Dr. Frank

Dr.Tail Vet

Vomiting and passing blood, especially if it's happening multiple times a day, can be indicative of several serious conditions in your 4-year-old dog. The presence of bloody or black stools suggests that there may be bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract, which could be due to ulcers, ingestion of a foreign object, parasites, infections, coagulation disorders, or even cancer.

Given the urgency of these symptoms, it's crucial to ensure that your dog stays hydrated. However, do not force-feed water or food if she is vomiting frequently. Instead, offer small amounts of water or ice chips to lick. If she can keep this down, gradually increase the amount. It's also important to withhold food for about 12-24 hours to allow the stomach to rest. After this period, you can introduce a bland diet—boiled chicken or ground beef with rice, in small, frequent meals—to help settle her stomach.

Since your dog is not currently on any medications and has no known medical conditions, it's less likely that these symptoms are side effects or complications of treatment. However, the lack of vaccinations and flea and tick prevention could leave her more susceptible to certain diseases and parasites that can cause gastrointestinal distress.

In the meantime, keep her environment quiet and comfortable to help reduce stress, which can exacerbate gastrointestinal issues. Also, ensure that she has not been exposed to any toxins or harmful substances around the home, and remove any objects that she could potentially ingest.

If your dog's condition worsens, or if she exhibits additional concerning symptoms such as a distended abdomen, extreme lethargy, pale gums, difficulty breathing, or collapse, these are signs that she needs to be seen by a veterinarian immediately. These could indicate a more severe underlying condition, such as a ruptured ulcer, severe infection, or even a life-threatening condition like bloat or peritonitis.

It's important to remember that while these measures may help manage symptoms temporarily, they are not a substitute for professional veterinary care. Given the severity of the symptoms you've described, it's critical to seek veterinary attention as soon as possible to determine the underlying cause and initiate appropriate treatment.

If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to come back to us! Thank you.