Anyone who has had a dog has heard that dreaded noise—the sound of a vomiting dog. Why do they always aim for the carpet? It’s one of those age-old questions dog owners ask themselves every time they are forced to clean up the mess. And why do they always seem to do it twice? Isn’t one mess enough to clean up?
There are three stages in the vomiting process: nausea, retching, and the final vomiting. The main concerns for the health of a vomiting dog are dehydration (which causes an imbalance in electrolyte levels), a disparity in the body’s acid-base balance, and aspirated pneumonia.
Vomiting is one of the main reasons why owners take their dogs to the veterinarian. Dogs can vomit yellow bile, food, clear or foamy liquid, blood, grass, or a combination of these. Periodic vomiting is not a cause for concern as long as the dog has a healthy appetite, maintains an ideal weight, and has normal energy levels. However, if a dog is suffering from chronic or repeated vomiting—whether combined with diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, or lethargy—he should be seen by a vet as soon as possible. Dogs also suffer from many of the same minor digestive complaints as humans, including flatulence, gas, heartburn, and ulcers. While these are not as serious as vomiting, it’s important to inform your vet if your dog’s medical history includes any of these minor ailments.
If a dog is feeling queasy or unwell, they may voluntarily regurgitate or throw up. Whether the voluntary regurgitation is due to overeating, or a buildup of bile on an empty stomach causing the dog to eat grass until they vomit the noxious yellow acid, the result is the same. If your dog suffers from frequent bouts of acid stomach (more than a few times a month) and it’s becoming a chronic issue, try feeding smaller meals more frequently so bile doesn’t build up between meals. Even a biscuit between mealtimes can help.
Another common cause of vomiting in an otherwise healthy dog is eating something they shouldn’t, whether it’s a toxin, food that is too high in fat or too rich, or an allergy to certain foods. In many cases, the dog will vomit the offending object and feel fine afterward. However, sometimes enough of the toxin is ingested that immediate veterinary assistance is required. In this case, bring the stomach contents with you to the vet, as it may be helpful for the vet to identify what caused the illness. A night in the hospital under observation is often recommended, along with intravenous fluids to support potentially compromised kidneys.
Vomiting accompanied by diarrhea can be caused by a number of conditions, such as gastritis, gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, or Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD), among others. If blood is present in either the vomited material or the fecal matter, a visit to the vet is mandatory.
Treating Dog Vomiting
The initial treatment for any case of repeated vomiting or vomiting combined with diarrhea is to withhold food and water for 24 hours. This allows the stomach and digestive tract to calm down. In severe cases, such as pancreatitis, food and water may be withheld for up to five days while fluids, glucose, electrolytes, and medication are administered intravenously. Often, treatment begins before a full diagnosis, especially if the pet is suffering from dehydration and requires IV fluids.
Diagnosis may involve various methods, including blood work, X-rays, ultrasound, barium swallow, or endoscopy. What may surprise you is that the first course of treatment is often the administration of anti-parasitic deworming medication. Gastric worms can cause vomiting with or without diarrhea, so it’s a quick and easy place for the vet to start in a non-emergency situation.
One type of vomiting is an emergency situation but is not particularly messy—unproductive vomiting. In this case, a dog’s stomach can twist or flip on itself, cutting off blood supply to the digestive tract. This leads to bloating, toxic conditions, and, if untreated, eventual death. This condition is known as torsion or bloat, but the clinical term is gastric dilation and volvulus (GDV). It is a potentially fatal condition that requires immediate surgery to correct. If your dog is retching but nothing comes up, get them to the vet immediately.
Due to the variety of reasons why a dog may vomit, it is crucial to work with your veterinarian for a correct diagnosis and appropriate course of treatment. Chronic vomiting, even if it is not frequent, can lead to a myriad of medical problems. For the well-being of your furry friend, steps should be taken to get the condition under control as soon as possible.
