Not Found
Locations

Veterinary Manual

Find information on animal health topics, written for the veterinary professional.

Vomiting in Dogs

Also of Interest

Vomiting in Dogs

By Dana G. Allen, DVM, MSc, DACVIM, Professor and Chair, Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph ; Lisa E. Moore, DVM, DACVIM ; Carlton L. Gyles, DVM, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph ; Sharon Patton, MS, PhD, Professor of Parasitology, Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee ; Andrew S. Peregrine, BVMS, PhD, DVM, DEVPC, DACVM, Associate Professor, Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada ; Thomas W. Swerczek, DVM, PhD, Professor, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky ; Ben H. Colmery, DVM, DAVDC ; James G. Fox, DVM, MS, DACLAM, Professor and Director, Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology ; H. Carolien Rutgers, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA, DSAM, MRCVS, Senior Lecturer, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London ; Jörg M. Steiner, DrMedVet, PhD, DACVIM, DECVIM-CA, AGAF, Associate Professor and Director, Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A & M University ; Sofie Muylle, DVM, PhD, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Morphology, Ghent University ; Walter Ingwersen, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, Specialist, Companion Animals, Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd, Vetmedica ; Stanley I. Rubin, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Clinical Professor, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ; Sharon Campbell, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Manager, Pharmacovigilance Regulatory Affairs, Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Pfizer Inc.

Also see professional content regarding vomiting.

Vomiting is the forceful ejection of the contents (such as food, fluids, or debris) of the stomach and upper small intestine. It is typically preceded by other signs, such as nausea, excessive drooling, retching, and forceful contractions of the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm. Vomiting can be caused by digestive system disease, kidney or liver failure, pancreatitis, nervous system disorders, and ingestion of irritating substances and poisons.

Vomiting differs from regurgitation, which is a passive motion. With regurgitation, the expelled food and fluid tends to be undigested and may have a cylindrical shape reflecting the shape of the esophagus. Coughing or difficulty breathing are more often associated with regurgitation than with vomiting.

Short-term or even occasional vomiting is generally not associated with other abnormalities. Coughing or longterm, repeated vomiting may be associated with weakness, lethargy, weight loss, dehydration, and electrolyte (salt) imbalance. Whenever possible, vomiting is controlled by identifying and eliminating the cause, while allowing the digestive system time to recover.

Short-term or Occasional Vomiting

When a dog has been vomiting for only a short time (less than 3 to 4 days) and no other signs are present, your veterinarian’s examination may be limited to a detailed history (including questions about your pet’s possible access to garbage or poisons), a physical examination (including the abdomen), examination of the mouth, and a rectal examination (checking for evidence of eating table scraps or other inappropriate items). If nothing of significance is found, treatment to relieve signs may be all that is needed.

Generally, the treatment for short-term vomiting requires withholding food and limiting access to water for 24 hours. Dehydrated animals and animals with kidney or heart disease may require intravenous fluids during this time. If the vomiting has stopped after 24 hours, the dog may be offered small amounts (for example, a teaspoonful) of easily digested food. If no further vomiting occurs, feeding can usually be slowly resumed. Follow the treatment directions provided by your veterinarian carefully. Providing too much or too little water or food during this time can hurt your pet.

Long-term or Severe Vomiting

Long-term vomiting, vomiting that occurs more often than once or twice daily, and vomiting accompanied by blood, abdominal pain, depression, dehydration, weakness, fever, or other signs requires a more detailed examination. This may include blood and urine tests as well as x‑rays of the digestive system. In many cases, endoscopic evaluation and biopsy of the stomach and small intestine may be required to determine the nature of the disease.

Treatment for long-term vomiting is directed at elimination of the cause, if it can be identified. In addition, your veterinarian may need to treat conditions such as dehydration, electrolyte (salt) imbalances, and acid-base disorders that may have developed. Drugs to control vomiting can be prescribed for animals with persistent vomiting, dehydration, and weakness. Your veterinarian will evaluate your pet’s overall condition before prescribing any medication or treatment.

For More Information

Also see professional content regarding vomiting.

Also of Interest

MManual

Test your knowledge

Which of the following clinical signs is most likely to be present in a cat with heart disease?