Tending to our dogs' needs is part of the entire pet owner experience. This includes checking their condition and keeping an eye on the most subtle of signs. With that, we should all stay prepared for anything that may get in the way of our best friend's health.
One of the more common signs that can mean a multitude of concerns is vomiting. Dog vomiting is the body's way of expelling harmful substances from the stomach. It's a process that uses active abdominal contractions.
Vomiting can also happen suddenly or progress over time. While it's not always a big deal, there will be some instances where frequent or severe puking can indicate a health problem. With that, we're here to talk about everything you need to know about dog vomit.
What Is Dog Vomiting?
Dog puking itself is the active process in which the stomach expels harmful contents. It often involves heaving, drooling, and heavy abdominal contractions. The expelled contents can have foam, food, bile, and even blood.
Regurgitation is often confused with vomiting, but it’s different. Regurgitation is a passive action that happens without any effort. The contents are usually undigested. Dog gagging is also a similar action with a much different meaning.
Here’s a general overview of the differences among the three:
Reflex | Difference |
|---|---|
Vomiting | The active process of forcefully removing the stomach contents through the mouth. |
Regurgitation | A passive process wherein food and liquid come back up from the esophagus without abdominal effort. |
Gagging | The reflex action that gets triggered by irritation and foreign bodies, with usually nothing coming out. |
What Causes Dogs to Vomit?
When dogs puke or throw up, it’s usually a symptom of a health condition or a consequence of canine curiosity. Either way, dog vomiting should always be looked into in case something bad is really happening. Here are the common causes you should take note of:
Dietary Issues
Dietary issues are among the most common causes of dog puking. The main one is dietary indiscretion. This happens when dogs eat things that they shouldn't, including table scraps, trash, and hard objects. When they do, their gastrointestinal system can get messed up.
This is especially dangerous when they ingest toxins such as household chemicals, human medications, and toxic foods such as chocolate and grapes.
Sudden changes in a dog’s diet can also upset their digestive systems, such as switching dog food brands too quickly or entirely changing the food type. Even eating too fast can overwhelm a dog’s digestive system, causing them to vomit up the food.
In some cases, certain foods, such as dairy, chicken, or beef, can trigger a dog’s allergies or sensitivities. These can result in gastrointestinal issues, which include throwing up.
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Issues that affect the dog’s gastrointestinal tract often cause vomiting due to irritation. This includes issues such as:
Pancreatitis. Canine pancreatitis happens when the pancreas releases digestive enzymes that cause irritation within the organ, resulting in vomiting.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The inflammation within the gastrointestinal tract’s lining prevents optimal digestion.
Liver Disease. Because of the liver’s inability to filter out toxins due to its dysfunction, it leads to gastrointestinal upset, making the affected dog vomit.
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus. GDV, a condition in which the dog’s stomach twists and fills up with gas, can cause ineffective vomiting.
Parasites. Parasites within the digestive tract can cause irritation and infections, both of which can make dogs puke and throw up.
Infections. Bacterial, viral, or fungal infections can upset your dog’s stomach. Highly infectious illnesses that attack the gastrointestinal system, such as canine parvovirus or gastroenteritis, have vomiting as one of the main symptoms.
Stress
Some dogs can also experience stress and motion sickness during car rides. This can start with drooling, nausea, or whining before the actual vomiting. Additionally, loud noises and changes in their routine can stress them out and result in an upset stomach.
Other Health Issues
Underlying health conditions such as cancer, pyometra, and kidney disease, as well as adrenal gland disorders, can disrupt normal digestion and cause dog vomiting.
What Does Dog Vomit Look Like?
The appearance, texture, and color of a dog’s vomit give us clues about what caused the issue. Here’s a quick guide:
Color of Vomit | Meaning |
|---|---|
Yellow | Yellow vomit comes from bile, which is usually a result of bile backflowing to the empty stomach and exiting the mouth. This usually means your dog’s stomach is empty for too long. |
White | White foam can also be vomited out when the stomach is empty and irritated from digestive upset or acid reflux. |
Clear | Clear vomit is often a sign of drinking too much water too quickly. It’s a mixture of saliva, water, or stomach secretions. |
Green | The green color comes from eating grass, which irritates the stomach. It can also indicate bile because of an empty stomach. |
Brown | Brown vomit in dogs often indicates partially digested food. It can also mean your dog ate something dark, like dirt, chocolate, or even feces. In serious cases, brown vomit can indicate digested blood, intestinal blockage, toxins, and ulcers. |
Red | Red vomit usually means fresh blood, which can indicate bleeding in the mouth, esophagus, or stomach. |
Vet Tips: What to Do if a Dog Vomits?
