What is hemorrhagic gastroenteritis?
Have you said ‘my dog is pooping blood — what do I do?’ in the last few days? If this has happened all of a sudden, or if your furry friend is currently experiencing bouts of bloody diarrhea, you’re probably feeling concerned — and rightly so.
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE), now sometimes referred to as Acute Hemorrhagic Diarrhea Syndrome (AHDS), is a serious condition that affects dogs of all breeds, though smaller breeds seem to be particularly vulnerable.
While blood in your dog’s stool, and HGE itself, can be alarming, the good news is that it’s treatable with swift care from your vet.
Let’s break it down so you know what to look for, how it’s treated, and how to help your dog recover.
HGE is a condition characterized by sudden onset of severe bloody diarrhea and vomiting. It happens when the lining of the dog’s gastrointestinal tract becomes inflamed, leading to leakage of fluids and blood into the intestines.
While the exact cause isn’t fully understood, HGE often comes on rapidly and can progress to life-threatening dehydration if not treated promptly. Despite its severity, most dogs recover fully with early vet care and appropriate treatment.
Symptoms of Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis in Dogs
Here are the general symptoms of HGE to look out for in your pup:
Early signs to watch for
The most common symptom of HGE is sudden, severe bloody diarrhea. If your dog is pooping blood, especially in large amounts or with a watery consistency, this is a red flag.
You might also notice your dog vomiting, and sometimes the vomit may also contain blood. These symptoms often come out of the blue, even in dogs that seemed perfectly healthy the day before, which might add to your stress around the situation.
Progression of symptoms
As the condition progresses, your dog may become lethargic and weak. Dehydration sets in quickly because of the rapid loss of fluids, which can be life-threatening if not addressed.
Check your dog’s gums. If they’re pale and tacky, this could mean shock, another serious complication of HGE. Rapid heart rates and overall weakness are additional signs that immediate vet attention is needed.
If these symptoms sound familiar, don’t delay. HGE progresses quickly, and your dog’s best chance of recovery is early intervention together with your vet.
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Causes of Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis in Dogs
Unfortunately, the exact cause of HGE isn’t fully understood. But there are several suspected triggers.
Dietary indiscretions — like your dog scavenging through the trash or eating raw or spoiled food — are common culprits. Stress, such as from boarding, travelling, or significant changes in the home, is another potential factor that can set off the condition.
Breed predispositions and risk factors
Certain breeds seem to be more susceptible to HGE. Small dogs, especially Miniature Schnauzers, Yorkshire Terriers, and Toy Poodles, are commonly affected. While HGE can occur in any dog, it’s more frequently seen in middle-aged dogs. Understanding these risk factors can help you stay alert to early signs in vulnerable breeds.
The mystery factor
One of the more frustrating aspects of HGE is that its exact cause often remains a mystery. While stress and diet are strong contenders, the condition can occur without any clear trigger, leaving even the most diligent of pet owners feeling confused and concerned.
Diagnosis of Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis in Dogs
When you bring your dog to the vet, the first step will be a thorough physical examination. Your vet will assess your dog’s hydration levels and overall health.
To confirm HGE, your vet may recommend a Packed Cell Volume (PCV) test, which measures the concentration of red blood cells in your dog’s blood. Elevated PCV levels, often above 60%, combined with normal or low total protein levels, are key indicators of HGE.
Differential diagnosis
Because HGE symptoms overlap with other serious conditions like parvovirus, intestinal parasites, and some bacterial infections, your vet will likely perform additional tests to rule out these possibilities. These tests may include bloodwork, fecal examinations, and even imaging studies to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
Getting your dog to the vet as soon as you can is key here. Prompt and precise diagnosis is most important to begin effective treatment and avoid complications down the line.
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Treatment of Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis in Dogs
Treatment for HGE typically begins with intravenous (IV) fluids to rehydrate your dog and restore lost electrolytes. This step is crucial, as dehydration is one of the most dangerous aspects of the condition. Your vet may also administer anti-nausea medications to help control vomiting and make your dog more comfortable.
Supportive medications
In some cases, antibiotics are prescribed to prevent or treat secondary bacterial infections, though this might depend on the individual case and the vet’s approach. Pain relief and anti-diarrheal medications may also be used to ease your pup’s symptoms.
Dietary adjustments
Once your dog’s condition stabilizes, your vet will most likely recommend a bland diet for a few days to give the digestive system a chance to recover. This could include easily digestible options like boiled chicken and rice.
Gradually, your dog’s regular diet can be reintroduced with the help of your vet.
On the hunt for bland food for your pup’s tummy troubles? Try out some of the best dog foods to eat while having diarrhea and help them recover quickly.
