Why Your Dog Vomits

If you’re like any dog owner, then you are on the lookout for any signs that your pup may be sick or unwell. Dogs can tell us how they are feeling in a number of ways — like refusing to eat their food, excessive drinking, dramatic weight loss, or change in activity — but usually it’s a decrease in interest in activity. One of the most tell-tale signs that your furry companion might be sick is vomiting, but this action could also mean a number of things. Before calling your veterinarian in a panic seeking major medical intervention, consider these reasons for why your dog might have felt unwell enough to vomit. If you’re looking for effective dog training techniques, then become a member with Speak Dog!™. This platform connects you with Steve Lankfer, a nationally-renowned dog training expert. Contact us for more information. 

Dog Vomit vs. Regurgitation

It is important to keep in mind that vomiting and regurgitation are not the same thing because the causes and treatments are much different. Vomiting is more of an active process of forcibly removing contents from the stomach and upper intestine. Vomit will usually contain yellow bile and dog food that has been partially digested, as it may occur directly after eating, or sometime after. Regurgitation, on the other hand, is more of a mild ejection of undigested food from the dog’s esophagus. There is no abdominal heaving, and this passive action usually happens shortly after eating. 

The Consistency of the Vomit

As uncomfortable and gross as it may seem, closely examining your dog’s vomit may give you more clues on what they are feeling and what is going on inside of their stomachs. If their vomit is chunky, or granular, it most likely has something to do with something that your pup has ingested, whether it is food or not. If you can still identify food in their vomit, it could be because they ate too quickly or were active too soon after eating. If the vomit is more of a granular consistency, then the food has been in the stomach for a while, as it has been mostly digested. In some cases, there may be blood in the granular vomit, which could indicate gastrointestinal diseases, various metabolic, neurological, respiratory, or viral infections. If your dog has ingested toxins, it could cause hematemesis.  

If the vomit is liquid, whether it is clear or yellow, it could indicate a medical issue separate from food. Liquid vomit might have a more serious underlying cause, but it could also indicate something like heartburn. Before jumping to conclusions and scaring yourself, it is recommended that you make a visit to your local veterinarian to correctly diagnose the problem. 

What Causes Vomiting in Dogs?

There are reasons why your pup may be vomiting, and some are not cause for concern while others should inspire you to seek out professional help. 

Bacterial Infection

Dogs are notorious for eating anything they can, so it would be no surprise that they accidentally ingest something that does not agree with their stomachs, which will cause them to vomit. When they vomit, the lining of their intestines will become inflamed, potentially leading to a bacterial infection in their gastrointestinal tract. 

Dietary Changes

Your pup may be vomiting due to a change in food, which is more common than you may think. If you do switch up the food you are feeling your pup and notice that they start to vomit, you can rest assured that the problem will fix itself in a couple of days. If the problem persists, you may need to seek professional advice. 

Ingesting Toxic Substances 

If your dog does happen to eat something toxic, whether it be household cleaner, plants, bugs, or human food, they will vomit. If you believe your dog has eaten something toxic, then you may want to consider calling your veterinarian, as it could indicate a problem with the liver or kidneys. The sooner you treat the problem, the better your pup will fare. 

Bloating

Dogs with large and deep chests may bloat due to their stomach flipping over and becoming bloated. Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), or bloating, is caused by pups eating their food quickly right before being very active. This condition will cause them to vomit and also have trouble breathing, which is actually an emergency, and requires an emergency surgery to correct.

Heat Stroke

Dogs are not great at dissipating body heat, which can lead to them suffering from heat stroke (also known as hyperthermia). Dogs can cool off by panting, or by the expansion of their blood vessels, but outside of this and sweating through the bottom surface of their paws, there isn’t much they can do. Early signs of heat stroke include panting, hyper-salivation, a dry mucous membrane, and a higher heart rate. However, after prolonged exposure, the symptoms worsen and include signs of shock: pale mucous membranes, a high heart rate, severe dehydration, dilated pupils, an irregular pulse, muscle tremors, and the dog may even collapse.

Kidney Failure

Kidney failure in dogs contributes to changes in blood pressure, blood sugar, blood volume, water composition in the blood, pH levels, and the production of certain hormones. Kidney failure symptoms can be slow to show themselves, so it takes active monitoring to ensure your dog’s health is not being compromised. One of the many symptoms of kidney failure include vomiting, as well as lethargy, diarrhea, weight loss, lack of appetite, blood in urine, and more. 

Intestinal Obstruction

This term refers to the complete or partial blockage of fluid and food flow through the small intestines. It can be fairly common in dogs because they eat a number of different things. If their intestine is obstructed, however, the blood supply can be compromised, leading to death if it is not treated early on. Intestinal obstruction can include symptoms like vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain, remaining still, refusing to lie down, and more. If you see your pup eat something large, sharp, or indigestible, then visit a veterinarian as soon as possible to induce vomiting. If you notice symptoms, then schedule an appointment for examination. 

Your pup’s health is extremely important, and since they cannot verbally communicate what they are feeling or what they need, it is paramount to closely watch how your dog is acting. If you want to brag about your pup, speak with other dog owners about their experiences raising a pup, or are seeking advice for training your furry friend, then join Steve’s Dog Park, a virtual community of dog lovers. If you are interested in learning the most essential dog training techniques, then become a member with Speak Dog! and learn from Steve Lankfer, a nationally-renowned dog trainer, how to effectively train your dog.