Dog vomiting may be caused by poor canine judgment, also known as dietary indiscretion, and may not be much cause for concern. However, vomiting can also be a symptom of serious or even life-threatening conditions that require emergency medical attention and should be diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian.
Occasionally, healthy dogs will get sick for no apparent reason and then continue with their day as if nothing happened. Your dog could have eaten too quickly, swallowed something disagreeable, or merely snacked on too much grass. This type of vomiting is usually nothing to worry about.
However, vomiting can also be a sign of more serious illnesses such as allergies, bacterial or viral infections, inflammatory conditions such as pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction from foreign bodies (something eaten that gets stuck in the intestine), organ dysfunction such as liver or kidney failure, or cancer.
If your dog keeps throwing up more than once in 24 hours, or you notice that your dog keeps vomiting frequently or continuously and there are other unusual signs pointing to pain or discomfort, you should get in touch with the vet. Make sure you also contact them if your dog keeps throwing up for more than 24 hours.
Contact your vet immediately if your dog is repeatedly trying to vomit but not bringing anything up, especially if they have a bloated tummy - these are symptoms of a twisted stomach/GDV.
Another cause of yellow vomiting is pancreatitis. Sometimes, when a dog eats too many oily or fatty foods, the pancreas can become inflamed. If this is the case, yellow vomiting will typically occur between one and five days after the unsavory food was consumed.
If your dog's vomit is dark, red, or black, veterinarians recommend contacting your veterinarian as soon as possible. It's always a good idea to check with your veterinarian if anything seems off, because a dog vomit color guide is just that—a guide and not a diagnosis.
Pay Attention to Frequency and Duration
If your dog vomits 3 times in 10 minutes then seems to be fine, it's far less concerning than if he vomits 3 times over a period of 8 hours. Call the vet if it happens over a long period of time, extending into hours of vomiting.
Some of the signs of parvovirus include lethargy; loss of appetite; abdominal pain and bloating; fever or low body temperature (hypothermia); vomiting; and severe, often bloody, diarrhea. Persistent vomiting and diarrhea can cause rapid dehydration, and damage to the intestines and immune system can cause septic shock.
What are the clinical signs of pancreatitis? The most common clinical signs include nausea, vomiting, fever, lethargy, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. During an attack, dogs may take a 'praying position', with their rear end up in the air and their front legs and head lowered onto the floor.
It is important to give your dog's digestive system some time to recoup and rest from the vomiting by not feeding your dog for 12-24 hours. You can give your dog small amounts of water to keep them hydrated. Food and large amounts of water will only aggravate your dog's upset stomach.
If a dog is vomiting, it's best to withhold food for an hour or two to allow time for their digestive system to calm down. However, if it's been over 12 hours and your dog is still throwing up, it's time to call the vet. Look for these additional symptoms which might be cause for concern.
If your dog vomits more than once in a day, without a break, or for more than 24 hours, you should see a vet. A dog throwing up mucus occasionally may not be a cause for concern. However, if your dog is throwing up mucus frequently, you should take them to the vet.
“Vomit can be any color, from clear to yellow to red to brown,” says integrative veterinarian Carol Osborne, DVM, of the Chagrin Falls Pet Clinic in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. “And it can be a reflection of whatever the dog ate—for instance something with food coloring.
Herbs such as catnip, fennel, chamomile, peppermint, and ginger – These herbs serve to calm an irritated stomach. Many herbs have anti-spasmodic properties which ease nausea.
Your puppy will vomit and have diarrhea if canine parvovirus is present in their system. Vomit may be clear or a yellow or brown color, and diarrhea will often contain blood and be a light yellow or mustard colored hue.
Stools changes - Soft stools or diarrhea, including liquid consistency, explosive nature, increased urgency, straining, flatulence (“farting”), the presence of blood or mucus and others are associated with pancreatitis.
It is sensible to take a closer look at your dog's vomit. While this may sound a bit 'yuck' it should shed some light on the cause of the vomiting. Apart from color, pay attention to things like consistency and content. Vomit puddles range from white and foamy to dark and tar-like and most colors in between.
Home treatments to settle an upset stomach may include consuming small amounts of clear liquids, drinking plenty of fluids, small sips of water or sucking on ice chips, sports drinks, clear sodas, diluted juices, clear soup broth or bouillon, popsicles, caffeine-free tea, and the BRAT diet.
Acute pancreatitis can occur after a dog eats a fatty food such as pork, beef, and some other human foods. Dogs that get into garbage can develop pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can also have other causes, including certain medications and some viral or bacterial infections.