Why Dogs Throw Up
Vomiting is a common sign of an irritated stomach and inflamed intestines, or gastrointestinal upset in dogs.
As almost every dog owner understands that while vomiting in dogs is an unpleasant thing to witness and can be distressing it is your pet’s way of emptying their stomach of indigestible material to prevent it from remaining in their system, or from reaching other areas of their body.
Causes of Vomiting in Dogs
There are a number of things that can cause a dog to vomit, and sometimes even healthy dogs will fall ill for no apparent reason and recover quickly.
It's possible that your dog ate too quickly, ate too much grass, or ate something their stomach doesn't agree with. This type of vomiting may occur only once and be accompanied by no other symptoms. As a result, vomiting in dogs isn't always a cause for concern.
That said, potential causes of acute vomiting (sudden or severe) can be related to diseases, disorders, or health complications such as:
- Ingestion of poisons, toxins, or food
- Reaction to medication
- Bacterial or viral infection
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure
- Change in diet
When To Worry About Vomiting in Dogs
Most dogs will vomit on occasion. If your dog vomits once or even twice, shows no other symptoms, then returns to normal, there is likely nothing to worry about. (Although we still recommend calling your vet to let them know).
That said, in some cases, vomiting can be a clear indication of a serious medical issue that needs urgent care. Contact your vet right away if you see any of these signs:
- Vomiting in conjunction with other symptoms such as lethargy, weight loss, fever, anemia, etc.
- Suspected ingestion of a foreign body (such as food, objects, children’s toy, etc.)
- Vomiting a lot at one time
- Vomiting/dry heaving with nothing coming up
- Vomiting blood
- Chronic vomiting
- Continuous, repeated, or recurring vomiting
- Vomiting accompanied by bloody diarrhea
- If vomit appears foamy, or bright green (See below for details)
If your dog has been vomiting frequently or if it has become a long-term or chronic problem, you should be concerned, especially if you have noticed symptoms such as abdominal pain, depression, dehydration, blood, poor appetite, fever, weakness, weight loss, or other unusual behaviors.
Long-term, recurrent vomiting can be caused by:
- Liver or kidney failure
- Uterine infection
- Intestinal obstruction
As a cautious pet owner, it’s always best to prioritize safety and caution when it comes to your pup’s health. The best way to learn whether your dog’s vomiting is normal or not is to contact your vet.
How to Induce Vomiting in Dogs
Panicked owners often find themselves searching for "how to induce vomiting in dogs". Toxins cause gastrointestinal upset, but can also do serious damage when they are absorbed into the bloodstream as they get into the tissues. With decontamination, the goal is to eliminate the toxin from the body before it’s absorbed. If vomiting can be induced before the intestines absorb the toxin, toxicity may be prevented.
That said, dog owners should know that inducing vomiting at home is not advised except under extreme circumstances!
In addition, this should always be done under the guidance of a licensed veterinarian. Before taking this action, call your primary veterinarian or a veterinary poison control center for advice.
Deciding whether your pooch should be induced at home depends on what and how much your dog has consumed, and how much time has passed - there's a chance that the substance or amount consumed wasn't toxic, so inducing vomiting wouldn't be necessary.
Though vomiting can safely bring most toxins to the surface, a few will cause more damage if they pass through the esophagus a second time before moving through the GI tract. Bleach, cleaning products, caustic chemicals, and petroleum-based products are examples.
Also, if 3% hydrogen peroxide (the only safe home substance that can be used to induce vomiting in dogs) is incorrectly administered, it can enter the lungs and cause significant problems such as pneumonia.
If your dog has a pre-existing health condition or there are other symptoms, inducing vomiting may result in other health risks. If induced vomiting is necessary, having a qualified veterinarian induce vomiting in-clinic is preferable.
How Veterinarians Induce Vomiting
At Cumberland Animal Clinic, we carefully examine your pooch to determine whether inducing vomiting is safe for your pet. If it's determined that this action should be taken, special medication with minimal side effects is used (as opposed to hydrogen peroxide). If your dog does experience any side effects, we are equipped to administer proper care and medication.
What To Do If You Suspect Your Dog Has Ingested a Toxin
The best thing to do if you are concerned about your dog's vomiting, or if you suspect that your dog has ingested a toxic substance, is to immediately contact your veterinarian or emergency vet, or call Poison Control for more advice.
What To Do If You Determine That Your Dog's Vomiting Is Not an Emergency
If you believe your dog's vomiting is not due to anything serious, there are a few things you can do to help soothe your pup's upset stomach. Of course, we recommend that you call your vet to let them know what's going on; your vet knows your dog best and may be able to offer advice on how to best handle your dog's tummy troubles. Having said that, many veterinarians recommend the following treatments for a mild gastric upset in dogs.
- Skip your dog's next meal then provide a smaller portion for the following meal. If your dog does not vomit again return to normal feeding.
- Provide your dog with a light on-the-stomach GI formula dog food from your vet's office to help ease them back to normal eating.
- Make your dog a light meal of cooked chicken and boiled rice and feed it in small portions.
- Provide your dog with plenty of fresh water to stay hydrated.
- If your dog is not back to normal within 24 hours call your vet to book an examination for your pup.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.