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Recovery of Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis in Dogs
Expected recovery timeline
With prompt and proper treatment, most dogs recover from HGE within a few days! But the recovery process requires close monitoring. Be sure to follow your vet’s instructions carefully, especially when it comes to medications and dietary restrictions.
Managing recurrence risks
Unfortunately, HGE can come back for some dogs. To minimize this risk, keep your dog on a high-quality, consistent diet and avoid giving them table scraps or allowing them to scavenge unknown foods. Keep an eye out on walks to make sure they’ve not snatched something foreign in their mouth.
Reducing stress is also essential; maintaining a regular routine and providing a calm, comfortable environment can help.
Long-term outlook
The prognosis for dogs treated early is excellent — good to hear, right? Regular vet check-ups can also help monitor your dog’s overall health and catch any issues before they escalate. By staying vigilant and proactive, you can give your pup the best possible care and peace of mind!
Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Pitbull/Bull mastiff
Bear
5 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Diarrhea
My dog was hospitalized amd given IV because he was diagnosed with HGE (because of moving into a new hpuse possibly) he was put on a few antibiotics, nausea medicine and pepcid, and I'm giving him chicken and rice to help his stomach as told by my vet, its been about a day since hes been back home and he has pooped the first after his chicken and rice his stool was a little firmer than the usual "water" no blood though... Today he hasn't gotten chicken/rice yet but he has gone the bathroom and his stool is more watery than yeaterday, should I be worried or keep doing the chicken and rice and medication a few more days to see if it'll harden up?
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
For the moment, keep a close eye on Bear (and his stool) for signs of improvement; many times recovery isn’t in a straight line and faeces will be of variable consistency. As long as the stool is free from signs of blood, I would continue with the diet and medications prescribed by your Veterinarian; we don’t (as a profession) fully understand the cause of haemorrhagic gastroenteritis but there are certain pathogens suspected, obviously if symptoms worsen severely visit your Veterinarian. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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Chihuahua
Tequila
7 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Diarrhea
Weakness
Dehydration
Diarrhea, Lethargy
I have a 7 year Old chihuahua, Tequila. She's never been sick before and was perfectly fine last night. At around 5:30am this morning, she threw up several times and eventually went back to bed. My alarm clock went off at 7:30am and I was shocked to see that my room floor was covered in diareah with blood, and lots of it. I looked for nearby animal clinics and took her to the first place that was open at 8:30am. Tequila was administered an ivy, antibiotics and something to stop the diareah. I was asked to monitor her and feed her pedialyte every thirty minutes and to bring her back if she wasn't better by the afternoon.
At around 11am I noticed a small puddle of blood again and I decided to rush her to another pet clinic. She was instantly taken in for monitoring and administered a series of medications through an ivy. The vet said she would need to stay overnight and explained that the analysis results came back higher than the normal range and all symptoms seem to point towards HGE. The worst part was that she gave me a 50/50 chance of survival. I instantly felt broken! I can't fathom the idea that my dog was perfectly ok one minute and on the verge of dying the next.
As soon as I was able to, I started researching HGE and to my peace of mind, most articles so far have had positive outcomes. Could It be that she isn't as bad as they say but they just want to remain realistic, just in case?
How soon can I expect my dog to show signs of improvement?
How long can I anticipate this process to take?
Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!
July 26, 2017
1 Recommendations
Whilst many cases of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis have a fair prognosis, there is the risk of complications from dehydration which may lead to death. Aggressive early treatment with intravenous fluids and metronidazole (or similar) is the best course of action; however, if there are complications or your Veterinarian noted something else during the initial examination the prognosis may be less favourable. A 50:50 prognosis is given due to the many unknowns with the condition and the rapid onset where a normally healthy dog becomes severely sick within a short period of time; as for response to treatment, it really depends on how severe the condition is and the critical care given. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVMwww.msdvetmanual.com/digestive-system/diseases-of-the-stomach-and-intestines-in-small-animals/hemorrhagic-gastroenteritis-in-small-animals
July 26, 2017
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Yorkipoo
Rocky
7 Years
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0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Diarrhea
Vomiting
My dog started throwing up yesterday. At 5 AM it turned into throwing up AND diarrhea. I noticed that when he had a bowel movement. This has happened before, and he was fine after some rice and chicken broth, but this time there were small drops of blood in his stool. He's still eating, and is acting like he normally does (just a little tired). Is it HGE or something else entirely?
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
There are various causes of blood in the stool (both fresh and digested blood) including infections (parvo, Clostridium etc…), parasites, tumours, intestinal obstruction, foreign body, poisoning and others; many times a case of hemorrhagic gastroenteritis will resemble raspberry jam diarrhoea, vomiting may be caused by the same causes. Regardless a visit to your Veterinarian would be required to determine the underlying cause and to treat accordingly; depending on the results of a physical examination blood tests, faecal culture and x-rays may be required to reach a diagnosis. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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