Dog Vomiting: Causes, Concerns, and Solutions

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Just like humans, dogs get sick. It’s no fun to see your furry friend feeling under the weather. What makes it a bit harder is that pets can’t talk to us to tell us what is bothering them. Every dog owner knows how heartbreaking it can be to wonder how your pup is truly feeling. However, by being an attentive pet owner, you can help your best friend feel better.

Vomiting one time is fairly normal for dogs. They may have eaten something bad or caught a stomach bug. We have all seen that one dog who tends to eat too fast or eat too much, causing them to throw up shortly after they have eaten. However, if your dog throws up multiple times or has other symptoms, it’s time for a call to the vet.

It’s important to note the difference between vomiting and regurgitation. Dogs may regurgitate things that get stuck in their throat or that are difficult to swallow. Symptoms of regurgitation are different than vomiting.

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When to Contact Your Vet

If your dog throws up more than once in a single day, you should at least give your vet a call to see if they have any advice on what to watch for. You should also call your vet if you suspect your dog has eaten something they weren’t supposed to.

You should definitely take your dog to the vet if they have any of the following symptoms along with vomiting:

• Fever
• Lethargy
• Sudden weight loss
• Blood in the vomit
• Diarrhea
• Bloody diarrhea
• Seizures

Why Do Dogs Throw up – Causes of Vomiting in Dogs

There are numerous conditions and factors that can make your dog throw up. You should work with your veterinarian to narrow down which one is affecting your dog so you can find the appropriate treatment.

Eating Something They’re Not Supposed To

There are lots of things dogs are not supposed to eat. Chocolate, grapes, avocados, and xylitol are just a few of the things that can harm your dog if ingested. Your dog may throw up soon after ingesting something toxic. However, they may experience more adverse symptoms several days later.

A friend of mine had two curious golden retrievers who got into a brand new package of chocolate-flavored protein powder. They both throw up shortly after she found the guilty parties in a big powdery mess. She wasn’t sure how much they had eaten, so she took them to the vet since the powder had both chocolate and xylitol in it. Luckily, after being observed at the vet for 24 hours, the dogs were completely OK!

If your dog eats something toxic, or if you’re not sure if they have, always contact your vet. You may not have to bring your dog in, but your vet will give you valuable information over the phone such as what to do if their symptoms worsen.

Parasites

Intestinal parasites can be particularly harmful in puppies because they prevent your dog from getting essential nutrients. In puppies, this can lead to poor growth in an essential stage of life. Luckily, in adult dogs, parasites are usually a mere nuisance, with the exception of heartworm, which causes a life-threatening infection. With other types of worms, dogs may experience upset stomach, anemia, or other symptoms.

Intestinal parasites that dogs can get include:

• Roundworm
• Tapeworm
• Heartworm
• Hookworm
• Whipworm

If your dog has worms and throws up, you may see the worms in the vomit, especially with roundworms. You may also be able to see the worms in your dog’s poop, or around their rectum. Dogs with worms often seem to have an itchy rear end and may have a bloated stomach.

Treatment for worms is both simple and effective. “Deworming” consists of an antiparasitic medication that your vet will prescribe. Because puppies are so prone to worms, vets recommend giving your puppy a preventative dose of antiparasitics around 3 weeks old. Many pet owners give their dogs a monthly medication to prevent heartworm specifically.

You can prevent worms by keeping your dog flea-free since some worms come from fleas. You should also always wash your hands after handling dog waste and get your dog checked for worms at their annual check-up.

Infection

Some bacterial and viral infections can cause dogs to throw up. The intestines become inflamed, causing the symptoms. Similar to humans, this condition is called gastroenteritis. To diagnose a bacterial or viral infection, your doctor will perform a complete blood cell count panel (CBC). This will let them know if there is an infection.

Then, they may do further testing to pinpoint the type of infection to see if antibiotics would help. They may also prescribe anti-diarrheal or anti-emetic (vomiting) medications to help until the infection passes.

Blockage

Dogs love to eat and chew on things they are not supposed to. Things like rubber toys, bones, children’s toys, and even socks, have been found in dogs’ intestines. One of my friend’s dogs, a sweet Scottie, was found to have a small rock in her stomach after a hike! When there is a blockage a dog may throw up, have diarrhea, experience dehydration, and more.

Your vet can diagnose an obstruction via imaging, like an X-Ray or ultrasound. Once they have pinpointed the object, they may observe the dog for a specified period of time to see if it will pass naturally. If it does not come out in the stool, there are two options:

• Endoscopy – in this procedure, your vet will use a small tube with a camera and claw on the end to grab the item out of your dog’s stomach and pull it out through the mouth. This only works with small items.
• Surgery – your vet will open your dog’s intestines to remove the foreign object and restore the intestines to normal functioning.

