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A Sudden Decline With Coughing, Black Stool and Breathing Trouble

by Julie

Reader Question
I'd like to share my story so other owners know some of the signs. My dog was an 11 and a half year old Border Terrier and cattle dog cross. We lost her just before Christmas after a short, sudden illness. First she had a cough, and at her checkup the vet wasn't overly concerned. Two days later she was noticeably lethargic, not interested in food, and her stool was black and tarry. Blood tests and X-rays showed early pneumonia, some inflammation in her intestines and fluid in the lungs, and she came home with antibiotics and pain relief. The next night she couldn't settle. She kept walking a few steps, then standing still and panting, and every time she tried to lie down she got straight back up, as if it hurt. When she did sit, she closed her eyes, panted and held her head up. We went back to the vet, and tests suggested internal bleeding. Before they could do an ultrasound, she suddenly started bleeding from the mouth and nose, and they couldn't revive her. My advice is to get an ultrasound sooner, and if your dog is standing still and can't lie down, get help right away, even if they seem a little better.


Answer from Our Team

Thank you for sharing her story, and we're so sorry for your loss. A cough, lethargy and a poor appetite can be early signs of a lung problem, including tumors. Her black, tarry stool and the bleeding from her mouth and nose, after tests had pointed to internal bleeding, show how serious her illness was. Without further testing, it's impossible to know the exact cause, and some cancers that bleed, such as hemangiosarcoma, often spread to the lungs and progress very quickly.

Your advice is good. A dog that keeps standing, panting and can't lie down is often struggling to breathe or in pain, and needs to be seen right away, even if they seem a little better at times. Please don't blame yourself. You took her to the vet promptly and more than once, and illnesses like this can move very fast.

See lung cancer in dogs and dog breathing fast.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.

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