Blood in stool and vomit

Question
Hi,
We have a 3 month old puppy who is having bloody stools and has vomited
blood within the past few days.  The vet checked for parasites, and she
tested negative.  They said it could have been something she ate, or
colitis.  She vomited tonight four times in a row and it was bloody.
Also, yesterday she went to go to the bathroom and just blood came out at
first.  I'm really worried.  We're taking her to the vet, but I just
wanted to see if you had any opinion on it.  Thanks for your help!

Answer
Hi Kim,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I wasn't able to get onto the AllExperts web site.

It's good to hear that you are taking your puppy back to the vet, as that is what I would most strongly recommend.

If the doctor suspects that your puppy ate something and is causing these symptoms, then other tests such as radiographs may need to be done. If colitis is suspected, then medication is needed.

If your puppy vomits blood again, use a clean object to scoop up a representative sample of the vomit and take it to the veterinarian.

Causes of hematemesis, (the term for vomiting of blood) include ulcers of esophagus, stomach or upper intestines (may be associated with aspirin or steroid side effects), foreign material such as sharp bones in stomach or esophagus, cancers of the upper digestive tract, severe inflammatory conditions, and problems with the blood coagulation system. All of the potential causes require veterinary intervention.

To pinpoint causes of bloody vomit, a complete physical examination and health screen, including blood cell count, blood biochemistry panel, and urine sample are considered a starting point for the patient "work-up".

You didn't mention if your vet suspected Parvo Virus. It has many of the symptoms which you've described. Parvo usually affects young puppies but older dogs can be susceptible too. Parvo attacks the dogs gastro-intestinal track. It produces copious amounts of vomiting, bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and if untreated, death.

A puppy presented with these symptoms will often be tested for intestinal worms first. If these are not found or if parvo is still suspected, a blood sample may be pulled to check the white cell count. A lowered white count is a common symptom of parvo virus. There are also tests that can be used on the feces.

I hope I've been a help. Best of luck,

Patti