Emergency — phone the vet now
Same day to immediate
Blood in a dog's vomit
Fresh red flecks or coffee-ground (digested) blood in vomit needs same-day vet contact; large amounts, repeated vomiting, or pale gums are emergencies.
Recognise the signs
- Fresh red flecks or streaks
- Brown coffee-ground material (digested blood)
- Repeated vomiting
- Lethargy, pale gums, weakness
- Black tarry stools alongside (more bleeding lower down)
First aid steps
- Withhold food.
- Phone the vet now.
- Photograph the vomit.
- Note recent diet, medications, and possible toxin access.
Do NOT
- Do not give human painkillers.
- Do not feed.
- Do not delay — internal bleeding worsens fast.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Repeated vomiting with blood
- Pale gums, weakness, collapse
- Suspected rodenticide or NSAID access
- Black tarry stool alongside
- Bloat signs (distended belly, unproductive retching)
Common causes
- Severe gastritis
- Foreign body or ulcer
- Toxin (rodenticide, NSAID overdose)
- Liver disease
- Tumour
- Parvovirus (puppies)
- Bloat / GDV
- Severe pancreatitis
What the vet will need to know
- Frequency and appearance of vomit
- Recent diet and possible toxin access
- Current medications (NSAIDs in particular)
- Other signs
Aftercare
- IV fluids, anti-nausea, gut protectants, often hospitalisation.
- Diagnostics — bloods, ultrasound, possibly endoscopy.
- Treat underlying cause.
Prevention
- Secure rodenticide and medications.
- Avoid NSAIDs without vet supervision.
- Manage diet for gastritis-prone dogs.
Frequently asked questions
What does coffee-ground vomit mean?
Digested blood, indicating bleeding from the stomach or upper gut. Always warrants same-day vet investigation.
Could it just be from kennel cough or a sore throat?
Sometimes — a single fleck after retching or coughing can be minor throat trauma. Repeated or significant blood is not 'just throat'.
Should I induce vomiting after toxin ingestion if there's already blood?
Never induce vomiting at home — the vet decides.