What to do when your dog vomits with Dr. Laura Brown

Vomiting in Dogs: Causes and Treatment WebMD Veterinary Reference from the ASPCA A dog may vomit simply because he’s eaten something disagreeable or gobbled down too much food, too fast. But vomiting can also indicate something far more serious-your dog may have swallowed a toxic substance, or may be suffering from a condition that requires immediate medical attention. Vomiting can also be associated with gastrointestinal and systemic disorders that should be evaluated by a veterinarian. What Might Cause a Sudden. or Acute, Episode of Vomiting?  Bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract Diet-related causes (diet change, food intolerance, ingestion of garbage) Foreign bodies (i.e. toys, bones, pieces of chewies) in the gastrointestinal tract  Intestinal parasites Acute kidney failure Acute liver failure or gall bladder inflammation  Pancreatitis Post-operative nausea Ingestion of toxic substances Viral infections Certain medications or anesthetic agents  Bloat Heatstroke Car sickness Infected uterus Vomiting that occurs sporadically or irregularly over a longer period of time can be due to stomach or intestinal inflammation, severe constipation, cancer, kidney dysfunction, liver disease or systemic illness. What Should I Do If My Dog Vomits Frequently? An occasional, isolated bout of vomiting may not be of concern. However, frequent or chronic vomiting can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as colitis, intestinal obstruction or parvovirus. If your dog’s vomiting is not an isolated incident, please bring him to the vet right away for a complete examination and diagnostic testing. What Other Symptoms Should I Watch For? The causes of vomiting are so varied that sometimes obtaining a diagnosis can be difficult, so it’s important to give your veterinarian as much information as possible and indicate if other signs are also occurring. What to watch for: Frequency of vomiting. If your dog vomits once and proceeds to eat regularly and have a normal bowel movement, the vomiting was most likely an isolated incident. Diarrhea Dehydration Lethargy Blood in vomit Weight loss Change in appetite Increase or decrease in thirst or urination     When Is It Time to See the Vet? Please see your vet if you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, if your dog vomits more than once during the course of a day, or if vomiting persists past one day