Dog vomiting can be a normal occurrence. Many dogs will throw up as often as once a day. Sometimes treatment is very simple, but sometimes it can be a bit more complicated. It is important to find out what is causing your dog to vomit. In serious cases, your dog may be under the care of a hospital for a few days. As unappealing as it may sound, you should always inspect your dog’s vomit before cleaning it up, as well as track how often he vomits. This could be the difference between serious illness and something perfectly normal.
There are a few steps to follow when inspecting your dog’s vomit. Other things to look for may be behavioral changes and symptoms such as fever, lethargy, panting and pale gums. These may be signs of serious illness or something poisonous your dog may have consumed. Always talk to your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your dog’s vomiting.
Quick Checklist
Inspect the color. This may be unpleasant, but it is very important to make sure there is no blood in your dog’s vomit. Blood will show up as dark spots, or resemble coffee grounds. There may be different causes for blood in your dog’s vomit. Sometimes it is due to tearing of the stomach, sometimes it is from the lungs or throat.
Yellow vomit is the least worrisome. Yellow vomit simply means your dog may have excess bile in his stomach. This can be treated by changing his diet and feeding schedule.
Check for fever. This can be done by feeling the nose and stomach area. Check the nose for dryness as well (although this does not always indicate illness) This may indicate a serious illness, so always call your veterinarian if vomiting and fever are present.
Keep an eye on his behavior. Symptoms such as lethargy or aggression may be a sign of serious illness such as kennel cough or rabies. Usually there are other symptoms present when your dog’s behavior suddenly changes. Look for other symptoms such as loss of appetite, panting, whimpering, obvious signs of discomfort and diarrhea.
What To Do When Your Dog Is Vomiting
If your dog’s case of vomiting is more serious, your dog may be prescribed antibiotics to fight off infection. Cases such as spoiled foods or dead animals may be cause for antibiotics to avoid bacterial infections.
You should take away any dog food if your dog is vomiting frequently. You can offer ice chips to keep him hydrated, so long as diarrhea isn’t present and vomiting has slowed down. If your dog tolerates the ice chips, you can then offer him a small amount of water or diluted chicken broth.
Once your dog has kept down water for up to 12 hours without vomiting, you can introduce bland meals. These may include plain oatmeal, boiled hamburger or plain pasta. If no vomiting occurs after 2 days, re-introduce his regular food.
Most times, vomiting is simply from eating too much too soon, or eating a lot of grass. Keep an eye on his behavior outdoors and before he eats. You can correct this behavior pretty easily.
When To Visit The Vet
If your dog has other symptoms along with vomiting, or he cannot hold anything down and vomiting continues more than 2 hours, this could be a sign of serious illness. It is important that you do not try to treat him at home yourself. Always contact your veterinarian if you suspect an illness.
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Liz Bradley is a dog lover who lives in Ottawa, Ontario with her husband,