Dog died after vomiting, bloody stool days later. Was it heat stroke?

Due to the blood in the stool the death was more likely from parvovirus or a severe case of intestinal parasites. Dogs that are poisoned often vomit and have seizures. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Yes, I would be worried Blitz hasn't been himself. Heat stroke is a deadly disease in dogs that occurs when they become overheated, and that can lead to the rapid panting and vomiting. The scary part of heat stroke is that there is a lot of internal damage done to the organs from heat stroke, such as death of liver cells, rapid heartbeat, acute kidney failure, irregular heartbeat, and blood clotting disorders among many others. I think given that he was panting rapidly and vomiting yesterday and now is acting out of character that a vet visit would be best. Just to check him over to make sure he is ok. Please take him into an ER vet: if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Blood in the vomit indicates most commonly stomach lining irritation or ulceration. The only way heat could cause this is if Doggy is experiencing heat stroke (high body temperature, collapse, etc). When a dog is having heat stroke it is obvious and life threatening. Just general hot weather shouldn't cause vomiting let alone with blood. Causes of vomiting are: viral (especially parvo) or bacterial infections, intestinal parasites, he ate something inappropriate, pancreatitis, a blockage from eating a foreign object that is stuck, toxin ingestion, clotting or platelet problem or from something local to Lebanon. If he continues to vomit with blood that is an emergency and he should be seen by a Vet. If he is lethargic and won't eat currently he should see a Vet. Otherwise I would start a bland diet of boiled chicken breast with rice. Feed 1 cup per 20 lbs per day for 3-5 days to rest his stomach. i wish you the best!

Charlie was such a handsome boy, and I'm so very sorry for your sudden loss! How horrible for you :-( It could be that he ate something toxic, he could have had a GI tumor that suddenly ruptured, or he could have developed bloat and subsequent a GDV causing him to die suddenly and have blood come from his rectum. If he didn't have any vomiting or diarrhea, I wouldn't suspect HGE, but without seeing him in person I can't say for certain unfortunately. You can take him into a vet for a necropsy (an autopsy for dogs) to help give you some answers. Again, I'm very sorry for your loss, please accept my condolences.

Allow me to first say that I am deeply sorry for your loss. Dixie bear was taken way too early and I offer you my deepest sympathies. Unfortunately, sudden and acute deaths can happen to dogs and cats just like in human beings. Dogs that are completely normal one moment can suddenly have heart attacks or brain aneurysms, etc. that can cause them to pass away the next. Usually the three main causes of sudden death in dogs of her age are massive heart attacks, brain or cardiac aneurysms, or toxicity of some kind. And yes, all three of these diseases can cause an animal to exhibit vomiting right before they pass away. Sadly, the only true way to find out what an animal has died from it is by having a post death autopsy performed by a specialized pathologist. if this is something you’re interested in doing, please contact your veterinarian as to whether or not they can refer you to someone that could help determine the cause of death. This could possibly still be done even though it has been a week. I hope this helps. Again, I’m sorry for your loss.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry your dog passed away, it is always hard to go through that. From your description, it sounds as though your dog had a gastric dilitation volvulus (GDV) or 'bloat.' This is where the stomach flips upon itself. it is a life threatening condition that requires surgery in attempt to fix. Sometimes, the signs that occur when this first happens can be subtle and it goes unnoticed for some time before being treated. When the 'flip' happens, it causes a large amount of inflammation that the body must contend with and unfortunately, a good outcome doesn't always happen. It sounds like you did everything you could for your pet. Of course, it is hard to know tell what happened for sure based on your description. Since you are asking this question a year later, you may still be grieving. It may be of benefit to speak to the veterinarian who took care of Patch to discuss what happened. There are also counselors who work with grief over pet loss in your area that also may be of benefit to you.

Hi, heat stroke is a very serious condition that requires a vet's intervention. he needs fluids to help cool him. If you are unable to find a vet to take him to, you can cool him down by using cool water. Get a thermometer and take his temperature by inserting it into his rectum about one inch. The normal temperature is 99.5-102.5. You don't want to cool him down too quickly or he can go into shock so it is important not to use ice or cold water. IF his temperature is still elevated, you can soak towels in cool water and drape them over him. If he can swallow, spoon or syringe cool water into his mouth. Keep him comfortable and cool and stop cooling measure when his temperature reaches 101, so you don't make him too cold. It is important to take him to a vet as soon as possible because heat stroke can have long lasting effects that can be deadly. He will need fluids and antibiotics to help his GI system recover from shock. Vets should be open first thing in the morning. Good luck!