My dog has digestive issue. Vomit and...

Hello I am Dr. Joey. Thanks for asking your question and trusting me to help you and your pet today. I am a licensed veterinarian with over 20 years of experience.

As a note, Just Answer will automatically offer you a phone call - that is not from me and is not always helpful - nor I am not always able to take a phone call - so please don't accept without checking in via text first.

This could possibly due to intestinal parasites but worms are unusual in an adult dog to cause vomiting and diarrhea. They usually just cause diarrhea, not the vomiting. Is he eating well and acting normal or does it seem like he feels ill with this? As well when you say "tarry" do you mean "black" because that's a big deal if he has black stool.

Black stool means there is internal bleeding since this is digested blood. But the picture is not concerning that there is significant bleeding and it looks semi-formed.The white thing int he picture does not look like a parasite. I am suspicious something else is causing diarrhea.  What is all the corn-like substance in the food? Did she eat something like bird seed? That would cause diarrhea.

Please let me know what questions you have. If you only want some options for home-care I can provide that so long as she is doing great.

Are you on good terms with your vet such that you can drop off a stool sample for them to at least do a stool check for worms? Are you highly worried about parasites? Again, most adult dogs (especially if on monthly heart worm preventive) are not going to get roundworms which is what it sounds like you are worried about.

These stools are pretty normal

I doubt feeding too much would do this. With your worry of worms, I suggest drop off a stool sample at your vet to double check but I'm sure it's fine. Here are a few at-home suggestions at home you can do so long at she is eating great and feels good:

1) Feed a bland diet for 3 to 4 days. I like cooked ground turkey and sweet potato (or you can buy a high quality prepared of this made by Wellness in a can of Turkey/Sweet potato). Or you can do chicken and rice.

2) Start a probiotic such as one made for dogs (Proviable or Fortiflora) or you may use culturelle as made for people (1 capsule daily). Or if you cannot get any of those products then give 1 tsp of plain yogurt once daily.

For black stool, we worry if the entire stool is black, not just a part. Sometimes a bit may be discolored from the different transit time through the gut or more irritation in the colon. But if there is more diarrhea and all of it is black, then this is a reason for a visit to the vet for and exam and testing.

Pepcid is a great choice. That infrequent for vomiting is not necessarily concerning. If it increases to several times a week then this is more worrisome. I would continue Pepcid through the diarrhea and then perhaps stop in about a week. See if the probiotic might help.

I am not familiar with that product and can make no comment on its quality. There is no regulation on probiotics so you have to trust the one you use. I you feel good about this then that's fine to use. I trust the ones I mentioned and have a few others I like such as Standard Process ProSynbiotic and VetriScience Enteroflora.

Yes, I trust this product to have good quality to it. Excellent choice.

Thank you for visiting. Keep me posted on her progress. You can respond to this with an update in the future if you like. Have a great evening.

- Dr. Joey