Vomiting in dogs is a very common occurrence. The causes of dog vomiting vary from simple gastritis to complex diseases of other body systems. Dog vomiting is usually accompanied by strong abdominal contractions. The most common causes of dog vomiting are dietary related such as overeating, eating table scraps, or adverse reactions to food. Dog vomiting can also be a result of certain drug reactions or neurological disorders. The other causes of vomiting are:
- Stomach ulceration
- Hiatal hernia
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Hepatitis (liver inflammation)
- Kidney failure
- Hormonal deficiencies or excesses (e.g. Addison’s disease, Diabetes Mellitus).
As a responsible owner, you need to find out the underlying causes of your dog vomiting. Whenever a dog doesn't act like its normal self, this is an indication that something is wrong. If your dog exhibits these symptoms and seems to be in pain, seek veterinary help right away.
Treatment for Dog Vomiting
- The first step to treating a vomiting dog involves allowing the stomach to rest. If dog vomiting is acute, you must not give any food to your dog for at least 24 hours. You must also ensure that your dog drinks plenty of water. During this time of fasting, it’s important to maintain a dog’s blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia may set in. Hypoglycemia in dogs can be prevented by feeding your dog maple syrup or honey. You can offer small portions of bland food after a few days. You must also feed small portions of food several times a day instead of three large meals.
- Keep in mind that dog vomiting, whether acute or chronic, needs a vet’s attention as dogs get rapidly dehydrated and may develop aspiration pneumonia.
- Sometimes you may see your dog vomiting white foam. This may happen when your dog may have ingested something that’s not compatible with its stomachs. An upset stomach can also result in dogs vomiting white foam or a foamy mucus. A dog vomiting white foam may also be due to a syndrome called bilious vomiting syndrome. When there is too much bile in a dog’s stomach, it releases it through vomiting. A dog vomiting white foam while coughing could also be a sign of Kennel cough. In such cases you must give the dog a small snack in the middle of the night just so that it doesn’t wake up hungry because this may cause the syndrome to occur.
- A visit to the vet can alleviate your fears and ensure that your pet gets the proper treatment in a timely manner. So don’t disregard any case of dog vomiting and do consult a vet.