Dog Vomiting: Causes, Treatments, and Related Symptoms
Vomiting in dogs is an immediate cause for concern for any pet owner as it is a common symptom of many dangerous illnesses. Your dog’s vomit along with other symptoms, and general health can demonstrate the seriousness of their condition.
Dog vomit due to overeating, blockages or a more serious condition ranges in severity, but for the most part, it is treatable, especially when caught early on by a veterinarian. We always recommend contacting us if you are worried about your dog because their health isn’t worth risking.
How Can I Tell If My Dog Is Regurgitating Or Vomiting?
Regurgitation and vomiting both involve the ejection of food from a dog’s stomach. However, the causes and results differ. Regurgitation is a dog’s natural reaction to eating food too quickly or choking on a foreign object. One telling sign is before regurgitating, a dog usually coughs continually and struggles to breathe.
As well, regurgitated food is undigested food from the dog’s body. Regurgitation is typical and rarely speaks to a sign of poor health. In contrast, vomit is digested food and material from the upper small intestine that generally signifies an issue with the dog.
When Should I Worry About My Dog Vomiting?
Dog vomit is not entirely uncommon, but it is a significant symptom of most illnesses in dogs. Sometimes, your dog may vomit once and not again, suggesting that their stomach was just irritated. Many healthy dogs vomit randomly without an underlying cause. However, a good rule of thumb is that your dog vomiting repeatedly should cause concern.
If your dog vomits more than once and displays other symptoms, then you should begin to worry and get in touch with your local veterinarian for more advice. They will advise you on how to best care for your dog.
Why Is My Dog Vomiting?
Acute vomiting in dogs is a common symptom of many concerning illnesses. Dog vomiting results from diseases such as toxins, infection, overheating, worms, and organ failure. These are serious illnesses that warrant a trip to the vet to confirm the health of your dog.
Why Is My Dog Retching Without Vomit?
Sometimes your dog may retch before they vomit as they feel nauseous. However, if your dog doesn’t vomit, your dog’s dry heaving may be a sign of distress and an unknown health problem. Your dog may be suffering from respiratory pain such as a blockage, respiratory disease, or issues with its trachea.
Retching could also be a sign of issues with your dog and their stomach. It could be that your dog ate a foreign object accidentally. It could also be that your dog’s stomach has twisted, which causes abdominal pain and leads to abdominal heaving. Retching is also a cause for concern, so get in touch with your vet immediately if it happens over a prolonged period.
What Are Related Symptoms To Dog Vomiting?
The following symptoms indicate that a dog owner feels nauseous: increased saliva, reduced appetite, pacing, and restlessness. These symptoms may precede or follow your dog vomiting, and that could help you determine how long your dog has been unwell.
Some symptoms, alongside vomiting, can demonstrate what is wrong with the dog. If a dog has low energy, an upset stomach, fever, dehydration, or the presence of blood, this indicates that you need to call your veterinarian.
What Should I Do If My Dog Vomits?
If your dog vomits once and appears to be behaving normally, you should watch them, but they may have an upset stomach with no underlying cause. If your dog’s vomiting repeatedly, you should consider contacting your veterinarian, even if it is an after-hours emergency, as your dog’s health is the primary concern.
Dog vomiting is always a worry, especially when the other symptoms listed above are visible also. Multiple symptoms indicate that your dog is unwell, and it is an emergency situation that requires the attention of a licensed veterinarian.
What Is The Treatment Plan?
Healthy dogs may bounce back quickly without a visit from the vet, especially if they have only vomited once. However, if you feel that your dog’s vomiting is cause for concern, then seek veterinary attention quickly.
From there, you will visit your vet for a check-up where they will monitor your dog, analyse their blood work, and check their vomiting and bowel movements. They will focus on hydrating your dog and monitoring your dog’s electrolyte imbalances.
Depending on the illness afflicting them, potential treatments for your dog would include medication, long-term stay, and surgery.
What Foods Will Ease My Dogs Stomach?
After vomiting, you should withhold food from your pet for a few hours while still hydrating them. Then slowly begin to give your dog’s food to them in small amounts and gradually increase the volume of food if the vomiting stops. We recommend feeding your dog a bland diet of chicken or plain white fish and rice will allow your dog’s stomach to settle, and soon they should feel back to normal.