that he could have worked himself up into a frenzy because we left him behind. They say that stress can cause their stomachs to bleed. I also went and bought some new dog food that might be easier on his stomach. I bought Nutro NATURAL CHOICE® CHICKEN MEAL, RICE & OATMEAL FORMULA .So any thoughts?

Michelle

Tarry stools are stools with blood in them. He was bleeding from somewhere in his body. :( I honetly don't think they can work themselves up that much. I would go to the vet anyway to have him checked out. Better safe than sorry. Good luck!

Yes I have heard tarry stools is a sign of internal bleeding. I would take him to the vet

Any bloody vomit or tarry poop should be considered an emergency. You should go to the emergency vet at once. You are lucky this time. Next time maybe not:( Not trying to be a know it all, I'm an RN and have seen too many human problems like this. I agree that you should go to the vet asap for a check up.

I have never seen blood in vomit and together with black stools - I would have gone immediately to the vet suspecting internal bleeding. I don't understand why he seems so normal now. The Nutro food with oatmeal you bought is good for sensitive stomachs, but it sounds like more than that is going on.

I did a quick search and it sounds like a bleeding stomach ulcer. You haven't given her ibuprofen (tylenol) for anything by chance?

I agree, I'd see a vet. From another RN, tarry stools are generally indicative of an upper GI bleed, ie a bleeding gastric ulcer. Which, would also account for the bloody vomit, as coming out fresh and undigested, it will look like blood, after it goes through the GI tract and is mixed with all the digestive enzymes, tar. Unless I am mistaken, ibuprofen (Motrin) is contraindicated in dogs whereas acetaminophen (tylenol) is the one that is safe, but only per vets recommendations...Good luck.

I don't think either is safe for dogs, but the symptoms she listed are under ibuprofen toxicity.

Ibuprofen Toxicity in Dogs by: PetPlace Veterinarians
Edited by: Dr. Nishi Dhupa
Overview

Ibuprofen is a popular and effective over-the-counter medication available to treat pain and inflammation in people. For dogs, ibuprofen can easily exceed toxic levels. The most common cause of ibuprofen toxicity is a well-meaning owner trying to alleviate pain in his dog who administers a dose he thinks is adequate without knowing the toxic dose.

The initial toxic effect is bleeding stomach ulcers. In addition to ulcers, increasing doses of ibuprofen eventually leads to kidney failure and, if left untreated, can be fatal.

What to Watch For


Poor appetite

Vomiting

Black tarry stools

Vomiting blood

Abdominal pain

Dehydration

Weakness

Lethargy

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of ibuprofen toxicity is generally based on physical exam findings and a history of access or exposure to ibuprofen.

Blood tests are done to determine the overall health of the dog. If ibuprofen was ingested, blood tests may reveal anemia from a bleeding ulcer or kidney damage.

Treatment


Expect your veterinarian to recommend hospitalization with continuous intravenous fluids.


Activated charcoal may be given if ingestion was recent (less than 2 hours).


If the dog is severely anemic due to bleeding ulcers, blood transfusions may be needed.


Medications such as sucralfate (Carafate®), cimetidine (Tagamet®) or famotidine (Pepcid®) will be given to treat stomach ulcers.


After 1 to 2 days of treatment, repeat blood work may be done to evaluate kidney function after treatment.

Home Care and Prevention

There is no home care for ibuprofen toxicity. Veterinary care is strongly suggested to treat kidney failure and bleeding stomach ulcers.

While recovering from ibuprofen toxicity, feed your dog a bland diet for one to two days. Gradually return to a normal diet. Watch for failure to eat, vomiting and continued black tarry stools.

The best preventive care is to give your dog medications only if directed by your veterinarian. Medications that may be safe for people can be fatal to pets. Also, make sure that all medications are kept out of the reach of inquisitive pets. Keeping medicine safely stored away can prevent many tragedies.

I just studied the Merck Vet manual and it lists several anti-inflammatory drugs and their effects on animals. Aspirin appeared to be the most widely used, and I could not find any definitive contraindications to Tylenol (acetaminophen) but certainly contraindications to the ibuprofen secondary to the ulcers. Is it possible that your pup could have injested something??

No I don't think he got into anything. When we leave him he stays in a playpen he isn't allowed to run free.when he threw up it was like clear spit mixed with some blood. He only did it one time. He also had really bad gas the whole day. When he pooped later that night it looked liked reg poop it was just really dark like tarry black. It wasn't runny or anything. The next day he didn't poop of course he hadn't eaten much of anything either. The next day when he did it was normal color and all. It was the strangest thing.
I really don't think he would have gotten into any kind of meds. Plus I haven't given him anything either. To look at him you wouldn't have any idea he had felt bad. Thanks for the help.

Michelle

Just let us know when you bring him to the vet and the outcome. ;)

Michelle, I hope you have taken your baby to the vet by now. It is possible that he was able to tear off a piece of wood or other object that got stuck half way down. Does he ever have Greenies? They can cause these symptoms.
The bright red blood in the vomitus is from the esophagus or stomach for sure--well, maybe the farthest back part of the throat. The tarry stool is indicative of bleeding in the G-I tract anywhere from the stomach to the middle of the large intestine. Further down than that the blood would be bright red again. These babies can bleed out right before your eyes so never take a chance if you see these symptoms again.
My vet says no tylenol or motrin but aspirin can be used but only under the vet's close supervision.
Please keep us in the loop about his condition and what your doc says...

Nope I have never given him any meds whatsoever. I do have aspirin in the house for an older dog we have that has arthritis. I just got to looking in his mouth and he is missing a baby tooth. He had 2 that just wouldn't fall out. I am wondering if maybe that would have cut his throat if he had swallowed it. Would explain why he wouldn't bark when we came home that night. Like I said he is back to normal and acting like himself.

I am still going to call the vet in the morning. They aren't open on the weekends and our town is too small for an emergency vet. Our vet closes at noon every day and is closed on thursday and the weekends. I would have taken him friday but my DD had a docs appointment. As much as I love him my daughter comes first.

Thanks for the help and all of the suggestions. I know I can rule out any kids of medication. I really think this has a lot to do with his tooth now that I see it is gone. Plus he has been chewing on a rawhide bone. So if his throat was cut then that could have made it worse. Oh and nope he has never had Greenies. After hearing all of the horror stories I refuse to by them. Thanks again.

maxi had a similar problem, vomitting and diarheaing, sometimes blood. i think it might have been the fact that she was infected with tapeworm for a while before i noticed. i took her to the vet and the vet suggested i use science diet sensitve stomach food. she said the bigger brands like science diet and eukanuba do more testing on food for pets than any other brand and they are more reliable in that sense (especially if your dog has internal problems).

Any updates??