Whether you saw it happen or not, that chunky weirdness that looks like vomit on the floor is probably your dog’s vomit. Unless you have a cat. Then it’s your cat’s vomit.
Vomiting is the body’s response to one of the following:
- Eating something that does not treat the stomach or intestines kindly
- Eating something that does not belong in the stomach
- The result of an abnormal body process causing nausea
There are many possible reasons pets vomit, and it may require some investigative work in order to know how to help. If you saw your pet eat a toy, string, something from the side of the road, or medication that isn’t for them, then that is probably what is causing their misery. The culprit could also be from suddenly changing your pet’s diet, a prior chronic medical condition, or a new medication.
When our pets vomit, it’s an active process that starts with retching, and is followed by the barf payload. If you don’t see see or hear an active retching component, then it is likely regurgitation, not vomiting.
The Worst Case Scenarios
Let’s start with the worse case scenarios. If your dog is vomiting and falls under any of these situations, bring them to the emergency vet immediately:
- If your young pup under 4 months old is vomiting and not eating, especially if they are not fully vaccinated
- If your young pup under 6 months old is vomiting, combined with diarrhea or decreased energy, and is not fully vaccinated
- If you have a large or giant breed of dog that is retching, but no vomit is coming out
- If your dog’s vomit smells like sewage and they have a history of eating things, such as socks, rocks, tennis balls, dolls, or underwear (you may laugh, but this happens!)
- If your dog’s vomiting is paired with yelping, uncoordinated movements, passing out, seizing, or any other odd behaviors
- If your dog is vomiting after consuming illicit drugs or getting into household chemicals
A Bland Diet
If your dog’s vomiting doesn’t seem to fit into any of the scenarios above, you have a choice of bring them to the ER to make sure they are ok, or you can try to make them feel better at home until your regular vet opens. You know your pet the best, so follow your instinct if something doesn’t feel right.
When trying to help your pet at home, start by holding off on giving them food for the next 12 hours. During this time, make sure your dog has access to fresh water, but don’t let them drink a lot at one time. After 12 hours has passed and there has been no further vomiting, transition them slowly back onto food with a bland diet. If they vomit in that 12 hour period they should see a veterinary professional soon.
A bland diet consists of 60% white rice (or sweet potato/quinoa/farro/couscous/or other easily digestible fiber) and 40% low fat protein sources such as boiled, skinless chicken breast, lean ground turkey, or scrambled eggs. You can also add in an over-the-counter probiotic for pets, but do not add in any spices or flavoring.
After letting them fast for 12 hours, begin your pet’s bland diet by giving them 4 small meals (break our normal volume into 4 equal meals). If no vomiting occurs, we can decrease to 3 meals a day (keeping the overall volume the same) after 3 days. If your pet continues to do well and doesn’t vomit, feed them the full meal portions of the bland diet at the next meal time, and slowly transition them back to normal food by mixing the bland diet with the regular dog food. Make sure to mix well so you don’t upset your dog’s stomach! We recommend slowly transitioning your dog back to normal food according to this schedule:
Day 1: All bland diet
Day 2 and 3: 80% bland diet and 20% regular dog food
Day 4 and 5: 60% bland diet and 40% regular dog food
Day 6 and 7: 40% bland diet and 60% regular dog food
Day 8 and 9: 20% bland diet and 40% regular dog food
Day 10: Regular dog food
If your dog starts vomiting again during their bland diet trial or during the transition back to normal dog food, then something else might be going on. If that’s the case, give us a call or bring your dog to a veterinary hospital to be checked out. It’s always better to stay safe!
If you know your pet has consumed a toxin such as household cleaner, garden fertilizer or human medications, please call the Pet Poison Hotline at 1-855-764-7661 or ASPCA Poison Control at 888-426-4435.
Author: Cheryl Miller, RVT, CVBL, FFCP (Veterinary), VCC
If you’d like to schedule an appointment or discuss how to help your pet stop vomitting, please call or text us at (843) 966-3362. You can also schedule an appointment online. You can also schedule a virtual appointment directly with Cheryl here.
References:
- Today’s Veterinary Practice. “Approach to Diagnosis & Therapy of the Vomiting Patient.” Offers an in-depth guide for veterinarians on diagnosing and treating vomiting in dogs and cats using antiemetics, fluid therapy, and dietary adjustments. Available at: https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/gastroenterology/gi-intervention-approach-to-diagnosis-therapy-of-the-vomiting-patient/.
- Purina. “Dog Vomiting: Causes & Treatments.” Discusses common causes of vomiting in dogs, such as dietary indiscretion, infections, toxins, and diseases like pancreatitis or kidney failure, as well as treatment options. Available at: https://www.purina.com/articles/dog/health/digestion/causes-of-dog-vomiting.
- WebMD Pets. “Dog Vomiting: Causes, Treatment, and Related Symptoms.” Lists potential causes of vomiting in dogs, including parasites, toxins, diet changes, and illnesses such as pancreatitis or kidney failure, along with treatment options. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/pets/dogs/vomiting-dogs-causes-treatment.