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If your dog’s vomit is black or dark red, there could be a problem in need of immediate medical attention. Black is the most concerning color your dog can vomit. When there is bleeding inside your dog’s digestive tract, it appears as black or brown in color, with a coffee ground texture. This is cause for concern and warrants a call to your veterinarian right away. The most common cause of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract is ulceration of the stomach or intestine. Your dog could also have cancer along the gastrointestinal tract or have had recent trauma.

Other symptoms in dogs of a gastrointestinal ulcer may include:

• Anemia. This is due to blood loss and may cause your dog to be tired and have pale colored gums.
• Low or no appetite. Ulcers are painful and often make dogs feel nauseated. If left untreated, many dogs will have a decreased appetite along with weight loss.
• Drooling. Nausea caused by the ulcer will often cause a dog to drool.
• Fever. Some dogs may experience a fever. However, having a fever doesn’t necessarily mean your dog has an ulcer.

What causes stomach ulcers in dogs?

Stomach ulcers can be caused by many factors, however, here are the most common causes:

• NSAIDs. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like carprofen, meloxicam, piroxicam and deracoxib are great pain and inflammation reducers. Rarely, these medications can cause ulcers of the stomach and intestines. This occurs because these drugs decrease prostaglandins of the digestive tract that help protect the gut lining. This risk is increased when NSAIDS are prescribed with steroids like prednisone and dexamethasone.
• Steroids. Less commonly, steroids like prednisone and dexamethasone can also cause ulcers in a similar way compared with NSAIDs. It’s important that these two classifications of drugs not be administered together.
• Human NSAIDs. Drugs such as Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen) are very toxic to dogs and can cause ulcers along with kidney failure. These should not be given to dogs under any circumstances. If your dog consumes your pain-relieving medication, see a veterinarian right away.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Dogs with IBD often have chronic vomiting or diarrhea due to the inflammation in the lining of their digestive tract. This can progress to bleeding ulcers of the stomach or intestines.
• Cancer. Certain types of tumors, such as mast cell tumors (MCT) and certain tumors of the pancreas, can cause ulcers in the digestive tract.
• Elite Athletes. Dogs that participate in high-intensity performance sports like sled dogs have a much higher risk of developing ulcers in their stomach or intestines.

How to prevent stomach ulcers in dogs

If the thought of your dog having a bleeding stomach ulcer scares you, you may be wondering how you might prevent these medical nightmares from happening. Here are a few tips:

• Talk to your veterinarian about the side effects of any drug you give your dog. Ask if ulcers are a possible side effect.
• If your dog is taking steroids or NSAIDs and begins to vomit, call your veterinarian immediately. It’s important to stop administering NSAIDs immediately. You should speak with your veterinarian before stopping steroids as the safest option may be to slowly discontinue them.
• Lock up medications. Dogs are notorious for consuming entire bottles of their own medication or even their human’s medication. Save your dog the risk and keep them out of reach.

How to treat stomach ulcers in dogs

The good news is that ulcers of the digestive system are very often treatable. Treatment is usually given for several weeks to a month. Here is a typical treatment plan for a dog with stomach or intestinal ulcers:

• Discontinue some drugs. If your pup’s ulcer was caused by steroids or NSAIDs, these drugs will be discontinued. These drugs will likely not be recommended again for the life of your dog. Be sure to tell future veterinarians about these ulcers even after they have healed.
• Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI). This drug helps reduce acid in your dog’s stomach and can help heal ulcers.
• H₂ Blockers. These also reduce stomach acid but work more immediately and in different ways compared to PPIs.
• Sucralfate. This drug comes in pill form and is made into a liquid slurry and then given to your dog by mouth. It acts as a bandage for the ulcer while enhancing the healing process. It is given 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours after a meal. While this drug might be messy and inconvenient, it’s a very important part of healing ulcers.
• Antibiotics. If your veterinarian suspects that there is a bacterial cause or component to your dog’s ulcers, they may add 1 to 2 antibiotics to aid in healing.

While it may feel like these are a lot of medications to administer, using all the prescribed medications for the entire duration of your dog’s treatment plan is important to heal the ulcer completely. If you are struggling to get your dog to take medications, reach out to your veterinarian for support. There may be simple adjustments that can be made to help ease the medication administration process.

Why is my dog throwing up red vomit?

If you see red in your dog’s vomit, it’s important to notice the amount of red material. If the vomit is laced with small amounts of bright red looking liquid, this is most likely due to small blood vessels breaking in the esophagus or back of the throat. This is because vomiting can be traumatic to the tissues and can cause ruptures in these small blood vessels. Seeing this once or twice is nothing to be worried about.

