When your dog is pooping blood and throwing up foam, it can be alarming and distressing. These symptoms point to serious issues that may affect your dog’s digestive system, overall health, or even signal life-threatening conditions.
We outline the common reasons your dog is pooping blood and throwing up foam, what you can do at home, and when to seek veterinary help.
Dog Pooping Blood and Throwing Up Foam — Why It Happens
When a dog poops blood and vomits foam, it often signals irritation or damage to the digestive tract. This could be due to infections, dietary indiscretion, or inflammatory bowel issues. Parasites, toxin ingestion, or even severe illnesses such as parvovirus and gastrointestinal blockages can also be the cause.
Because blood in the stool and vomiting are both serious red-flag symptoms, they require immediate attention.
Dog Pooping Blood and Throwing Up Foam: Common Causes
Gastrointestinal Infections
Infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites can inflame the stomach and intestines. This leads to vomiting, often accompanied by foamy bile, and bloody stools.
Owners may also notice loss of appetite, dehydration, and lethargy. Infections like parvovirus are especially dangerous in puppies and can quickly become life-threatening.
Read more: Dog Pooping Blood and Vomiting (What it could mean)
Parvovirus
Parvovirus is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects puppies and unvaccinated dogs.
It severely damages the intestinal lining, leading to bloody diarrhea and vomiting. The foam in vomit comes from bile and stomach irritation.
This condition requires urgent veterinary treatment, as dehydration and sepsis can set in rapidly.
Foreign Body Blockages
Dogs are curious and may swallow objects like toys, bones, or fabric. When something blocks the intestines, food and fluid cannot pass, causing vomiting, often frothy or foamy.
The pressure and irritation can damage intestinal tissue, leading to blood in the stool.
This is a medical emergency that typically requires surgery.
Parasites
Hookworms, whipworms, and other parasites attach to the intestinal lining and feed on blood.
This can cause bloody stools and gastrointestinal upset. Vomiting foam may occur as the digestive system becomes irritated.
Puppies and immunocompromised dogs are at greater risk of severe complications from heavy parasite infestations.
Toxins or Poison Ingestion
Household toxins, spoiled food, or poisonous plants can irritate the stomach and intestines, causing vomiting and bloody diarrhea.
Foam often appears in vomit because the stomach is empty except for bile and secretions.
Depending on the toxin, other signs such as drooling, weakness, tremors, or seizures may occur.
Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis (HGE)
This condition is characterized by sudden onset bloody diarrhea and vomiting, often with foam.
The exact cause is unclear, but it is thought to be linked to bacterial toxins.
Dogs with HGE lose fluids rapidly and can go into shock if not treated quickly.
What to Do If Your Dog Is Pooping Blood and Throwing Up Foam
If you notice your dog has these symptoms, the first step is to withhold food temporarily but ensure access to clean water.
This may help reduce irritation while preventing dehydration.
Encourage small sips of water or offer ice chips if your dog is reluctant to drink.
Electrolyte solutions designed for dogs may help maintain hydration until you can reach a vet.
Avoid giving any human medications, as they may worsen your dog’s condition. Instead, monitor closely for signs of lethargy, weakness, or worsening symptoms.
If your dog improves after several hours and symptoms are mild, you can slowly reintroduce a bland diet of boiled chicken and rice.
However, because blood in stool and vomiting foam often point to serious illness, veterinary care is strongly recommended even if your dog seems better.
Read more: Dog Pooping Blood and Vomiting Yellow (Here’s Why)
When to Call or Visit Your Vet
If your dog is pooping blood and throwing up foam, contact your vet as soon as possible. These are not symptoms to wait out.
Seek emergency veterinary help if:
Your dog is very young, old, or unvaccinated.
The vomiting and diarrhea are severe or persistent.
You notice large amounts of blood or black, tarry stools.
Your dog refuses water, is extremely weak, or collapses.
There are signs of toxin exposure or ingestion of a foreign object.
Prompt veterinary treatment may include IV fluids, medications, diagnostic testing, and in some cases, surgery.
Early intervention gives your dog the best chance of recovery.
Read more: Dog Pooping Blood, Vomiting and Not Eating (Here’s Why)
Key Takeaway
Seeing your dog pooping blood and throwing up foam is frightening, and it often signals a serious medical issue.
While mild cases may improve with careful home care, most require veterinary attention to prevent complications.
Stay calm, provide hydration, and contact your vet quickly. With prompt care, many dogs recover fully and return to their happy, energetic selves.