If your dog is vomiting, it is probably not a cause for concern. Most cases of vomiting in dogs will clear themselves up within the first 24 hours. Dogs vomit more often than most animals because they are scavengers by nature and will eat just about anything to find out whether or not it is edible. Vomiting in canines is just the natural process of expelling what is not edible as it acts as a form of defense mechanism. However, if the dog vomiting continues for more than a day, or there are additional symptoms, it could be a sign of a more serious condition. Treatment for dog vomiting should be started right away to prevent severe losses of nutrients and fluids. Even when caused by mild illnesses, it can lead to serious illness or even death if a dog vomiting treatment isn’t initiated early enough.
The Causes of Vomiting in Dogs
Dog vomiting can be caused by many different conditions and diseases. In most cases it is a digestive problem in which the animal ate something that the stomach didn’t agree with, ate too fast, overate, exercised right after eating, or it can be an esophageal problem where something gets stuck in the canine’s throat, such as a bone. If there are other symptoms in addition to the dog vomiting, the owner should pay close attention to the pattern of the vomiting and note any other symptoms that are occurring. This will help the veterinarian in the diagnosis of the condition.
The dog should be taken to a veterinarian immediately if you know the dog is vomiting because it has ingested toxins, drugs, antifreeze or plants. Other more serious symptoms that require immediate medical attention include if the dog is vomiting blood, there is dog vomiting with diarrhea, the dog is vomiting every time it eats, chronic vomiting, the dog becomes lethargic, has a loss of appetite, has abdominal pain or is running a high fever.
Diagnosing the Cause of Dog Vomiting
To pinpoint the cause of vomiting in dogs, veterinarians may run a series of tests based upon the symptoms that the animal is displaying. Tests could include x-rays, blood tests, biopsies of the intestinal tract and stomach, or even exploratory abdominal surgery. Some of the possible causes of vomiting in canines could include the following:
- There may be something in the dog’s throat that is blocking food from entering the stomach, such as a bone. When the throat becomes full, the animal will regurgitate it. If the dog is vomiting food that hasn’t been digested, this is typically the cause.
- A dog vomiting yellow bile or foam is usually a sign that the pet has a stomach problem. This is typically gastritis, but could also be an obstruction in the intestines, pancreatitis, or peritonitis.
- If the dog is vomiting blood, this could be a sign of an ulcer or cancer.
- If the pet is displaying the multiple symptoms of dog vomiting and diarrhea, possible causes in mild cases could be a reaction to something the animal ate, a stomach or intestinal worm, a bacterial or viral infection such as canine distemper or parvovirus, or food allergies. If the dog vomiting and diarrhea are accompanied by fever, this could be a sign of kidney or liver disease.
- Other possible causes of vomiting in canines include Addison’s disease, a type of diabetes known as Ketoacidosis, bladder rupture or obstruction, uterine infection and diseases of the inner ear.
Dog Vomiting Treatments
Depending on the cause of dog vomiting, the veterinarian may prescribe drugs, implement a special diet, or a surgical procedure may be necessary. In most cases of dog vomiting and diarrhea, it is advisable not to feed the dog anything except water for 12-24 hours to allow the pet’s digestive system to be cleaned out. After that, a bland diet of potato or rice and boiled chicken or meat can be fed to the animal. Drugs that could be prescribed may include corticosteroids, antibiotics, or immunosuppressants. With many of these drugs, there is a possibility of side effects such as additional problems with the digestive system or in the case of immunosuppressants, a lowered resistance to infections and infectious diseases.
Natural Dog Vomiting Remedies
An increasing number of veterinarians are now advocating the use of natural remedies for dog vomiting to not only help with the canine vomiting, but to also prevent nausea and restore digestive comfort. There are a number of safe and effective, natural herbal and homeopathic remedies for dog vomiting that contain herbs such as Glycyrrhiza glabra, which restores the digestive tract, Ulmus fulva, Mentha piperita, and Althaea officinalis which aid in the digestive process. Other natural dog vomiting remedies may also be prescribed depending upon the underlying cause.
A post from: All Natural Dog Remedies