Regular vomiting with red blood or vomiting large amounts of blood is alarming. When in doubt, snap a picture and text or email your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can help to determine if medical care is needed.

When to call your veterinarian when your dog is throwing up

It may be difficult to know when you should call or see your veterinarian. Here is a list of red flags:

• Black coffee grounds appearance of vomit
• Regular bright red blood in vomit
• Large amounts of blood in vomit
• Uncontrolled vomiting
• Vomiting accompanied by diarrhea
• Dullness and lethargy

If you see your dog vomit a strange color including black or red, consider what they might have consumed before you panic. Here is a list of things besides blood that could create these colors:

• Some fruits. Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries.
• This warrants a trip to the veterinarian for other reasons!
• Chocolate cake. Like coffee, if your dog eats chocolate cake give your veterinarian a call.
• Food coloring.
• Crayons, markers and pens. While crayons are usually digestible, the casing of pens and markers can be problematic. Consult with your veterinarian about the best plan to monitor your dog for the next 2 to 3 days should this happen.

Whether your pup’s black or dark red vomit is an emergency or not, it can be stressful and scary! It may feel hard to stay calm and think clearly. Be sure that you have established a relationship with a veterinarian while your dog is well, so as to better facilitate a plan if and when your dog becomes emergently sick. If you are ever in doubt as to whether your dog’s vomiting is benign or something more serious, I always support reaching out to your dedicated veterinary support team! Take pictures of the vomit, keep a log of how often, and for how long, it’s been happening. If you’re still concerned or confused, asking more questions is always right. After all, you are your dog’s best and most important advocate!

If your dog suddenly starts spinning around, chasing and even biting his own tail, you likely wonder why. There are several possible reasons why your dog is chasing or biting his tail, some behavioral and others medical.

According to California-based dog trainer Ash Miner, a certified trick dog instructor (CTDI) working on a master’s degree in animal behavior, it could simply be a game.

Ash says this is a game dogs usually invent out of boredom. She says because they have poor hind-end awareness, many dogs don’t even realize that they have a tail until they happen upon it visually.

Why is my dog biting his tail?

From a human’s standpoint, it may seem odd to see a dog chasing, then biting, his own tail. But dogs can get caught up in the moment — even if it hurts.

Ash says when dogs bite their tail while playing — or for other reasons — it can most definitely hurt. However, when they’re that excited, the pain may not register fully until later on.

But playing when bored is just one possible reason your dog is chasing and biting his tail.

A dog’s age could also have something to do with it. Puppies may be more apt to bite and chase their tails because they’re unaware that it is actually attached to them. It becomes a game for them. But Ash says it could develop into something else, so it’s not a healthy game to encourage. She says she always tells her clients to interrupt the game and redirect the activity to an appropriate toy instead.

Other reasons for tail-chasing and tail-biting may include:

Should I worry if my dog is biting his tail?

Ash says what starts out as a game can become a neurological disorder like obsessive-compulsive disorder, aka canine compulsive disorder. She says this disorder is common with dogs in shelter-kennel situations because they have virtually no individualized stimulation, but are very excited by the environment around them.

The targets of the OCD behavior can include laser pointers, reflected light, shadows, balls and their own tails, among other things.

She draws a distinction between a dog with canine compulsive disorder vs. a very high-drive dog. The deciding factor is whether or not the dog can give up on the target item. If the dog is unable to stop himself, even with some training, it is no longer a healthy drive. Whether or not the disorder can be resolved depends on a few things:

• If the pet parent is consistent with a management plan and ongoing training to keep the dog from practicing the behavior
• If the dog can receive adequate, alternative forms of exercise and stimulation he enjoys just as much, but in an appropriate way
• If the dog’s environment can be modified so the dog can’t practice his compulsive behavior.

If the dog has developed OCD and won’t stop chasing or biting his tail, Ash works on a default leave-it cue with his own tail.

Is it OK for my dog to chase his tail?

The simple answer as to why dogs chase or bite their tails is relieving some boredom. But if left unchecked, the behavior may develop into something more serious. It can also potentially be a sign of a medical condition.

Ash says some warning signs to look out for include:

• Your dog starts chasing or biting his tail suddenly and for no obvious reason like boredom
• He doesn’t stop after a few seconds
• He only chases in one direction
• He bites so hard that his tail bleeds.

However, tail-chasing or tail-biting are fairly normal when it’s brief, easily interrupted and redirected and the bites are soft. If you are concerned with your dog’s behavior, consult a certified dog trainer, animal behaviorist and/or veterinarian.