Dogs vomit for a wide range of reasons. While it is not pleasant to have to deal with it is also not something that needs to be alarming if you are aware of what the dog was eating or doing right before the vomiting occurred. Often dogs that gulp water or food will vomit or regurgitate immediately, which may just mean the stomach can’t handle what the dog has ingested. Typically food that comes up before entering the stomach is considered to be regurgitated rather than vomited.
Many different health conditions are also associated with vomiting and require attention by a vet to determine the underlying cause. Dogs that consume toxins or poisons will often vomit as the body tries to eliminate the dangerous substance. This, along with bloat, requires immediate veterinary treatment to avoid the possibility of life threatening conditions. Chronic health conditions and intestinal blockages can also lead to vomiting and required immediate care and medical intervention.
Significant issues with vomiting include the presence of blood in the vomit, swelling or pain in the stomach and abdominal area, diarrhea, fever, lethargic behavior, dry heaving and any possibility that toxins may have been consumed. If the dog’s gums are gray, pale or yellow looking it is also important to immediately contact your vet. You should be able to describe the type of vomit to the vet. This includes the presence of blood, watery or dry look, mucous, foreign object pieces or unusual colors to the material expelled from the dog’s mouth.
When your dog comes in to see us we will run a complete series of tests to determine the cause of the vomiting. Often we will start an IV or give subcutaneous injections to help rehydrate the dog and balance the electrolytes and blood chemistry. Treatment will then occur based on the cause of the vomiting.
Generally a dog that vomits just one time is not a cause to panic. However, it is important to monitor the dog and make sure it does not happen again. It is a good idea to give us a call if you are concerned for some reason, if the vomiting occurs more than once, or if any other changes in your dog’s behavior are also present.