It depends. A dog vomiting blood (hematemesis) but acting normal may happen. It can be a simple problem that will go away. It can be a severe problem that requires immediate attention. Below we are going to explain the issue and add all the facts you need to consider. We will also tell you when you should try to remedy this at home and when you should take him to a vet.
My Dog Vomiting Blood But Acting Normal: The Look Of The Blood
The first thing you should actually look at is the blood. How does it look? If the blood is bright red, it means that the bleeding is fresh and in the upper part of the digestive system.
This also means that a dog may bleed a lot. If the blood is dark red, it means that it has passed the stomach. It is digested. If the blood is dark red or even brown, it means that your dog has been bleeding for a long period of time. This is a very severe problem. A dog vomiting blood but acting normal can happen at any given moment and it can be a huge problem!
Possible Causes
Why does your dog vomit blood? There are a lot of possible causes. Here we will explain the ones that will cause these symptoms but your pet will likely behave normally. There are many other issues that will cause the same problem but your dog will behave differently. He will be lethargic, sad, or have severe health problems.
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Chewing Bones
When a dog chews a lot of bones, for a long period of time he may injure his mouth or throat. He will start bleeding. He will swallow the blood and then he will vomit it. Dogs are strong so in most cases, they will not show any signs of pain. This issue can go away on its own. Bones are just one of the countless causes here. Your dog can injure his mouth or throat in all kinds of situations. You can examine his mouth and throat and see for any injuries or damages. If they are deep, you probably won’t see them!
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Antifreeze
Antifreeze is extremely toxic to dogs. 3 ounces of this liquid can kill a dog (medium size). Antifreeze is sweet which makes things even worse. Dogs like the taste so they will drink it every single time they can. But antifreeze can cause hematemesis. In small amounts, antifreeze can cause this issue but a dog will still act normal. In large amounts, your pet will have severe poisoning that requires immediate help from a vet.
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Foreign Object
If your pet eats a foreign object, he may end up vomiting blood. This is a huge problem for most dogs. They can find something in the garbage and eat it. This can be a textile, tennis ball, or anything in between. The stomach will be upset and even damaged. Vomiting blood is hence a reasonable explanation. It can pass by itself or your pet may need to see a vet. It depends on the foreign object, size and so much more.
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Stomach Ulcers
These can be extremely painful. In that case, a dog will behave like he is in pain, which he is. In rare cases, it can be a painless issue, at least at the beginning. These occur inside the stomach when the lining is damaged. An ulcer will form. Eventually, it can burst and cause even more severe problems.
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Bacterial infection
All kinds of bacteria can cause vomiting with blood. Some of the examples here are campylobacter, salmonella, clostridia, etc. But these don’t always come with all kinds of symptoms. It is possible that a dog doesn’t have pain or any complications hence he can behave well. But, if the bacterial infection advances too much, your pet will experience loss of appetite, fatigue, upset stomach, diarrhea, and many more. Of course, your pet won’t behave normally if he has these symptoms.
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Blood clot
A blood clot can occur in all dogs at any given moment. This can happen if a pet has problems with the blood. It can also occur if a dog comes in contact with toxins such as pesticides. Basically, this can cause massive internal bleeding. As a result of this, a dog may vomit blood. The problem starts with blood vomiting specifically. But it can soon add more signs. For example, a dog may suffer from abdominal pain. Vomiting is common as well.
Should You Take Your Pet To A Vet?
Yes, you should. This is a huge problem and it can get worse in no time. It can be a sign of something much worse or a huge issue that affects the digestive tract or it is a disease. A vet will diagnose the problem properly and he will start treatment.
It is possible that this problem will go away by itself. If that happens, it will go away within a day. If it lasts longer than a day or two, there might be a massive problem. One way or another, you should take him to see a vet. As you know, this is not normal. It means that the blood is coming into the intestines or digestive tract. It can come from the mouth, throat, esophagus, and many other organs.
Treatments for this problem depend and vary. They are usually very successful, especially if you start one as soon as possible. If you start it when the issue is advanced, your pet will need more time to recover, or sadly, he may not recover at all.
The Final Word
A dog vomiting blood but acting normal is not something that is extremely common or harmless. This is something that can happen and it can be severe. You will still have to take him to the vet as soon as you can. Just because he acts normal, it doesn’t mean he feels perfectly fine.
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