by Angie Pollock

Created on: December 30, 2009

Vomiting in dogs can be caused by a short-term illness or it can be severe.  Treatment for the problem will depend upon the severity and the cause.  However, before any treatment can begin, owners need to know if there dog is actually vomiting or if their pet is simply regurgitating something unpleasant.  Veterinarians describe vomiting as “the forceful ejection of the contents of the stomach”.  It is not uncommon for a dog to regurgitate food but vomiting should not be considered a simple common occurrence.

Causes of Vomiting in Dogs

The causes of vomiting can range from simply eating something that didn’t agree with the dog’s system or it can be from a serious condition.  Digestive diseases, kidney and liver problems, and poisoning can all cause vomiting.  Generally, a short-term illness will only cause vomiting for only a day or so.  However, vomiting that is caused from a serious illness can last for days or be reoccurring.  Some of the more common causes of vomiting in dogs include:

*Inappropriate food

*Change in diet

*Stress

*Motion sickness

More serious conditions that can cause vomiting in dogs include:

*Digestive diseases

*Poisons

*Kidney or liver failure

*Parvo

*Obstruction

Short-term Illness

When a dog is ill and vomits for a short time (no more than a couple of days) and no other signs of illness are present, the dog usually only needs supportive care from their caregiver.  Although a dog may be somewhat weak and not act quite himself, a dog with a short-term illness generally just needs to work the problem out of their system. 

Long-term or Severe Illness

When vomiting in a dog is accompanied by other severe symptoms, owners should seek veterinarian care.  Repeated vomiting, extreme lethargy, unable to drink or walk – these are all signs that something could be seriously wrong. 

Treatments for Vomiting in Dogs

Treating short-term vomiting begins with finding the cause.  Most times a dog will get digestive problems when they consume something that didn’t agree with their stomach.  If a dog’s diet has been changed quickly, this can cause an upset stomach.  Table scraps and sneaking into the garbage are also prime suspects for vomiting.  Once the culprit has been found, be sure that the problem is removed from the dog’s environment.

While the dog is ill, food should be withheld but not water.  However, too much water is also not a good thing.   A dog can become dehydrated quickly if it is vomiting frequently.  The dog should be offered small amounts of water throughout the day.  For severe vomiting, a dog may need IV fluids administered at the vet’s office.  If the vomiting ceases within 24 hours, the dog can begin eating again but in limited amounts.  Offer the dog bland food such as cooked chicken breast and rice in very small amounts over a period of time. 

Don’t Take Chances

Most importantly, don’t take chances with your pet’s health.  If you are unsure of the cause of your dog’s vomiting, seek veterinarian care especially if the vomiting is frequent or lasts longer than 24 hours.  Other serious symptoms include signs of blood, abdominal pain, fever, and dehydration.  A veterinarian can evaluate the dog’s condition, offer supportive care such as IV fluids, and prescribe anti-vomiting medications.   

References:

MERCK/MERIAL MANUAL FOR PET HEALTH, Home Edition, copyright 2007.

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