Why is My Dog’s Poop Black? 7 Vet Reviewed Causes & Solutions
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As pet owners, we usually get a good idea of what’s normal and what isn’t when it comes to our pet’s bowel movements. And black poop isn’t normal. In fact, it’s an immediate cause for concern. That’s because the most common cause of black stool is partially digested blood. But there isn’t one single cause of blood getting into poop, and there are a few other things that can turn poop black. So, before you take your dog to the vet, it can be helpful to figure out as much as you can about the cause. Here are seven reasons why your dog might be passing black stool.
The 7 Reasons Your Dog’s Poop Might Be Black
1. Intestinal Bleeding
The most common cause of black poop is partially digested blood because your dog has acute bleeding in his stomach or small intestine. If it’s in his lower digestive tract, the blood will come out bright red. Bleeding into the stomach or small intestine can result in a black, tarry appearance to your dog’s stool called melena. This bleeding can have a range of causes but may be life-threatening and requires immediate intervention.
Treatment
Seek vet care immediately. Stomach and small intestinal bleeding can be very serious and usually requires veterinary attention.
2. Eating Bloody Food
If your dog is passing black poop, there’s a chance it’s not his blood that is making it black. Dogs who eat raw meat or attack live animals might swallow some blood that turns their poop dark. This is a good scenario, because it means that your dog isn’t bleeding internally, but it probably means your dog’s food is a bit too raw.
Treatment
If the cause of black poop is bloody food, your dog shouldn’t be in direct danger. But if you aren’t absolutely sure of the cause, seek vet advice just in case. Also consider changing up your dog’s diet to avoid eating food that’s literally bleeding.
3. Ingesting Charcoal or Black Dye
Another cause of black stool is food that’s dark black in color. One common source of this is activated charcoal. Your vet might prescribe charcoal if your dog has recently eaten something toxic, and some dogs might get into activated charcoal products on their own. Some owners give charcoal biscuits as a way of easing bloating or gas in their dogs. Another common cause is black food dye. Black dye shouldn’t be a part of your dog’s diet, but if he has a habit of stealing food he might find something he shouldn’t. Food dyes will usually cause staining on your dog’s mouth and fur as well as dark stool.
Treatment
Like the bloody food, this one doesn’t need medical intervention. The dye should work its way through in a day or two. Keep an eye out for other signs of distress in the meantime, especially if your dog ate something he shouldn’t.
4. Medication Reactions
Medications can sometimes have side effects that shouldn’t be ignored, including digestive bleeding. When your dog is on a new medication, you should be watching more closely than normal for reactions like this, just in case your dog is sensitive to the medication. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are a more common cause of this.
Treatment
Consult with your vet immediately about a change in medication. Usually, a change in medication is required.
5. Stomach Ulcers
Stomach ulcers are an erosion in your dog’s stomach or intestinal lining caused by an excess of digestive acids. These holes can develop over time, and depending on where they are in the digestive tract they can cause black melena.
Treatment
Like other kinds of internal bleeding, you should seek vet care to diagnose and treat stomach ulcers. If the ulcer is still mild, an antacid or similar medication might be sufficient to treat it, while serious ulcers or perforated ulcers can require surgery.
6. Bacteria or Virus
Some illnesses can attack the stomach lining and intestinal walls, destroying sections and leading to internal bleeding. If your dog is sick, you might see other signs of illness like lethargy, loss of appetite, or vomiting. These diseases have a wide range of severity, and many can be life-threatening without proper vet care.
Treatment
Seek vet care. Some bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, while other illnesses may require a different medication plan or surgery.
7. Swallowing Blood from Another Injury
Another common cause of blood in stool is swallowing blood from another injury. This might be a bleeding mouth or throat injury, where the dog swallows blood involuntarily, or an injured dog might lick his wounds, swallowing blood in the process. Some dogs attempt to hide their wounds, so you might not notice an injury if you aren’t looking for it.
Treatment
Find the source of blood and treat according to the severity of the injury. If your dog is swallowing enough blood for it to turn his stool black, vet care will probably be required to treat the wound.
Last Thoughts
As you can see, there are many different causes of black stool, but most of them come down to blood being introduced into your dog’s stomach or small intestines. This list is not exhaustive and your vet will need to consider many possibilities. There are a few possible causes that are mostly harmless to your dog, but black stool is often a sign that something is seriously wrong. Take your dog’s poop seriously, as black stool usually means that your dog is unwell and requires treatment from a qualified vet.
Featured Image Credit: SasaStock, Shutterstock
