My puppy has black stool, losing weight, lethargic. What's wrong?

Black stool and extreme weakness are concerning symptoms that are an emergency and require veterinary care, especially in a young puppy. It would be best to bring Aura into your vet immediately for an exam and treatment.

I am sorry to hear about Sheena. These symptoms are concerning especially in a young dog. Lethargy and inappetance make us concerned about ingestion of a foreign object and parvovirus if your dog hasn't had all her vaccines. Certain parasites can also cause these symptoms. Combined with dark runny stool (a dark tarry color can indicate bleeding in the upper GI tract), these signs indicate that she needs to see a vet today for an examination. They will likely check the stool for parasites (bring a sample of you Gabe one) and do a parvotest and may recommend an X-ray.

I recommend you take your puppies to the vet, along with a sample of their feces so the vet can run a fecal test if they so choose. Your puppies need regular deworming, as infestations of worms can make them very sick, and severe infections can be deadly. Worms in the stool (dead or alive) are cause for concern, and some types of worms can even be transmitted from dogs to humans and make them sick. Black stool may indicate blood, which requires treatment by your vet. The link below contains information on roundworms, and there are links to information on hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms within the body of the text. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951364 . Good luck, and I hope your puppies feel better soon!

I would recommend taking Larbie to the vet ASAP. These symptoms don't fit with one disease process. I would be concerned about dehydration and inappropriate nutrition in a puppy showing signs of constipation. Tarry stools indicate blood in the GI tract, which could be a sign of Parvo viral infection or intestinal parasites. Weakness and paleness could be related to anemia, external parasites, internal parasites, infection, etc.

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!

I am sorry to hear that Oscar is so ill. His symptoms are very suspicious of parvovirus, which can be lethal to pets. He could also have intestinal parasites. The black stool indicates that he may have some blood in his poop. You should take him to your local vet to get tested. If he does have parvovirus then he needs treatment (i.e. antibiotics, fluids, pain medication) through your vet for any chance of survival. If he only has intestinal parasites, then the vet can prescribe the appropriate dewormer based on which parasites are present on his fecal exam. I hope your puppy gets well soon and does not meet the same fate as your other poop puppy. If your pup does well, then make it a point to get Oscar vaccinated soon to protect him from deadly viruses like parvovirus and others, which are totally preventable through regular immunizations. Best wishes!

Although trauma is possible, a viral, parasitic or bacterial gastroenteritis would also be possible. Monitor closely for any additional signs or symptoms and contact your vet immediately if any further pups are affected or if any vomiting develops. Be sure to keep up to date with deworming medications and vaccines also