Vomiting in Dogs

What is vomiting?

Vomiting describes the active evacuation of food from the stomach. Vomiting is a clinical sign that can occur with many diseases or problems; it is not a specific disease or diagnosis itself. Dogs vomit quite readily and occasional vomiting in an otherwise healthy dog may not indicate anything abnormal.

How do I recognize vomiting?

Vomiting may begin with a stage of nausea, in which the dog appears restless and possibly anxious. The dog may lick its lips, salivate, and repeatedly swallow. Vomiting itself involves forceful contractions of the abdominal muscles, leading to expulsion of fluid, froth, or food. The severe effort associated with vomiting may be distressing to the dog.

It is important to differentiate vomiting from regurgitation, which is usually associated with problems affecting the esophagus and is a more passive process. Key differences between vomiting and regurgitation include the following:

• Vomiting typically involves abdominal contractions and effort.
• Regurgitation typically occurs quickly, without abdominal contractions or any warning signs.
• Regurgitation often occurs immediately after eating or drinking.

When should I be concerned about my dog's vomiting?

The seriousness of vomiting depends on the underlying cause. Many cases of acute (sudden) vomiting improve on their own within 24 hours, without medical intervention or finding a cause. However, seek veterinary care immediately if your dog is vomiting and has any of the following signs:

• Fever
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Vomit contains blood
• You suspect your dog has eaten something that got stuck or is potentially toxic

Your veterinarian can identify the underlying cause of the vomiting and provide treatment. If your dog otherwise seems well, but continues to vomit for more than one to two days, seek veterinary care. Ongoing vomiting may indicate a more serious condition or lead to complications such as dehydration or electrolyte imbalances.

What could cause vomiting?

Vomiting can be caused by a minor intestinal upset due to:

• Intestinal parasites
• Dietary indiscretion: eating table scraps, garbage, spoiled food, plants, or foul-tasting things such as certain insects
• Intolerance or allergy to certain ingredients in the food

Vomiting can also be a sign of more serious illness, such as:

• Bacterial or viral infections
• Ingestion of toxins
• Pancreatitis
• Intestinal obstruction from foreign bodies (indigestible objects that get stuck in the stomach or intestines)
• Liver or kidney disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Cancer

Left untreated, these illnesses can lead to serious complications, including death.

How is the cause of vomiting diagnosed?

If your dog is not lethargic or experiencing other symptoms, the cause may not be serious. In this case, your veterinarian will perform a minimal number of tests to rule out certain parasites and infections.

If vomiting is associated with several other clinical signs, your veterinarian will perform a series of tests to determine the exact cause of the illness. Diagnostic tests may include the following:

• Blood and urine tests
• Radiography (X-rays)
• Ultrasound
• Biopsies of the stomach and intestinal tract by endoscopic examination
• Exploratory abdominal surgery, especially if a foreign body or a blockage is suspected

How is vomiting treated?

In cases where the cause is thought to be dietary indiscretion, your veterinarian may advise you to withhold food for a short time, until vomiting appears controlled, and after that to feed your dog a bland, easily digested diet. A prescription diet may be prescribed, or your veterinarian may recommend feeding a specific home-cooked diet, in small portions given frequently.

It is important that your dog does not receive any other foods during this period. Water should be freely available and is needed to prevent dehydration. If the dog progresses well on this diet, the portion size can be gradually increased and the normal diet can be slowly reintroduced over several days.

Minor cases of vomiting may also be treated with drugs to control nausea, such as maropitant citrate (Cerenia®), Sucralfate (Sulcrate®, Carafate®) may be prescribed, which coats the stomach and acts as a soothing band-aid. Antacids such as famotidine (Pepcid®) and Omeprazole (Prilosec®) can also help soothe the stomach. This approach allows the body's healing mechanisms to correct the problem.  

Minor cases of vomiting may also be treated with medication, which allows the body's healing mechanisms to correct the problem:

• Anti-nausea medication, such as maropitant citrate (Cerenia®)
• Drugs that promote normal movement of the intestinal tract, such as metoclopramide (Reglan®).
• Drugs to soothe and coat the stomach, such as Sucralfate (Sulcrate®, Carafate®)
• Antacids to help soothe the stomach, such as famotidine (Pepcid®) and omeprazole (Prilosec®)

What other treatment may be required?

If vomiting is severe or if your veterinarian suspects a serious underlying problem, such as pancreatitis, kidney disease, or liver disease, more aggressive treatment may be required. It may be necessary to hospitalize your dog for intravenous fluid therapy to combat dehydration and correct any imbalances in electrolyte levels. In some cases, it may be necessary to administer injections to control the vomiting and other symptoms.

You should expect improvement within a couple of days. If your dog does not improve within 48 hours of treatment, your veterinarian may change their medication or perform further tests to better understand the problem. It is important to keep in touch with your veterinary clinic so your pet's condition can be managed properly.