If your dog has vomited, then it’s important to look at the color. This can guide you on what actions to take. If the color is clear or slightly yellow, then lessen the amount of water you give and withhold food for a few hours.
If the dog’s vomit is white foam, yellow, or green, then be sure to monitor them. If they vomit more than once during a 24-hour period, then you’ll have to visit the clinic. However, if your dog puked brown or red vomit, then it’s crucial to seek emergency vet care.
How Do Vets Diagnose the Cause of Dog Vomiting?
If your dog is vomiting, we'll need to diagnose the cause first to treat the symptom. We do this by initially checking your dog's physical condition. Our vets will check its abdomen for any signs of bloating, pain, or discomfort.
Our vets will ask about changes in your dog’s behavior and diet. Give us a quick rundown on what your dog ate, especially if it’s something they shouldn’t. From our observations, we’ll proceed with the next tests we should do.
Blood Tests. We use blood testing to check your dog’s hydration levels, immune system, and internal organs. Through a blood sample, vets can determine if the dog's vomiting is caused by infections or issues within the pancreas, liver, and kidneys.
Fecal Tests. Fecal tests are performed to detect intestinal parasites or bacterial infections.
Diagnostic Imaging. X-rays, ultrasounds, and CT scans for pets can help detect tumors, blockages, foreign objects, and other issues in your dog’s internal organs.
Endoscopy. Another way to detect blockages and foreign objects in your dog’s stomach or intestines is with endoscopy. The tiny camera will be inserted into the body to look for the cause of your dog’s vomiting.
What Is the Best Treatment for a Dog Vomiting?
Treating your dog's vomiting will require taking care of the main issue.
Treatment for Mild Dog Vomiting
For mild cases, fasting for 12 hours can give the stomach time to settle. Gradually reintroduce bland foods like boiled chicken and rice. During this time, carefully observe your dog.
Probiotics for dogs can also help with their vomiting. While it doesn’t fix the issue immediately, it does aid in easing your dog’s abdominal discomfort.
Additionally, you’ll need to provide lots of fresh water for your dog since vomiting can quickly lead to dehydration. Make sure to have bowls ready at the places your dog stays.
For stress-related dog vomiting, reducing your pet’s stress can be done in some ways, including providing safe spaces and positive reinforcement.
Treatment for Persistent or Severe Dog Vomiting
Stopping dog vomiting for persistent cases will require more treatments.
Antacids, antiemetics, anti-nausea medications, or antibiotics may be prescribed to treat certain conditions and alleviate the discomfort. IV fluids will be provided to prevent dehydration.
For complex cases, surgery will be required to resolve the issue. This can be useful in intestinal blockage, tumors, foreign body obstructions, and conditions such as GDV in dogs.
Vet Tips: How to Prevent a Dog From Vomiting
Dog vomiting may be unavoidable, but there are a lot of ways to reduce the risk.
Stick to a Consistent Diet
A consistent diet helps avoid digestive upset. If you want to introduce new foods to your dog’s diet, do it gradually over a few days. Mix in small amounts of the new food with the old, increasing the proportion over several days.
Day 1-3: 20% new food, 80% old food
Day 4-5: 40% new food, 60% old food
Day 6-7: 60% new food, 40% old food
Day 8-9: 80% new food, 20% old food
Day 10+: 100% new food
Keep Toxins Out of Reach
Secure household chemicals and medications. Keep them in locked places your dog can’t reach, like locked cabinets or high shelves. Also, be cautious of foods dogs can’t eat, such as chocolate, onions, and grapes, since they are highly toxic for them.
Schedule Vet Checkups
Routine veterinary visits can catch potential health issues early. Our vets can check your dog for any signs of illness and address them before they progress.
Manage Waste Properly
Keep trash and debris out of your dog’s reach, especially one with scavenging behavior. By managing the waste in your home responsibly, you can lower the risk of your dog eating something that it shouldn’t
Reduce Stress
Stress can cause many health problems in your dog, including vomiting. Keep a calm space for your dog, away from any loud noises or sudden distractions. Through these, your dog can feel secure and relaxed. Consistency is key to managing stress in dogs.
“A healthy dog thrives inside and out.”
- Dr. Rokas Proscevicius
Final Thoughts
Dogs can vomit from time to time, and it’s normal. Even so, it’s essential to monitor your best friend's health condition. Just by looking at the color of the vomit, you’ll be able to make informed decisions that determine your dog’s health and happiness.
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