Who enjoys cleaning up doggie dinner revisited? Unfortunately, our furry friends tend to vomit more than we do, especially after overindulging or eating something that doesn’t agree with them.
Causes
Vomiting can be a sign of illness, but not every dog who vomits is sick.
Dogs will put just about anything—from your dirty socks to last week’s turkey pot pie—in their mouths. If your dog eats something that’s too ripe, too raw, or rancid however, his stomach will likely rebel. The upside: This reflex prevents your pooch from suffering through days of bellyaches. Dogs with empty stomachs may vomit bile, a yellowish frothy liquid. This is more common in dogs and often occurs in the morning.
It’s also important to distinguish vomiting from regurgitation. If your pet doesn’t gag or retch and seems to effortlessly expel undigested food, he’s probably regurgitating. This may indicate a foreign object in the esophagus.
The relentless sway of a car, boat, or plane may make your dog’s tummy flip-flop, even if you’re only traveling short distances. And certain medications can cause nausea and vomiting.
Other causes of vomiting include:
- viral infections (such as parvovirus or coronavirus infection)
- gastrointestinal parasite infections
- liver disease
- kidney failure
- bloat
- pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- ulcers
- ingestion of foreign objects
- poisoning
- inflammatory bowel disease
- fungal infections
- brain disease
- hypoadrenocorticism (an adrenal gland disorder)
- food allergy
- diabetic ketoacidosis (a severe form of diabetes)
- cancer
What you can do at home
If trash digging is one of your dog’s favorite pastimes, use a trash can with a lid. Keep your dog from roaming outdoors to reduce his exposure to infectious and toxic causes of vomiting. Regular vaccinations also will help protect your pal from many infectious diseases.
If your dog vomits bile in the morning, feed him a small meal or healthy snack before bedtime and be sure to feed him breakfast on time each day.
Although you’d probably rather turn tail and run, stop and take a close look at your dog’s vomit. Is it yellowish or bloody? (Blood in the vomit may be bright red, but usually it looks like dark-brown coffee grounds.) Does the vomit contain food, pieces of toys, sticks, rocks, worms, or a mountain of hair? Make a mental note about the vomit—your veterinarian will ask for all the gory details.
If your dog only vomits once, chances are he ate something that didn’t agree with him. Just lay off the treats for a day.
Dogs who vomit several times in one day but act normal otherwise may just need to rest their digestive tracts. Withhold food and water for 12 hours. When the vomiting stops, offer a small amount of water every two hours. If your pet doesn’t vomit for 12 hours, offer him a few teaspoons of bland food, such as white rice and cottage cheese or chicken baby food. If he tolerates the food, you can offer larger servings, gradually mixing in his normal diet. If your pet starts vomiting again, take away the food and call your veterinarian.
When to call the veterinarian
Call your veterinarian immediately if your dog suffers persistent or chronic vomiting or if you notice additional symptoms, including blood in the vomit, dehydration, lethargy, fever, or diarrhea. Notify your dog’s doctor if you suspect the vomiting is a side effect of a medication. Puppies and older dogs can’t tolerate dehydration as well as healthy adults can, so consult your veterinarian before trying home care.
What your veterinarian will do
Your veterinarian will ask a lot of questions: How long has your pet been vomiting? Have you changed your dog’s diet? Could your dog have ingested table scraps, foreign objects, or poisons? Was your pet exposed to any sick animals? Is your dog showing any other symptoms?
After a careful examination, the doctor may recommend blood and urine tests, a fecal exam, X-rays, an ultrasound, or endoscopy (using an instrument to see inside the digestive tract).
Hundreds of conditions can cause vomiting, so be patient. Your veterinarian will identify and treat the underlying problem, and you’ll be relieved of puke patrol.
