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My senior dog is bleeding, has diarrhea, and won't eat. Is it serious?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Border Collie | Female | spayed | 18 years and 2 months old

My dog is 19 years old ive noticed on her bed theres some brownish blood spots shes had diarrhoea for 3 days and is off her food

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Elva Ma DVM

Answered By Elva Ma DVM

Veterinarian

Published on March 2nd, 2018

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm so sorry to hear that Marble is unwell. This is a situation that definitely warrants a trip to the vet. Given her advanced age, cancer is a possibility. Other possible causes include severe gastroenteritis (gut infection), pancreatitis, toxin ingestion, or parasites.

The vet will start by performing a thorough physical exam, looking for any bumps or sources of bleeding. They may recommend blood work or x-rays to further pinpoint the problem. At minimum, they can offer supportive treatments such as fluid therapy to combat dehydration from the diarrhea, stomach protectants and pain medications. The sooner that she can see the vet, the better.

In the meantime, I would offer her small, frequent meals of a bland diet such as boiled chicken and plain white rice, which should be easy to digest.

I hope this helps, and that Marble feels better soon.
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