Vomiting in dogs is quite common. However, they can have many different causes and are to be taken seriously. Frequent dog vomiting in a limited time is distinguished from occasional vomiting. In case of vomiting the first thing to do is to put the animal to a diet for 12 hours, while giving only water. If the problem is not solved, then it is necessary to consult and to search the cause.
Domestic carnivores vomit more often than humans in general. A dog or cat may vomit if he or she has stomach discomfort or has eaten too much or eaten too fast.…
The difference between vomiting and regurgitation should be well understood. Vomiting is an active evacuation (after expulsive efforts) reflex of the contents of the stomach, while regurgitation is passive (there is no contraction of the belly).
Read more about the Different Types Of Dog Vomiting
Table of Contents
Parasitic Causes For Dog Vomiting
Digestive worms can cause vomiting as they irritate the digestive tract and create inflammation. The dog often becomes contaminated from birth or in the wild. for more information, see our articke on “dog worms”. This is why your dog should be regularly de-wormed at least four times a year, with a broad spectrum de-worming that your veterinarian will give you.
Digestive Causes for Dog Vomiting
Vomiting can be caused by inflammation or toxic chemicals:
– Food intolerance
– Inflammation of the stomach wall, ulcer
– Ingestion of damaged or contaminated food
– Poisoning by household chemicals, persticides, etc… or drugs. The animal then presents with other symptoms and it should be presented promptly to your veterinarian.
Ingestion of a foreign body (string, piece of plastic, Pebble, fruit stone, bone…) can result in blockage of digestive transit. This occlusion can cause acute vomiting. The dog has access to non-food substances and can swallow them because he is not aware of the danger !
For example, a string from a garbage bag can block the transit, make knots, or shear the wall of the intestine.
The symptoms of an occlusion are generally well visible: repeated and incoercible vomiting (which do not stop even on the diet), prostration, abdominal pain… They usually appear 1 to 3 days after ingestion of the object in question. It’s an emergency and we need to consult the vet quickly. Surgery is usually necessary.
Stomach twisting, more common in large dogs, is also an emergency. It usually manifests itself in unsuccessful vomiting efforts, violent breakdown and swelling of the abdomen.
More Digestive Causes For Vomiting In Dogs
Vomiting may also be one of the symptoms of a more general disease:
– parvovirosis (the main symptoms are diarrhoea and vomiting)),
– disque’s disease (digestive, respiratory, nervous, ocular, cutaneous symptoms…),
– Rubarth hepatitis,
– leptospirosis,
– a pyometra (infection of the uterus),
– pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas),
– peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal wall),
– diabetes mellitus,
– advanced renal failure,
– hepatic impairment,
– a serious neurological disorder,
– a state of shock.
If your dog vomits repeatedly and appears tired or if you observe blood in the vomit, it should be take to the veterinarian immediately.
Be especially careful with puppies, not to leave any non-edible items, table scraps, garbage cans, household products, etc. at their fingertips.…
Treatment Of Dog Vomiting
Treatment remains symptomatic (that is, treatment will consist of suppressing symptoms) only in cases of acute vomiting or severe vomiting that may result in severe disorders. In most cases, it is preferable to identify the cause in advance. The veterinarian proceeds in several phases.
The veterinarian prescribes :Setting up a proper diet
Whatever the cause of vomiting in the dog, fasting promotes healing of the gastric mucosa, avoiding stimulation of digestive secretions, which may attack the damaged mucosa.
Depending on the severity of the case, an infusion may be required during this time to rehydrate the dog and correct the mineral imbalance caused by vomiting. The water is then given in small frequent amounts, at a rate of 10 to 100 ml per dose, depending on the size of the dog.
A Hyperdigestible Diet
It is desirable to distribute this type of diet to the dog during the next 2-3 days, in the form of 4 to 6 meals per day. It is non-irritating to the stomach wall and promotes emptying.
This food is either supplied by the veterinarian as part of a prescription (boxes or croquettes) or brought in household form (very cooked rice with added lean meat or curd cheese).
Drug treatment of Dog Vomit
Drug treatment in order to:
* Encourage emptying of the stomach by administering a medicine that alters its motor function.
* Fight against acid secretions from the stomach with an anti-secretory agent.
* Protect the lining of the stomach with a gastric bandage during injury.