Author: Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP

Treatment for Dogs Throwing up Blood Dogs with less severe symptoms may be treated and released immediately from the veterinary hospital, but others with more severe or ongoing signs may be hospitalized for additional testing or treatment. Each case is unique, and the treatment differs depending upon the underlying cause. For example: A dog vomiting blood because of parasites will be given medication to get rid of the parasites, in addition to care for treating the symptoms. In most cases, a dog that has a foreign body lodged in their intestinal tract will need surgery. Viral infections are likely to need hospitalization and intensive supportive care. However, most dogs vomiting blood, regardless of cause, will benefit from symptomatic care. This will often include: Injections of fluids to treat dehydration and electrolyte imbalances (oral fluids are not recommended for dogs that are vomiting) Antacids to reduce stomach inflammation Anti-nausea injections to help stop the vomiting Protectants to line the stomach and help bandage irritated areas A bland diet to make it easy to eat once your dog is back on their feet As scary as it is to have your dog vomiting blood, when the cause is diagnosed and treated quickly, pets do fully recover in most cases. So when in doubt, get your dog checked out! Featured image: iStock.com/123ducu,  You hear your dog vomiting again, and at first you think they just got into the trash. But when you clean up the mess, you see that there’s blood in the vomit and you immediately start to panic. This is a normal reaction, and yes, you should call your veterinarian right away, even if your dog appears to feel fine. Dog Vomiting Blood: What It Looks Like Vomiting blood is known by veterinarians as hematemesis (hema means “blood” and emesis means “vomit”). The appearance and color of the blood in the vomit is very important. In addition to making note of what came up, you should also take a few photos and bag up a sample of the vomit, both of which could be very helpful to your veterinarian. Bright red blood that is liquid often comes from the esophagus—the tube that connects the mouth and stomach. Sometimes, if the mouth is bleeding heavily, that blood might be swallowed and then vomited back up. Dark red blood that either is clotted or looks like coffee grounds usually indicates that it has been partially digested by stomach acid, so it likely came from either the stomach or the upper part of the intestinal tract. When the vomit is foamy and pink-tinged or has small specks of blood, it’s usually a sign of irritation and in most cases is less serious than the other scenarios.

Check With Your Local Shelter About Their Fostering Needs Interested in fostering an animal? Contact the shelters near you to find out what their policies are for fostering a pet. Be aware that each shelter might be different. Some may foster dogs and cats. Some may even foster exotic pets. Some provide the supplies needed to care for the pet, while others require you to purchase them. Regardless of how you choose to give back to a shelter pet, you’re making a difference in their lives, especially during the holiday season.,WRITTEN BYSandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP Veterinarian Sandra Mitchell is a 1995 graduate of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine. Since graduation, she has worked in many fields…,  As the holiday season nears, it brings with it the excitement and chaos of parties, family get-togethers, shopping, and cooking. It also stirs up in us the spirit of giving and helping others. By now, you are likely thinking about what gifts to buy a loved one, or how to help your local charity or animal shelter. Donating money to an animal shelter or buying items on their wish list is always a good idea, but have you thought about giving the ultimate gift—fostering a pet to give them a break from the shelter during the holidays? When you foster a shelter animal—for a night, weekend, or the long term—you are helping them get away from the hustle and bustle of a crowded shelter environment to have some one-on-one time with human companions. Fosters Help Clear Capacity at Shelters By taking home a foster animal, you are helping the pet as well as the shelter. Especially during the holidays, shelters are usually overwhelmed and in need of extra help and space. The shelter benefits when it has fewer dogs to walk and litter boxes to clean. Fostering a pet also reduces labor and supply costs for the shelter and frees up a space that can be filled by another needy animal.

WRITTEN BYSandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP Veterinarian Sandra Mitchell is a 1995 graduate of the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine. Since graduation, she has worked in many fields…,You just took your puppy for a walk, and they did several large poops, but now your puppy is squatting to poop just inside the door. At times, it can seem like your new puppy is made of poop! But is this normal? Do puppies really poop more than adult dogs, and why? Here are the answers to everything you wanted to know about how often puppies should be pooping. How Often Should a Puppy Poop? In general, puppies poop a lot. They are small, with an intestinal tract that is still developing. Food is processed very quickly, and sometimes it’s not as thoroughly digested as it could be. In general, the younger the dog, the faster that the food will move through their digestive tract. It is not uncommon for a puppy to defecate 5-6 times per day. Some will eliminate even more frequently. The good news is that the pace of pooping will slow down as the dog matures. Although a 2-week-old puppy may defecate at every feeding, by 12 weeks, they may be down to only 4 times per day. By 6 months, it may be 3 times per day. Usually by 1 year of age, they will have settled into their “normal” habits. An adult dog usually poops once a day, but they could go up to 3 times a day. As your puppy’s pooping schedule settles down, you’ll begin to see what’s considered “normal” for them. Any changes in your puppy’s pooping routine should be gradual, so if you notice any sudden shifts, call your veterinarian. Pay attention to the frequency as well as the consistency, color, texture, and any coatings. Also make note of anything that doesn’t belong in stool, such as fragments of worms (they may look like spaghetti or grains of rice) or any pieces of toys or other things your pup may have eaten.

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