Bleeding and Bruising in Dogs

It’s easy to notice bleeding on your dog’s mouth, nose, eyes, skin or external genitalia. Less visible are signs of internal bleeding. Bleeding in your dog’s intestinal tract will be visible: -

• As fresh blood in the stools
• As dark stools
• As bleeding in the urinary tract that is passed out along with the urine

Clotting abnormalities

Clotting can also result in abnormal bleeding and bruising. These abnormalities are due to the blood’s inability to coagulate or clot. Bleeding due to clotting abnormalities can be seen on the skin, the mucous membranes, internal organs, tissues, and body cavities in the form of excessive bleeding.

Blood in the stools indicates…

Bright red, fresh blood in stools #indicates ‘Hematochezia’ due to bleeding in the lower intestines, as well as the colon and rectum. This bleeding may turn out to be a minor problem- Blood in the stools of a younger dog can indicate the presence of parasites. In older animals it can prove far more serious.

Do not ignore persistent or repeated signs of red blood in the stools of your canine or pet since this can signal a more serious illness (especially in older pets in whom it could be a sign of cancer.)

Dark colored stools or ‘Melena’ indicates the presence of old digested blood that has bled from higher parts of the small intestines or stomach. The discoloration is due to the presence of this digested blood in the stools. If Melena in the stools persists, then it could be an indication of a fatal illness or reaction that should not be neglected.

Possible causes include certain drugs, infectious agents, cancer, swallowed objects, inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, or clotting disorders that result in extreme bleeding that refuses to clot.

Severe lack of blood clotting- Can also be due to liver failure and intravascular coagulation or snakebites from a viper or a rattlesnake.