1
Section: Overview
Melena is the presence of digested blood in the feces and makes the stools appear black and tarry. Melena is different from fresh blood in the stool (hematochezia). Melena may represent a severe, life-threatening illness, and should not be ignored. It must especially be addressed if it persists or worsens.Melena develops when bleeding occurs into the stomach or small intestines. The bleeding must be high in the intestinal tract in order for the blood to be digested and become discolored. Bleeding into the colon or rectum (hematochezia) appears as fresh blood in the stool. General Causes
Bruising and bleeding are disorders of primary hemostasis – or clotting – that result in bleeding into the skin or mucous membranes to a degree out of proportion to the trauma. The impact may be mild...
Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) is a disease syndrome seen in dogs, characterized by the acute (sudden) onset of bloody diarrhea, usually explosive, accompanied by high packed cell volumes (red blood...
Hematochezia is the presence of bright red blood in the feces. Bright red blood is different that black tarry feces, which is usually associated with digested blood. Anytime blood is noticed in the feces,...
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of gastrointestinal disorders that involve infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract by inflammatory cells (white blood cells). IBD can affect both the upper...
Gastrointestinal ulcerations are inflammatory lesions that extend into the deeper layers of the gastrointestinal tract, going beyond the mucosa (lining). These ulcers are typically located in the stomach...
Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Privacy Statement and Legal terms Pet Care Information | Pet Information | Pet Health Information
