Vomiting is a common symptom associated with many canine behaviors, environmental factors, and medical conditions. These can range from relatively harmless to deadly. To help determine the cause of vomiting, a veterinarian will also consider the patient’s medical history, including their age, vaccination history, past health concerns, and environment.
Dietary indiscretion
“Dietary indiscretion is overwhelmingly the most common cause of vomiting in dogs,” explains Vetster veterinarian Jo Myers. “It’s common for dogs to eat unusual or irritating items like garbage, human food, another pet’s food, houseplants, or foreign objects, such as clothing or stuffing from their toys.” Dietary indiscretion is common in dogs, especially those who explore their world through their mouths or are not picky about what they eat. Dogs can be sneaky about this behavior, so it’s possible for a dog to end up vomiting from eating something unusual without the owner’s knowledge.
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Dogs may also gag on long strands of grass if they enjoy eating it, causing them to vomit. It is a myth that dogs eat grass to intentionally induce vomiting. Most dogs enjoy chewing on grass or licking morning dew from the greenery. This is a natural behavior for dogs and nothing to be worried about, even if it causes occasional vomiting.
Vomiting caused by medical conditions or illness
Vomiting is commonly seen in a multitude of illnesses and chronic medical conditions. These conditions can include:
- Pancreatitis
- Viral or bacterial infections
- Bloat or GDV
- Kidney failure or liver disease
- Stomach ulcers
- Bilious vomiting syndrome
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Medication side effects
Vomiting caused by an underlying illness often lasts longer than 24 hours and is accompanied by other symptoms, such as diarrhea, lethargy, or loss of appetite. When this occurs, it’s important to visit a veterinarian promptly to diagnose or rule out dangerous conditions and receive treatment if necessary.
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Pancreatitis is common in dogs, often caused by ingesting garbage or large amounts of high-fat foods. Weight gain and subsequent pancreatitis are often associated with consumption of human food. It is often the case that dogs ingest high proportions of fat when fed table scraps or after counter surfing. There is no singular treatment for pancreatitis, though a hospital stay is commonly required.
Infectious diseases, such as parvovirus and distemper, are extremely contagious, especially for young puppies and unvaccinated dogs. Parvovirus is very common and may be lethal to approximately 10% of affected puppies even with prompt treatment. This is just one example of why routine vaccinations are so important. If a puppy begins experiencing severe vomiting, especially if accompanied by bloody diarrhea, lethargy, and appetite loss, visit a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Medications used to treat conditions outside the digestive tract, like antibiotics for a skin infection, sometimes cause stomach upset. While it can be difficult to know for sure when vomiting is related to the medication, seek veterinary guidance any time your dog develops an upset stomach while taking medication. Do not stop administering medication as prescribed unless directed to do so by a veterinarian.
Food or dietary causes of vomiting
Many dogs, especially those who gobble up anything that looks like a tasty treat, can ingest something that causes an upset stomach. Others may simply overeat their usual diet. Some dietary causes of vomiting include:
- Overeating or drinking
- Sudden diet change
- Food intolerance or allergy
- Eating spoiled food
- Foreign bodies
Eager eaters who eat their food or drink water too quickly can also vomit when this occurs. Smaller, more frequent meals sometimes help prevent eating too quickly. Eating an abnormally large meal quickly can result in food bloat, causing the stomach to stretch much larger than its usual size. Many cases of food bloat occur when a dog gets into a large bag of dog food and eats a huge amount. Keep the bag of your dog’s food out of reach to prevent dangerous overeating.
Vomiting can also be caused by suddenly changing a dog’s food intentionally, a food allergy or intolerance, or eating spoiled food. If a diet change is needed, slowly incorporate the new food with their old food, phasing out the original diet gradually.
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Be cautious with feeding raw diets and allowing dogs to ingest prey animals. Raw diets carry a higher risk for food poisoning than canned wet dog food or dry kibble, and wildlife can carry bacteria and parasites along with bones, fur, and feathers that may cause vomiting. Always check the expiration date on food before giving it to your dog to ensure its safety and freshness.
Dogs with food sensitivities may struggle with bouts of vomiting and stomach upset due to their food. Allergies and intolerances to food ingredients can be difficult to diagnose and often involve a long process of food and ingredient trial and error. Virtual veterinary appointments on Vetster are a great fit for nutrition consultations and getting professional advice for making informed food choices. You may also opt to schedule a consultation with a veterinary nutritionist: a board certified specialist with years of additional training and experience.
Environmental causes of vomiting
Factors within a dog’s environment, such as toxins, parasites, and the weather, can cause vomiting. Examples include:
- Poisons such as antifreeze or rat bait
- Motion sickness
- Overstimulation
- Internal parasites
- Heatstroke
Poisons and toxins, such as rat bait and toxic human foods and medications, can be ingested and cause severe or bloody vomiting in dogs. It is common for dogs to get into human medications that are commonplace in many homes, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen. These drugs, among others, are highly toxic and can lead to severe vomiting, among other symptoms.
Dogs can experience motion sickness in moving vehicles that leads to vomiting. Symptoms of motion sickness typically stop once the vehicle stops moving. If a dog continues to feel nauseated and vomits well after a car ride, another factor is likely involved. Motion sickness is harmless but can cause discomfort in dogs if a car ride or trip on a plane is necessary. If you’re planning to travel with your dog, an online veterinarian can help you decide if anti-nausea medications might be right for your pup.
High temperatures, like those that develop within a few minutes of being left in a hot car, can lead to heat stroke, causing severe vomiting and other dangerous symptoms, such as bloody diarrhea and collapse. Always practice hot weather safety by avoiding walks during the day’s hottest hours. If a dog begins vomiting after being in the heat, take immediate action to cool them and contact an emergency veterinary hospital as soon as possible, even if other symptoms have not begun.
While intestinal parasites usually do not cause symptoms in healthy adult dogs, vomiting can occur. Parasites such as giardia, coccidia, roundworms, tapeworms, and whipworms are easily spread through contaminated soil and water, other animals, eating raw meat, and fleas. Regular fecal tests help catch gastrointestinal parasites so they can be treated and prevent spreading them to other animals and humans. Parasite prevention also helps control internal and external parasite infestations associated with other body systems, including fleas and heartworms.
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