What is dog vomiting? When your dog forcefully ejects the contents of the stomach or the upper intestine, it's called dog vomiting. It can happen due to several reasons. Maybe your dog has eaten something, which couldn't handle by his stomach, or may your dog have overeaten grass. But the cause can be very serious sometimes; maybe your dog has eaten something toxic. It can also be a sign of any serious illness. So, make sure to visit the vet immediately.
The vomiting can be isolated
or chronic, so make sure if your dog has vomiting or regurgitating. The regurgitation
is usually a passive process, which occurs soon after eating. In this process,
dogs lower their head, and food comes up without active abdominal contractions
like vomiting. The food, which expelled during this process is usually undigested
and without bile. While the vomit has come bile and partially digested. It's
important to know about the causes of vomiting to go for a perfect solution. In
this article, we will help you to understand why your dog is vomiting. Let's
get started.
Causes of Sudden Vomiting
If your dog experienced a sudden or acute episode of vomiting,
the cause could be any one of the below.
- Bacterial Infection
- Diet Change
- Food Tolerance
- Bloat
- Intestinal Parasites
- Ingestion of Toxic Substances
- Foreign Substances in the Gastrointestinal System
- Viral Infections
- Heatstroke
- Acute Kidney Failure
- Pancreatitis
- Acute Liver Failure
- Certain Medications
- Intestinal Inflammation
- Intestinal Obstruction
- Constipation
- Cancer
- Kidney Failure
- Parvovirus
- Colitis
- Uterine Infection
Causes of Frequent Vomiting
The frequent vomiting can be due to serious medical
conditions. Make sure to see for below symptoms if your dog has frequent
vomiting.
- Abdominal Pain
- Weakness
- Vomit with blood in it
- Depression
- Weight Loss
- Dehydration
- Fever
Make sure to visit the vet immediately if your dog is throwing
up food and has any of the above symptoms. But if your dog suddenly throws up
and continues eating with normal bowel movements, it may be an isolated
incident.
Different Looks of Dogs Vomit
A dog's vomit can have different colors, which also
indicates its cause. Let's see the different appearances of the dog's vomit,
which indicate its different cases.
Yellow Vomit
It's a very common type of dog vomit with an empty stomach.
The yellow color is mostly due to the bile secretions. It occurs mostly in the
middle of the night or in the early morning hours. The causes of the yellow
vomit include acid build-up, reflux, or any other systemic condition.
White, Foamy Vomit
The white foamy vomit is mostly due to the build-up of
stomach acid. Its foamy appearance is due to contact with air before vomiting
occurs.
Clear, Liquid Vomit
The clear liquid vomit can be due to stomach secretions or
water pooling in the stomach that comes up by itself when vomited. It can happen
when your dog drinks while feeling nauseous.
Mucus-Like, Slimy Vomit
When the drooling and pools in the stomach in response to
some major irritation, he may experience a slimy vomit. Dogs usually get relief
from their nausea when they vomit up the mucus.
Blood Vomit
Blood vomit is always a serious condition in any dog. But
the vomiting is not prolonged or profuse; the pink tinge is not a sign of any
urgent situation. But if there is any blood clot, fresh blood, or a coffee-ground
appearance to the vomit, it's indicated the bleeding in the stomach or upper
small intestine.
Brown Vomit
Brown vomit is food from the esophagus that never made it
to the stomach. Maybe your dog ate too quickly and didn't chew it. But sometimes,
it can be more than just a regurgitated kibble. So, make sure to inspect it to
determine the nature of the content. It can also be an indicator of coprophagia.
Green Vomit
Green vomiting is usually due to grass. But it can also
be due to the contraction of the fallen bladder before vomiting, resulting in
bile in the stomach.
Worms in Vomit
Worms are another infectious organism, which can cause vomiting.
If the worms are alive or a large infestation, such as roundworms, the dog may
vomit them up.
Grass in Vomit
It's one of the common ingredients in dogs' vomiting. Dogs
usually eat the grass when they have an upset stomach. There is a possibility
that they may have been ingesting more pesticides and parasites by eating
grass.
Diagnosis and Treatments for Dog Vomiting
It's important to know the
exact cause of dog vomiting before treatment. Your vet may take several simple
diagnostic tests, which include blood work, fecal analysis, and X-ray to point
out the exact cause. Sometimes they also recommend the abdominal ultrasound to
evaluate internal organs more extensively. In more chronic cases, it's more difficult
to diagnose, so further diagnostics such as a blood test for pancreatitis, a
test for Addison's disease, or even surgery to obtain biopsies may require.
If the vomiting is due to inflammation
of the stomach or intestines, the common treatments are feeding a bland diet
and anti-nausea medication. The more serious conditions require more intensive
therapy such as fluids, hospitalization with injectable medication, and
surgery. Whatever cause is? Make sure to follow your vet's instructions. The finding
of the right treatment can cure your dog more rapidly and can save your dog.
Some Important FAQs About Dogs Vomiting: -
What can I give my dog for vomiting?
You need to give easily digestible
food to your dog, such as cooked white rice mixed with boiled white meat
chicken. A small portion of the dog diet can also be used. So, pick up a
perfect meal and try it a few hours later.
What is a home remedy for dog vomiting?
You can use the withhold food
but not water for 12 to 24 hours. After this remedy, you can reintroduce the dog's
regular diet.
Do dogs throw up without any reason?
Many dog owners know that dog
vomiting is not uncommon. Occasionally, healthy dogs also get sick apparently without
any reason. Your dog may have swallowed something quickly, swallowed something disagreeable,
or merely snacked on too much grass.
How do you settle a dog's stomach after vomiting?
You can start withholding food provide them with ice cubes. You can also give them bone broth to drink. Canned pumpkins are also good in this situation.
Can dogs throw up due to stress?
Dogs can throw up due to
different reasons, as we discuss above. But some dogs also vomit due to being stressed
out, such as due to muscle tension.