The best way to prevent an intestinal blockage is to train your dog well and teach them the command “leave it,” so they are less likely to eat random objects.

Heatstroke

All dogs can get overheated, but northern breed dogs and those with thick fur may be especially prone to heatstroke. Symptoms of heatstroke in dogs include:

• Excessive panting
• Drooling
• Red gums
• Fainting
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

If you think your dog has heatstroke, get them to a cooler environment immediately. Give them plenty of cold water to drink. Wet a towel with cold water and put it on your dog’s back. Call your vet and find out if you need to bring your dog in for IV rehydration and other treatment.

To prevent heatstroke, pay special attention to your dog in hot environments. Make sure they always have access to water and shade. If your dog is energetic, monitor their exercise on hot days to prevent them from overheating. Never leave your dog in the car during the day. The sun can easily heat the car to deadly temperatures for dogs.

Medication or Food Reaction/Allergy

I once knew a beautiful white pit bull who was so allergy-prone, her loving owners made her a fresh meal of grilled chicken breast, freshly roasted vegetables, and rice, every single day. While it seems she was living the life of luxury, normal dog food simply had too many allergens for her.

Dogs may vomit as a side effect of a medication or a food allergy. Symptoms of a food allergy include frequent scratching (itchy skin), vomiting, and diarrhea. Symptoms of a medication reaction include itchy skin, redness, hives, hair loss, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, difficulty breathing, and even fainting.

Whenever your dog starts a new medication, be aware of any potential side effects and report to your vet if any occur.

If you suspect a food allergy, your vet may recommend an elimination diet to find out exactly what your dog is reacting to. There are also blood tests that may help to identify the allergen.

The only way to treat a medication reaction or food allergy is to change the medication or avoid the allergen.

Pancreatitis

This condition is an inflammation of the pancreas. It occurs when the pancreas malfunctions. Normally, this organ releases digestive enzymes that help to break down food in the intestines. When it doesn’t work properly, it releases the enzymes too soon, damaging the pancreas and surrounding tissue by essentially starting to digest it.

Symptoms of pancreatitis include:

• Hunching over
• Vomiting
• Bloated abdomen
• Diarrhea
• Not eating
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Fever
• Dehydration

Some dog breeds are genetically prone to pancreatitis. However, it can also be caused by:

• A high-fat diet
• Eating too much human food or garbage
• Being overweight
• Diabetes
• Endocrine diseases
• Some medications
• Some toxins
• Blunt trauma to the area

To diagnose pancreatitis, your vet will do testing to measure the levels of digestive enzymes in the blood. They will also X-Ray the abdomen to rule out other conditions. Finally, they will take a biopsy of the pancreas to confirm the condition.

The first line of treatment for pancreatitis is to give your dog’s system a rest. They may need IV fluids to rehydrate. Your vet will recommend an anti-vomiting medication. You should avoid giving your dog food or water for a full 24 hours.

Once your dog is stable, the treatment involves diet management. You should not give your dog any human food, no matter how much they beg. Look into prescription low-fat dog foods to help your dog’s pancreas. You should also feed your dog smaller meals throughout the day versus one or two larger ones. Finally, keep everything in check by having your dog’s pancreatic enzyme and lipid levels checked often.

Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease, or chronic renal failure, means that your dog’s kidneys are not working as well as they should to filter waste out of the bloodstream. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms of kidney disease can be noticed, your dog’s kidneys are likely 66% less effective than they should be. The damage can take place over months or years before you notice any symptoms.

This condition usually happens in older dogs. In large dogs, it can happen as young as seven years old. In smaller dogs, you may see kidney disease between 10 and 14 years old.

Symptoms of kidney disease in dogs include:

• Not eating
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Bad breath

To diagnose kidney disease, your vet will do a urinalysis to see if there are any indicators. If there are, they will also do a blood test to measure waste in the blood.

Once your dog is diagnosed, there are two stages of treatment. First, your vet will flush the toxins out of your dog’s blood with large amounts of IV fluids. For some dogs, this treatment helps to bring some functionality back to the kidneys. For others, it does not.

In the second stage of treatment, you should feed your dog special food for dogs with kidney disease. These foods are low in protein, and phosphates, and are not acidic. Your vet may also give your dog other prescription medications to manage the symptoms of kidney failure depending on their specific situation. With care, many dogs can live a great life with kidney disease.

When in Doubt, Call the Vet!

A call to the vet is never a bad idea. It can only help if you are worried about your dog’s health. If your dog is throwing up, give the vet a ring to get information on what to do, and make an appointment if they think it is necessary. Your furry BFF will appreciate the care!