Heave, retch, throw up, puke—whatever you call it, vomiting is an inevitable, unfortunate reality of living with pets. In dogs, vomiting can signal widely varied disease processes, from mild, self-limiting issues, to acute emergencies, to chronic primary or secondary conditions. Our Safe Harbor Veterinary Hospital team can help you determine the cause of your pet’s vomiting, and when to seek veterinary care. 

Vomiting versus regurgitation in dogs

Vomiting and regurgitation can look similar, but often have different causes. Vomiting is an active process that involves whole-body retching to bring up partially digested food or bile from the stomach and small intestine. Regurgitation is passive—dogs simply lean forward and food or water “falls” out with little effort. Vomiting can occur at any time, while dogs often regurgitate immediately following a meal or heavy water intake. 

Dog vomiting causes

One or two vomiting episodes in a dog who otherwise seems normal are usually nothing to worry about. Acute vomiting (i.e., multiple episodes in 24 hours) can quickly lead to dehydration, especially if pets cannot eat or drink or also have diarrhea. Chronic vomiting may occur daily or several times per week, and may lead to gradual weight loss or other symptoms. Vomiting causes are extensive and impossible for us to cover completely, but here are a few of the more common reasons dogs vomit: 

  • Dietary indiscretion — Vomiting occurs when your dog eats something that didn’t agree with them, or their diet was switched too quickly.
  • Foreign body — An indigestible item, such as a bone, ball, toy, or sock, obstructs the stomach or intestines, which is a surgical emergency.
  • Pancreatitis — A dog may vomit because of an inflamed pancreas that may be caused by eating fatty foods.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease — This disease is a chronic inflammation in the stomach and intestines from adverse food reactions, bacterial imbalance, or unknown causes.
  • Toxin ingestion — Many toxins that make pets feel ill result in acute vomiting.
  • Kidney disease — When the kidneys fail to remove toxins from the blood, the toxin buildup makes pets nauseous.
  • Liver disease — The liver and intestines work closely together to digest food, so liver dysfunction can result in vomiting or diarrhea.
  • Parasites — Heavy intestinal parasite loads sometimes lead to vomiting.
  • Infections — Viral and bacterial infections (e.g., parvovirus, salmonella) directly affect the stomach and intestines.
  • Bloat — Deep-chested dogs can trap air in their stomach, which twists on itself and creates severe pain and vomiting. Bloat is an urgent surgical emergency, as the twisted stomach can quickly lead to shock and systemic infection.
  • Cancer — Cancer is, unfortunately, always on the list for nearly any symptom. GI tract cancer can directly cause vomiting, or a distant cancer may lead to nausea and vomiting through chemical and hormonal changes.
  • Motion sickness — Dogs who drool or vomit in the car, or have vertigo, are experiencing motion sickness.

Dog vomiting diagnosis

A thorough physical examination, detailed history, and X-rays are usually recommended for acutely vomiting dogs to rule out surgical emergencies. Blood work, urine tests, and an ultrasound can evaluate internal organ function and reveal changes in the intestines that indicate inflammation. Food and medication trials can help determine the underlying cause in chronic vomiters, but specialized endoscopic biopsies may ultimately be required. Acute vomiting is easier to diagnose than chronic vomiting, which may take several weeks or months to unravel. If your pet’s vomiting cannot be controlled and your veterinarian suspects a serious cause, they may recommend exploratory surgery.

Veterinary treatment for vomiting dogs

Pets who have been vomiting for longer than 24 hours, or show any of the following signs, should visit the veterinarian urgently for evaluation:

  • Bloody or coffee-ground vomit appearance
  • Diarrhea
  • Poor appetite, or an inability to keep any food or water down
  • Abdominal pain, often with a hunched posture
  • Lethargy or depression
  • Increased drinking or urinating

Non-surgical treatments for acute vomiting without a serious underlying cause may include medications to reduce nausea and vomiting, fluids to correct dehydration, and a special, easily digestible diet. Chronic vomiting treatments are usually aimed at eliminating or controlling the underlying cause and may include prescription diets, antibiotics, pain medications, probiotics, supplements, steroids or other immunosuppressants, cancer treatments, or surgery.

Home care for vomiting dogs

If your dog vomits once or twice, but their appetite and energy level seem normal, you can implement supportive measures at home. Try feeding a bland diet that consists of one part lean protein (e.g., chicken, extra lean ground beef, scrambled eggs) to three parts easily digestible carbohydrates (e.g., potatoes, white rice). Offer your pet small amounts throughout the day until they feel better, and then gradually switch back to their normal diet over three to five days. A bland diet is not nutritionally complete and should be used only short-term.

If your dog is acutely or chronically vomiting, contact the Safe Harbor Animal Hospital team to determine the next best step. If we think your pet requires emergency care, we may ask you to come right in, or to visit the local emergency facility.

Safe Harbor Animal Hospital has been family-owned for multiple generations, and we operate several other hospitals in the Mount Pleasant area. Visit Animal Hospitals of the Lowcountry to learn more about our family and experience a higher pet care standard.