Dog gulping, lip licking, and dark stool: When to see a vet?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend Charlie be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. The tar like appearance to his stool is likely due to digested blood, indicating bleeding in the GI tract of some kind (a growth, an ulcer, secondary to toxin ingestion, etc.). I would have him seen, have any necessary testing done (X-rays, bloodwork), and get started on treatment to resolve his issues (GI protectant, anti-nausea medication, anti-diarrheal, antacids, for example). Good luck!

I'm concerned about this stool. Dark tarry stool like this can be a sign of stomach or intestinal bleeding. The bleeding could be from medication, parasites, a gastric ulcer or cancer. I'm glad Truman is feeling better but I recommend a veterinary exam soon. They will run a blood panel to check for anemia, perhaps check for intestinal parasites, and perhaps due some X-rays. It's important to find the cause of this so this doesn't become a more serious medical problem. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Truman.

These signs could be compatible with an inflammation infection of the gastrointestinal system and surrounding organs (like pancreas and liver). Dark feces could be compatible with a gastrointestinal bleeding in the upper part of the intestine. A clinical examination at your local veterinarian is immediately essential to confirm these clinical suspicions and treat appropriately. Antibiotics and possibly further investigations (like abdominal imaging as ultrasound or radiographs) may be needed. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Poor guy! From your description, it definitely sounds like something is wrong. Vomiting dark black material and dark tarry stools are often signs of bleeding in the stomach or intestines, which can be extremely serious. Not eating and not wanting to walk down the stairs are vague signs that indicate he is in pain or not feeling well. I would strongly recommend taking your dog to the vet today for an exam, since this sounds like quite a serious problem. He/she can do blood work and x-rays if needed to help diagnose the problem and get him started on appropriate treatment.

Hi there and thanks for posting! Oh dear, this doesn't sound good. If Brownie is having dark or black stools, this can be an indication of an upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Jaundice is caused by liver disease and dark yellow urine signals she may be dehydrated. It sounds like there is a lot going on with Brownie. Portal hypertension (pressure that build up from the veins connecting the liver and gastrointestinal tract) can cause decreased blood flow into the liver (often due to injury or damage to the liver) and blood to back up in veins going to the stomach and the rest of the gastrointestinal tract. This can cause the veins to enlarge and swell and rupture which can cause bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. It may be Brownie's liver dysfunction is the primary cause of the melena (digested blood in stool making it look black). IV fluids and liver protectants (like SAMe) may help. I would recommend an ultrasound and biopsy of the liver). I am sorry to hear Brownie is having so many issues. I hope this gets better soon!

Based on your description of the black stool, lethargy, and decreased appetite, I am concerned that June may be very ill. The black stool could be blood in the stool, which 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. Please make an appointment to have June seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible, as blood in the stool can lead to anemia, and can be very dangerous if left untreated. In the mean time, if she is not eating well, you can try boiling boneless skinless chicken in water, shredding the chicken, and feeding her small amounts of the resulting chicken broth and cooked chicken once it has cooled. I recommend taking in a fecal sample from June to your vet as well, as that may aid them in making a diagnosis. Good luck, and I hope she feels better soon!

Poor Kai! You are correct to be concerned. Diarrhea could be caused by toxin ingestion, parasites, change in diet, infectious diseases, blockage in the gastrointestinal tract caused by ingestion of a foreign body (such as a piece of the bones you mentioned), or a mass/growth in the gastrointestinal tract. I recommend you make an appointment to take Kai in to the vet, and take in a fecal sample from Kai when you go. Your vet will likely want to test the sample to see what kind of parasites Kai may be dealing with so that they can be treated for accordingly. I recommend that you avoid feeding bones, antlers, and similar objects. Make sure with anything you feed Kai that you are able to easily dent the surface with a fingernail, as anything harder than that could lead to fracturing of the teeth or blockage of the gastrointestinal tract.