An Owner's Guide to Dog Vomiting

Vomiting in dogs is very common and can be caused by a range of conditions. Sometimes it can be as simple as regurgitated or undigested food, but other times it could be a sign of something more serious. Often, your dog will get better after some chicken and rice, and you'll never know the exact cause.

But for a bit of peace of mind, this is your guide to dog vomiting, with everything you need to know, from tell-tale colours, how you can treat at home and when you need to get them to the vets.

What Exactly is Vomiting?

We've all been sick before, but when your dog throws up, is that any different? Not really, vomiting is a protective mechanism to prevent toxic substances from entering the body and making the dog ill.

Vomiting involves contracting the tummy muscles before the contents are thrown up. You may notice your dog licking its lips, salivating a lot or swallowing right before being sick.

Vomiting needs to be differentiated from regurgitation and retching (where little or no vomit is produced). Regurgitation occurs only after a meal, and the material contains visible lumps of undigested food, which are often eaten again!

Vomiting can be related to gastrointestinal or abdominal conditions (these are called primary causes) or may be linked to a systemic or neurological problem (secondary causes).

Why Do Dogs Vomit?

Dog vomiting can be caused by a stomach, intestinal, abdominal, or metabolic problem. Or maybe due to a neurological condition, the side effects of drugs or a toxic substance. Dietary indiscretion is a tendency to eat foods outside a dog's normal diet. Some dogs like to scavenge or bin dive, which often leads to an upset stomach and vomiting.

If your dog tends to be sick in the morning, this could be due to your dog vomiting bile, which has leaked into the stomach overnight because they haven't eaten for a while. Let your vet know if this is the case – reflux gastritis or even pregnancy might be the cause.

What Conditions Cause a Dog to Vomit?

If a stomach problem causes the vomiting, your vet will consider:

• Gastritis
• Foreign bodies
• GDV (gastric dilatation/volvulus syndrome)
• Cancer
• Ulcer
• Intestinal parasites
• Bacterial and viral infections (a vomiting bug)

Equally, intestinal obstructions, such as colitis, pancreatitis, peritonitis, endocrine disease, and toxins, are other conditions your vet will want to rule out.

Alternatively, if you've been travelling with your pooch, motion sickness from a car ride may also be the cause of your dog vomiting.

Dog Vomit Colour Guide

The colour of dog vomit will help your vet diagnose and treat your pup. Our colour guide can help you identify the cause and give you a head start on getting your dog the treatment they need.

• Green dog vomit is usually caused by your dog eating grass, as some dogs like to do. But it could be due to bile, so keep an eye out if it happens again.

• A dog vomiting yellow vomit can also be caused by bile, but to a lesser extent than if the vomit is green.

• Black dog vomit may just be the result of your dog eating earth! But if the vomit looks like coffee granules, then this might indicate a stomach ulcer. Black vomit can actually be a very dark red – in either case, take your dog to the vet.

• A dog vomiting blood (bright red) also indicates a problem that needs investigation.

• If the dog is vomiting white foam or bright yellow foam, it may indicate a serious gastric problem that needs veterinary attention as soon as possible. White foamy vomit is more likely if your dog is sick on an empty stomach, but it could also be a sign of Kennel Cough.

• Brown dog vomit (along with very bad breath) may mean your dog has eaten poo! But if it continues, it could be a sign of an intestinal blockage, so contact your vet.

If you’re concerned about the colour of the vomit and your dog appears to be in pain, call your vet for advice as soon as possible.

What to Give a Dog for an Upset Stomach and Vomiting?

Vomiting can often be managed at home just by fasting for 24 hours and then allowing small amounts of water if the vomiting has stabilised. Once your dog has stopped vomiting, a low-fat diet can be given. Don't feed them their usual dog food until they show signs of recovery.

Always make sure your dog has access to fresh water. If they don't appear to be in distress and aren't losing weight, the best treatment for dog vomiting is to withhold food for a day, then stick to bland diets like cooked white fish or chicken and rice until their tummy settles.

Dog Vomiting - When to Worry!

In most cases, vomiting is short-lived, and your dog will be back to normal in no time without needing any veterinary treatment. But how do you know when to take a dog to the vet for vomiting?

If they continue feeling nauseous and vomiting continues for more than a couple of days, make an appointment with your vet, especially if they've also had diarrhoea.

If your dog becomes dehydrated, fluid therapy and replacement electrolytes may be given at the vet's surgery. Puppies can become dehydrated more quickly than adults so that they may need an urgent veterinary appointment.

Vomiting can also be a sign of heatstroke. In the heat of the summer months, it's really important to keep an eye on your dog. Heatstroke can be fatal, so act quickly to ensure your dog receives urgent treatment.

5 Questions Your Vet Will Ask About Your Vomiting Dog

To help your vet find out the exact cause of the vomiting, they'll ask you questions like:

• What food has your dog eaten?
• What colour is the vomit?
• Have other pets in the household been affected?
• Has your dog been hunting or scavenging?
• Have they had any medical treatment recently or been exposed to any potential poisons?

Arriving at the surgery with the answers to all these questions written down will be a huge help to your vet. If vomiting persists (becomes chronic), your vet can prescribe anti-nausea medication to ease the sickness.

Should You Be Worried About Dog Vomit?

Vomiting is not a life-threatening condition, but the cause of the vomiting could be. Your vet will want to run some tests to identify the cause. A small sample of the dog's vomit may be taken and analysed for a bacterial infection or to identify any parasites in the gut. Blood tests, urine samples and X-rays may also be taken.

Endoscopic examination (looking into the stomach with a very small camera) may also be performed; if a foreign body is found, it can be removed during this procedure. A small tissue sample may be taken for examination. If your vet does find an obstruction, surgical treatment will be recommended.

Vomiting can be very unpleasant for dogs and their owners alike! Many things can upset your dog's stomach, and the colour of the vomit can be important in finding out the cause. In most cases of vomiting, the dog shows signs of improvement within 24 hours and a full recovery in a couple of days. Make an appointment with your vet if your dog doesn't improve within a day.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis

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