Vomiting in dogs
Vomiting is a problem that regularly occurs in dogs. When a dog has eaten something unsuitable, vomiting is often a quick and easy way to get rid of it. However, it may also be that a dog is ill and that vomiting is one of the symptoms.
When your dog vomits once (acute vomiting), there is often nothing to worry about; it is important, however, that your dog is still active and alert. When your dog continues to vomit (chronic vomiting) and also becomes lethargic, it is best to contact the veterinarian.
Regurgitation or vomiting?
Vomiting and regurgitation are two different things. With regurgitation, a dog brings food back up shortly after eating. A dog will often lower its head and spit out the food; there are no contractions in the abdominal area. In this case, the food is still undigested and does not contain bile.
With vomiting, the muscles around the abdomen contract, and a dog forcefully expels the contents of the stomach and the upper part of the intestines. The vomit consists of partially digested food and bile; vomit generally smells sour.
Causes of vomiting
Vomiting is a common problem associated with various conditions. Below is an overview of the most common causes:
- Food allergy
- Stomach inflammation
- Intestinal inflammation
- Giardia (especially in puppies)
- A foreign object in the stomach
- Uterine inflammation
- Kidney problems
- Bloat and stomach torsion (This is called unproductive retching: a dog tries to vomit but nothing comes out)
- Balance problems
- Poisoning
- Infections
A dog may also experience the urge to vomit due to diseases of the kidneys, liver, pancreas, and uterus. Motion sickness can also be a cause of vomiting, for example.
Points to note when your dog is vomiting
If your dog does not want to eat for a day while vomiting, or eats less than usual, this is generally not harmful. It is important, however, that your dog continues to drink. Vomiting causes a dog to lose a lot of fluid, which can lead to dehydration. This can have serious consequences… If your dog stops drinking, it is important to contact the veterinarian, as the animal may need an IV drip.
In the following cases, it is necessary to contact the veterinarian immediately if your dog is vomiting:
- If the animal is retching without bringing anything up
- If your dog's abdominal size increases rapidly
- If the vomiting continues
- If a dog cannot keep water down either
- If there is blood in the vomit
- If your dog has a fever (more than 39.5 degrees Celsius)
It is important to closely monitor puppies that vomit frequently. Puppies can become dehydrated more quickly when they vomit a lot. If you contact the veterinarian because your puppy is, for example, vomiting continuously, it is important to know when the animal vomits, what the vomit looks like, and how much vomit there is.
Treatment for vomiting
To develop a treatment plan for vomiting, it is important to determine whether it is acute or chronic vomiting.
In cases of acute vomiting, the first step is to look for any underlying health problem.
A dog may be given medication to prevent vomiting and, if necessary, acid-reducing medication. To provide relief, it is also best to divide the amount of food into several small portions per day – at least 4 portions; preferably choose easily digestible food. It is also important to give your dog small amounts of fresh water, rather than a large bowl of water all at once. Make sure the water is not too cold.
When a dog continues to vomit (chronic vomiting), there is often a more serious underlying issue. In this case, a veterinarian will try to determine the underlying problem. Once the underlying problem is known, the veterinarian can create a treatment plan.
A dog may become dehydrated if it has been vomiting continuously for an extended period. In this case, a veterinarian may give your dog an IV drip, providing fluids and, if necessary, additional salts.
