Dog Vomiting Blood: What to Do Right Now

What to do right now

Take a photo of the vomit, and if you can, scoop a sample into a sealed bag to bring along. Look for anything your dog might have swallowed: chewed toys, bones, garbage, medicine packets, or rat and mouse bait. Bring any packaging with you.

Do not give food, human pain relievers, or any other medicine, and do not try to make your dog vomit. Offer nothing until a vet advises you. If poison is possible, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 on the way; a fee may apply.

What the color of the blood tells you

Bright red blood or fresh clots usually means bleeding that is happening now, somewhere in the mouth, throat, or stomach. A single small streak after a bout of hard retching can come from irritation of the throat, but it still needs a call to your vet that day.

Dark brown or black flecks that look like coffee grounds are blood that has been partly digested, which usually means bleeding in the stomach or upper intestine. Black, tarry stools can be a sign of the same thing. Either one needs to be seen promptly.

Common causes

Stomach inflammation, called gastritis, is a frequent cause, often after a dog eats garbage, spoiled food, or something it should not have. Swallowed objects such as bones, sticks, and toy pieces can scrape or block the gut. Stomach ulcers can follow the use of some medicines, including human pain relievers.

More serious causes include some rat and mouse poisons that stop blood from clotting, infections such as parvovirus and leptospirosis, liver or kidney disease, and other bleeding disorders. Blood swallowed from a nosebleed or a mouth injury can also come back up and look alarming.

Signs that make it more urgent

Go to an emergency vet rather than waiting for a daytime slot if your dog is vomiting repeatedly, is weak or wobbly, has pale gums, collapses, or has a swollen belly with unproductive retching. A puppy who is not fully vaccinated and is vomiting blood or has bloody diarrhea also needs to go now.

Other red flags are blood in the stool as well as the vomit, refusing water, a painful belly, or any chance your dog has eaten medicine, rat bait, or another toxin. With some poisons, signs of bleeding may not appear for days, so tell the vet about any possible exposure.

What the vet will do

Expect a full examination, including the gums and belly, then blood tests to check red cell levels, organ function, and how well the blood clots. X-rays or an ultrasound look for swallowed objects, ulcers, or masses. Some dogs need a camera exam of the stomach, called an endoscopy.

Treatment depends on the cause and can include IV fluids, medicine to protect the stomach, surgery to remove an object, or specific antidotes for some poisons. Bring the photo, the sample, and a list of everything your dog has eaten or been given in the past few days.

Preventing it from happening again

Keep garbage cans lidded, put medicines out of reach, and never give your dog pain relievers meant for people. Choose toys that are too large to swallow and throw away any that are falling apart. Cooked bones splinter easily and are best avoided.

If you use rodent bait, keep it in places your dog cannot get to, or choose methods that do not involve poison. Keep your puppy's vaccinations up to date, since parvovirus is one cause of bloody vomiting. Follow up with your vet as advised after any episode.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.