Is Your Dog Throwing Up?
The idea in your head of ‘why does my dog throwing up?’ isn’t a fun one. As a responsible pet parent, you’re understandably distressed when your dog vomits – it can be scary to see your doggo retching up the contents of their stomach while you stand by, unsure what you can do to help them.
For the most part, vomiting in dogs is considered harmless; however, in a small number of cases it can be a sign of something more serious. Here are the top reasons your dog may throw up and what you should know for yourself.
Why do dogs throw up?
Dogs can vomit due to a number of reasons. One of the most common is when they eat something that they shouldn’t have – like a piece of hot dog or a toy that’s been chewed on.
Other causes can be things like eating grass, drinking water from a contaminated source, or being sick. Sometimes dogs will throw up just because they’re feeling gassy.
It’s important to know the difference – vomit or regurgitation
Dogs are known for their digestive abilities, but what happens when their system goes haywire? The answer to this question is both vomit and regurgitation, and it can be difficult to tell the difference.
In most cases, both vomiting and regurgitation are caused by an imbalance in the dog’s stomach acidity or gastric pH.
Vomiting usually occurs when the stomach contents are brought up through the mouth and passed out; regurgitation, on the other hand, is when food or drink is expelled from the stomach through the nose.
If you’re ever not sure if your dog is vomiting or regurgitating, give him a small amount of bland food or water and wait an hour to see if he brings it up.
In case he does, then it’s likely that he’s throwing up. If he doesn’t, then it’s likely that he’s regurgitating.
We recommend playing it safe and calling your vet to discuss anything concerning. In general, if you notice any pain or whimpering, we recommend reaching out to your veterinarian now.
Common causes of dog throwing up
If your dog vomits and has no other symptoms, then it is likely nothing to worry about. This may be due to your pet swallowing something that was not healthy or even eating too quickly.
Reasons why dogs vomit
- Change in food
- Food allergies
- Viral / bacterial infections
- Liver or kidney related illneses
- Underlying medical problems
Your dog’s vomit color can signal when your dog is sick, or what they are feeling.
- Symptoms of acid buildup or acid reflux in dogs can lead to vomit that is yellow or white, and foamy.
- An irritated stomach can cause a yellow liquid, mucus-type vomit.
- Worms in dog vomit can mean infection and must be treated as soon as possible.
- Vomiting of blood can indicate anything from simple ingestion of rat poison or a stomach tumor or ulcer.
What to do if your dog keeps throwing up
If your dog is always vomiting, there could be a problem. If the vomiting is constant, watery or bloody, follows a specific diet or occurs after eating certain foods, then it’s likely that your dog has gastritis. Gastritis is a condition in which the stomach lining becomes inflamed.
Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and weight loss.
Gastritis can lead to more serious problems if left untreated such as liver disease or pancreatitis.
In case you notice any of these symptoms in your dog and they’ve been going on for more than two weeks, please consult with your veterinarian.
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