Why is my dog vomiting, lethargic, and has black tarry poop?

Question

My dog started vomiting and tar like diarrhea a week ago. Vet charged me $700 for blood work and fluids , antibiotics shot. We took him him and he still has black poop. Vet wants more $ for more test. I can't afford. He was very active now not even half as much. What could his problem be? Thank you. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | 11 years old | 26 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Hi there! I'm sorry that Link is having this problem. There are many different things that can cause vomiting and dark tarry stools, so diagnostic testing is indeed needed in order to know what might be wrong. It would help if you could post the specific tests that were done at your vet's office and what the results were, since without that information it's hard to give any specific thoughts. In general, I can tell you that some possible causes of these symptoms would include a bleeding gastric ulcer, a foreign body in the stomach or intestines, a systemic illness like liver or kidney disease, or even some type of cancer. Diagnostic testing that would be helpful in getting a diagnosis would include general blood work (CBC and chemistry panel), abdominal x-rays and ultrasound, endoscopy, and possibly even exploratory surgery. Without a diagnosis, symptomatic treatment that may be helpful would include anti-nausea medications such as Cerenia or Reglan, acid blockers like omeprazole or famotidine, and/or gastric protectants like sucralfate. These meds may or may not be effective at treating his symptoms and making him feel better, depending on what the underlying problem is. These are things that could be discussed with your veterinarian, if you aren't able to pursue further diagnostic testing due to cost.

Why is my dog vomiting, lethargic, and has black tarry poop?

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