My dog eats human food and has black stool. Should I be concerned?

Black stool indicates digested blood from the upper GI tract (esophagus, stomach or upper small intestines). It could be that Daisy's dewormer killed a large burden of parasites in her stomach that contained blood, or that she has a significant GI ulcer. Daisy should see her vet to determine if there is a likelihood of active bleeding, a heavy burden of parasites in her stool, and then treat with any necessary antacids. Given her young age, this sign is more concerning and urgent in nature.

Black, tar-like stools are common with bleeding in the stomach, upper GI tract. Bleeding that occurs lower in the GI tract with have red blood in the stools. I have never needed a human test to check for blood in the GI tract. Gastroenteritis is a common cause for blood in vomit and/or stools. Some cases are mild and respond to medications and out-patient treatment, while others, such as HGE, require hospitalization, IV fluids, and IV medications. Some dogs will have very dark stools that are normal and do not contain blood.

More than likely it is from the change in food but black, tarry stool can be a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding. You could take a sample to your vet, when you notice that it is black, and have it tested for blood. That way you will know if it is anything to worry about or just normal color change.

Without seeing the stools myself it is hard for me to say. What you may consider black I may consider normal dark brown color. It may just be their GI tract getting used to processing the new food. If they are acting normally I would not be overly concerned. Omegas are regularly recommended and are usually pretty benign to give however, they can interfere with clotting if not given the correct dose. Are you giving them a product made for dogs? If not, I suggest you do that. Humans and dogs need different ratios of the Omega 3 to Omega 6. Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Sonu. I am sorry to hear that he is not feeling well. The dark color stool can indicate bleeding from the stomach or small intestines if it is black, tarry or coffee grounds like in appearance. This can be the result of a gastrointestinal ulcer and would need treatment by his veterinarian. Unless his anal glands are infected, swollen or blocked, simply having them expressed should not affect his appetite. He will need to see his veterinarian again to determine why he is feeling ill. I hope this information helps!

Black stool could indicate blood in the stool. Vomiting, and black stool could be caused by parasites, change in diet, toxin ingestion, infectious viral diseases, blockage in the intestines caused by ingestion of a foreign body, or a mass/growth in the gastrointestinal tract. In the case of an unspayed female dog , pyometra (a potentially fatal infection of the uterus) is a possibility as well, and this is very concerning. Please have Cassie seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible, as vomiting and possible blood in the stool can lead to dehydration and anemia, and can be very dangerous if left untreated. I recommend taking in a fecal sample from Cassie to your vet as well, as that may aid them in making a diagnosis. Good luck, and I hope she feels better soon!

Black feces are concerning for digested blood. I recommend to collect a sample of the stool and take it into your veterinarian’s office for an example. They can determine if blood is present And if further action is needed. Best of luck and please feel free to post any additional questions.