vomiting in dogs

Vomiting in Dogs

Overview of Vomiting in Dogs

At one time or another your dog may have a bout of vomiting. In fact, vomiting in dogs is one of the most common problems that require a dog to see a veterinarian or go to a veterinary emergency room. Vomiting can be caused by eating something disagreeable, eating too much or too fast, exercising too soon after eating or any number of non-serious conditions. Vomiting may be a sign of a very minor problem or it may be a sign of something very serious.

This article will provide an overview of vomiting in dogs followed by in-depth information including the many possible causes of vomiting and detailed information about diagnostic tests and possible medical therapies.

First, what is vomiting? Vomiting, also known by the medical term “emesis”, is the act of expelling contents from the stomach through the mouth. It’s a reflex act, involving a triggering stimulus (such as inflammation of the stomach) that causes the central nervous system and abdominal muscles to work together to expel the contents from the stomach. An occasional, infrequent isolated episode of vomiting is usually normal.

There are multiple causes of vomiting. Vomiting is a symptom that can be caused by disorders of the gastrointestinal system (stomach and/or intestines) or it can be secondary to a disease from a different system (such as from cancer, kidney failure, diabetes, or infectious diseases). This can make the diagnosis of the cause of the vomiting a challenge.

Vomiting can be defined as acute (sudden onset) or chronic (longer duration of one to two weeks). The severity or concurrence of other signs will determine the recommendation of specific diagnostic tests. Important considerations include monitoring the duration and frequency of the vomiting.
If your dog vomits once then eats normally with no further vomiting, has a normal bowel movement and is acting playful, then the problem may resolve on its own. If the vomiting continues after your dog eats or if your dog acts lethargic, or doesn’t want to eat, then medical attention is warranted.

Here is a very useful article about what you can do at home if your dog is vomiting. Go to: Home Care of the Vomiting Dog.

Vomiting can occur alone or with other symptoms of diarrhea or lack of appetite or not eating. Learn more about home care for a dog that is having both vomiting and diarrhea.

What to Watch For

Additional problems to watch for include:

IMPORTANT NOTE: If your dog is trying to vomit but is ineffective, acts restless, please call your veterinarian IMMEDIATELY. This could be a life-threatening emergency medical problem called “Bloat”. Learn more about “Bloat in Dogs.”

Diagnosis of Vomiting in Dogs

Optimal therapy of vomiting in dogs or any other serious or persistent medical condition depends on establishing the correct diagnosis. There are numerous potential causes of vomiting and before any specific treatment can be recommended, it is important to identify the underlying cause. Initial therapy should be aimed at the underlying cause.

Tests to determine the cause of vomiting in dogs may include:

Treatment of Vomiting in Dogs

Treatments for vomiting may include one or more of the following:

Home Care and Prevention

Home care includes following-up with your veterinarian for re-examinations of your dog as recommended and administering any veterinary prescribed medications.

If your dog experiences an inadequate response to prior measures, a further workup may be indicated to determine the underlying cause of the vomiting.

Treatments for vomiting are dependent on the cause. Symptomatic therapy of an episode of vomiting includes withholding food and water for three to four hours. If your dog has not vomited by the end of this time, offer small amounts of water (a few tablespoons at a time). Continue to offer small amounts of water every 20 minutes or so until your dog is hydrated.

After the small increments of water are offered, gradually offer a bland diet. Small frequent feedings of a bland digestible diet such as Hill’s prescription diet i/d, Iams Recovery Diet, Provision EN or Waltham Low Fat, are usually recommended. Homemade diets can be made of boiled rice or potatoes (as the carbohydrate source) and lean hamburger, skinless chicken or low-fat cottage cheese (as the protein source). Return to regular dog food should be gradual over one to two days.

If your dog is not eating, acts lethargic, the vomiting continues or any other physical abnormalities mentioned above begins, it is important to see your veterinarian. Your dog needs your help and the professional care your veterinarian can provide. If your dog is having the clinical signs mentioned above expect your veterinarian to perform some diagnostic tests and make treatment recommendations. Recommendations will be dependent upon the severity and nature of the clinical signs.

Prevention of vomiting is aimed at minimizing your dog’s exposure to trash (bones, food products), foreign material (socks, strings, underwear, strings, rope and etc.) or toxins. Leash-walk your dog to minimize exposure to foreign material that may be located outside.

Information In-Depth

Below is information about both acute and chronic causes of vomiting. These can be divided into conditions that involve the gastrointestinal tract and diseases that do not involve the gastrointestinal tract.

Causes of Acute Vomiting include:

Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders

Non-gastrointestinal disorders

Causes of chronic vomiting may include conditions that involve the gastrointestinal tract and diseases that do not involve the gastrointestinal tract. Below are possible causes for chronic vomiting in dogs divided into these two groups:

Gastrointestinal disorders

Nongastrointestinal disorders

Vomiting may be caused by a number of disorders. A single episode of vomiting is seldom the reason for concern but prolonged or excessive vomiting may be a sign of a serious underlying problem. If your dog is vomiting, your dog should be examined by a veterinarian before he becomes seriously dehydrated or debilitated.

Different diseases will be considered as potential causes of vomiting by your veterinarian depending on your dog’s medical history and physical examination. For example, when vomiting is acutely noted in an unvaccinated 4-month-old puppy with bloody diarrhea, the first differential diagnosis would be parvoviral enteritis and tests for this virus may be performed. If the vomiting has been occurring for three months in an 8-year-old dog with a history of weight loss, then laboratory work and radiographs (X-rays) may be the diagnostic tests of choice.

Since vomiting can be a symptom of many different diseases, numerous diagnostic tests may be needed to determine the cause of your dog’s problem. The extent of the workup should be discussed with your veterinarian.

Optimal therapy of any serious or persistent medical condition depends on establishing the correct diagnosis. There are numerous potential causes of vomiting in dogs and before any treatment can be recommended, it is important to identify the underlying cause. Initial therapy is most effective when aimed at the underlying cause.

Diagnosis In-depth

Certain diagnostic tests must be performed to confirm the causes of vomiting. Your veterinarian may recommend a number of for your dog that may include:

Treatment In-depth

There are numerous potential causes of vomiting in dogs; therefore, before any treatment can be recommended it is important to identify the underlying cause. The intensity of the treatment will be determined by your dog’s condition.

Treatment often includes withholding food and water while giving fluids and electrolytes intravenously and administering drugs for control of vomiting and/or gastrointestinal protectants.
Potential symptomatic treatments for vomiting in dogs may include:

Antiemetics are drugs that are used to control vomiting. Common drugs used in dogs include:

Gastrointestinal protectants may be used to reduce acid secretion in the stomach. Common gastrointestinal protectants used in dogs include:

Prognosis

The prognosis for vomiting in dogs largely depends on the underlying cause of the vomiting. Minor problems have a very good prognosis. Serious problems that cause vomiting such as cancer or kidney failure can be more difficult to treat or cure and therefore have a worse prognosis.