Melena is digested blood in the feces. The digested blood will make your dog's bowel movements very dark, black, shiny, tacky or tarry-looking.

Melena can be an extremely severe and potentially fatal condition as it usually indicates that your dog is bleeding in the stomach or small intestines.

Melena should be distinguished from hematochezia (bleeding in the colon or rectum) which causes fresh red-colored blood in the feces.

The primary symptom of melena is stool that is very dark, black, shiny, tacky or tarry-looking. Other symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, weight loss, pale gums, and increased thirst and urination.

There are a number of potential causes of melena. Some common causes include hookworms or other parasites, gastric or intestinal tumors, gastroduodenal ulcerations, hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, and kidney, liver, and pancreatic diseases. Sometimes melena is also caused by ingestion of foreign objects (ie: your dog ate something she should not have) or by ingested blood as can happen when your dog is bleeding in some other part of the body.

Because melena has so many causes ,diagnosing the disease requires several steps and procedures. In addition to a complete physical exam and a review of your dog’s medical history, your veterinarian will choose to perform some or all of the following diagnostic tests: a complete blood count to help reveal if your dog has an underlying infection causing the melena; a coagulation profile to check your dog’s clotting ability; a biochemical profile to rule out metabolic insufficiencies; a urinalysis to test kidney function and hydration levels; and a fecal sample to see if your dog has a type of parasite. Ultrasound, x-rays, endoscopies, and, in some cases, exploratory surgery will be used to look for lesions or tumors.

Treatment depends on the underlying cause. While waiting for a definitive diagnosis, your veterinarian will likely recommend a special, bland diet, discontinuation of any medication your dog is taking that might upset her stomach, and the administration of antacids or stomach protectants.

Hospitalization for melena is not uncommon, but it depends on the severity of your dog’s case.

You can reduce the chances that your dog will develop melenia by monitoring his health and making sure she sees her veterinarian for regular check-ups.

No, you cannot contract melena from your dog.