Vomiting is the result of a reflex phenomenon leading to the expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth. They are accompanied by abdominal spasms, sometimes quite dramatic.
They are common in dogs.
Regurgitated materials may include food, including grass! Or white gastric juices, or duodenal, rather yellow, often referred to as “bile”.
A dog that vomits can do so for various reasons. We generally distinguish:
- Digestive causes such as gastritis (inflammation of the stomach), too rapid a dietary transition, or an obstruction…
- Extra-digestive causes such as kidney failure or motion sickness…
Some causes are obvious. For example, the regurgitation of a large amount of ingested grass previously.
Others, more complex, require a veterinary consultation and potentially additional examinations.
Read also | Best dog kibbles: a vet’s opinion
What to do case by case
If my dog vomits suddenly
In the case of acute vomiting, that is to say, occurring suddenly, the first thing to do is to put your companion on a fast. Indeed, any new intake of food or water may cause further vomiting.
This fast can last 24 hours. Be careful, however, if your pet is very young, very old, or very small (like a Chihuahua), the consequences of acute vomiting can quickly become dangerous.
I am especially thinking about the risk of dehydration. It is then advised to consult a veterinarian without delay.
You will also need to see a professional even if your dog is not fragile if they experience acute vomiting and sudden lethargy or if the vomiting persists after a 24-hour fast.
Severe vomiting and a decline in general condition can be signs of serious conditions such as an intestinal obstruction, pancreatitis, or even leptospirosis, a bacterial disease.
Just like humans, dogs are also likely to contract gastroenteritis due to viruses or spoiled food.
In this case, vomiting is often accompanied by diarrhea.
Parvovirus is a very serious viral hemorrhagic gastroenteritis in puppies. There is a vaccine that can be administered from 8 weeks old to prevent this highly contagious disease.
If my dog vomits regularly
A dog that vomits often may be suffering from a chronic condition such as kidney or liver failure, chronic pancreatitis, intestinal lymphoma, or even IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)…
Other signs such as weight loss are often present.
In this case, you need to consult a veterinarian so they can carry out tests to diagnose and treat the little patient.
The work-up for a dog that vomits regularly includes a blood test, X-rays or ultrasounds, sometimes a CT scan or endoscopy.
If my dog vomits white foam
Vomiting white foam often occurs on an empty stomach.
The dog, having no food to regurgitate, vomits gastric juice, a liquid produced by the glands in the stomach wall. The foamy appearance results from excess gas in the stomach.
If my dog vomits yellow
Yellow vomit corresponds to the evacuation of fluid present in the duodenum, the intestinal tract at the exit of the stomach.
This fluid is a mixture of bile and digestive and pancreatic juices. They occur during severe vomiting.
Vomiting of kibble or clear or yellow vomit, the attitude to have is the same: fasting and a visit to the veterinarian if the problems persist
If my dog vomits blood
This impressive symptom is not necessarily a sign of severity.
It may simply reflect significant irritation of the stomach lining. But, in some cases, this hematemesis may indicate the presence of an ulcer, a tumor, or a coagulation disorder.
In case of blood in the vomit, don’t panic and make an appointment with your veterinarian promptly.
If my dog vomits worms
Some worms like roundworms can be eliminated during vomiting. They look like white spaghetti and are common in puppies.
If your dog vomits worms, you will need to administer a dewormer, then repeat 15 days later.
Puppies should be dewormed once a month until the age of 6 months.
If my dog vomits in the car
Like children, puppies frequently vomit during car travel. This is due to an immature inner ear.
If the problem persists into adulthood, your veterinarian can prescribe antiemetics or dimenhydrinate, more specific for motion sickness.
If my dog vomits when I change their kibble
Some very sensitive animals cannot tolerate changes in food and exhibit digestive issues at the slightest deviation.
For these dogs, it is necessary to be strict and only give the usual food. Canines are not like humans: they do not need to vary their diet to be happy!
Generally, any change in diet must be done gradually by mixing the new food with the old one over about ten days.
How to treat a vomiting dog
Treatment of vomiting
The usual methods include:
• A 24-hour fast
• Antiemetics in injection or tablet form
• Gastric protectants in liquid form
In the case of significant vomiting leading to dehydration, a short hospitalization for IV fluids may be beneficial.
This symptomatic treatment is possibly supplemented by treatment of the underlying condition: antibiotics in case of bacterial gastroenteritis, anti-inflammatories in case of IBD, choleretic in case of bile stasis…
It is advised to always give antiemetics first and wait half an hour before administering other medications and/or feeding the dog.
Adjusting the diet of a vomiting dog
As mentioned above, a brief fast can be beneficial. It may also be useful to feed your dog with an easily digestible diet (available from veterinarians) for a few days to rest their digestive tract.
One can also offer chicken or ham with a bit of well-cooked rice.
For dogs that gulp down their meals and immediately vomit undigested kibble, it is recommended to split the daily food quantity into two or even three meals.
In stores, one can find anti-gulping bowls for such voracious animals!
In case of food allergies in dogs
Additionally, there are certain chronic conditions causing vomiting in dogs that respond well to a change in diet.
Food allergy in dogs is usually manifested by itching. However, about 15% of allergic dogs also experience vomiting.
In dogs, the primary allergens are proteins primarily found in meats: beef, chicken, pork, lamb, but also fish, egg, and dairy products.
Note that gluten intolerance, common in humans, does not exist in dogs, except in Irish Setters.
There is no reliable blood test to determine if a dog is allergic to a food. Diagnosis is done through an elimination diet.
This means feeding dogs foods they have never eaten or special kibble with hydrolyzed proteins, which do not trigger allergic reactions. If the itching and vomiting stop, it was indeed a food allergy.
To confirm this you can reintroduce the previous food. The issues should reappear.
IBD in dogs
Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, or IBD, often cause diarrhea. But, sometimes vomiting is the only symptom.
Diagnosis is made through ultrasound and histological analysis of the digestive mucosa via biopsies performed by endoscopy or surgery.
In addition to treating inflammation, easily digestible or hypoallergenic kibble or pâté is often recommended to alleviate symptoms.
Vomiting in dogs is a common symptom. There are numerous causes. A vomiting dog with an altered general condition should have a quick consultation with a veterinarian.
