Brown vomit in a dog. Vomiting in a dog

Vomiting is a natural reflex reaction of the body to some irritant.

There can be a huge number of such irritants. It is important not to confuse vomiting with regurgitation; the difference is that when regurgitation, food does not have time to enter the stomach, but is removed from the esophagus.

Vomiting cannot be considered as a separate disease - it is a symptom of other diseases and disorders, so it is important to establish the reason why it was caused.

Treating vomiting in dogs on your own can be very dangerous, because, basically, vomiting is a symptom of a disease, and if, for example, you give your pet activated charcoal, then it may end, but the disease will remain. Therefore, if the exact reason that caused the stomach bowel movement is not known, then you need to take the animal to the veterinarian so that he can examine it and make an accurate diagnosis.

If your pet vomits blood, this is a rather dangerous symptom. Vomiting blood, in most cases, indicates that the dog has damage to the mucous membrane of the stomach or esophagus. This usually happens due to a puncture of the stomach wall by a sharp foreign body, for example, it could be a bone fragment or a nail. An infectious disease may also be the cause. Such infections include enteritis, leptospirosis or hepatitis.

Another cause may be poisoning from heavy metals or rat poison. There are cases when vomiting with blood occurs due to liver diseases, while the flow of blood can be released into the stomach, thereby provoking a gag reflex. Giving your dog antibiotics or other medications for a long time can cause stomach bleeding. It is important to know that the color of vomit with blood is not always red, the fact is that the blood reacts with gastric juice, after which it changes color to red-brown, coffee or even black.

If blood is detected in the vomit, you should immediately take your pet to the veterinarian, but if for some reason it is not possible to do this, then you will have to act on your own, and immediately. The dog should not be fed for a day, only given water to drink, and then in small quantities. The animal must be provided with complete rest and given Kvamatel two tablets a day, morning and evening. If, in addition to vomiting blood, the dog exhibits lethargy, high body temperature and other signs of illness, it may be an infectious disease or liver disease. In such cases, the dog also needs to be taken to the veterinarian; you should not delay the visit, because this can result in serious consequences for the animal.

There are times when bloody vomiting ends on its own. This does not mean that the dog does not need to be taken for examination, because the disease could become chronic, and this can lead to complications and relapses.

Vomiting in a dog as a symptom of gastrointestinal diseases

Vomiting in a dog after eating or on an empty stomach in the morning is most often associated with the presence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, gastritis. But if a dog vomits 5-6 hours after eating, there may be a neoplasm or a foreign body in the stomach: to establish the exact cause of vomiting, a gastroscopy procedure will be required. Diseases such as acute pancreatitis, acute cholecystitis or hepatic colic usually cause debilitating (prolonged) vomiting. Also, vomiting yellow or white foam in the morning can be a symptom of pancreatitis or indigestion.

Vomiting and unpleasant odor from the dog's mouth

There are a number of serious diseases that cause vomiting, and they can be diagnosed by the appearance of a characteristic odor from the animal’s mouth:

  • the dog’s breath smells of ammonia or urine – kidney failure is possible;
  • a sweet or acetone smell may indicate diabetes in a dog;
  • the smell of rot from a dog’s mouth indicates problems with the intestines or disease of the gums and teeth.

If a dog does not eat and vomits, it could be...anything, from simple poisoning to an infection. First of all, do not try to force feed your dog; on the contrary, it is better to take a break from feeding. If after 12 hours there is still no appetite and vomiting continues, you should be examined by a veterinarian. If the dog does not eat anything and vomits, but at the same time it has a high/low temperature, diarrhea - there is no point in waiting 12 hours, show the dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Vomiting in a dog in combination with an upset stomach indicates poisoning or an acute infectious disease. If, against the background of these symptoms, lethargy, refusal to feed, or fever are observed, it is necessary to urgently contact a veterinarian.

If a dog is vomiting and the temperature is increased or decreased, there is reason to suspect an acute infectious disease, primarily leptospirosis, the intestinal form of canine distemper, and parvovirus enteritis. All of these diseases are characterized by high mortality, especially among puppies, so it is necessary to take the dog to a doctor as quickly as possible to establish an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment.

If your dog is vomiting and is unable to go to the toilet normally, this may be a symptom of intestinal obstruction. Often, small toys, stones, bones, etc., eaten by the dog, get stuck in the intestines. As a rule, this does not “dissolve” on its own; the dog begins to lose weight and frequently vomit (many owners state that if there is an obstruction, the dog constantly vomits). If you suspect that the dog has swallowed an object, it is better to establish this as early as possible, since obstruction often requires surgery, and it will be more difficult for a weakened dog to endure it.

Another dangerous symptom is the dog’s visible urge to vomit, but the vomit itself does not come out. If, against the background of such attempts, rapid swelling of the abdominal cavity is observed, it is necessary to immediately take the dog to a veterinary hospital. Vomiting with a cough, or coughing and retching, is often caused by a wound or foreign body in the throat or mouth. In this case, you should also immediately take the dog to a doctor.

Vomiting with foam in a dog

After the pet has eaten, within a few hours the food is pushed further through the intestines. The stomach remains empty, but there is still some gastric juice left in it, and special mucus is secreted along the walls, which protects the stomach from the acid contained in the gastric juice. This mucus contains proteins and mucopolysaccharides. If a dog swallows air, these substances form foam. If the animal vomits a white foamy substance, this indicates that the pet had an empty stomach. Therefore, the foam itself should not cause concern, but the cause of vomiting should be established. If such a phenomenon was one-time, then it does not require treatment. And if vomiting with foam happens frequently, then it is worth taking the animal to the veterinarian for diagnosis.

Vomiting in a fountain in a dog

Fountain vomiting is a phrase used to describe a special type of vomiting in which recently eaten food is vomited with some force, sometimes over a distance of several steps. This happens most often in puppies that are 6-16 weeks old. This type of vomiting, in which some food and liquid remains in the stomach, is associated with the inability of the stomach to move its contents further into the intestines, which is caused by a narrowing of the pylorus (impaired function of the outlet valve). Therefore, veterinary attention is needed immediately as surgery may be required.

In this case, it is useful to assess the amount of food and liquid remaining in the stomach, and also weigh the puppy daily to check if he is losing weight.

Dog vomiting after eating grass

Many dog ​​owners have encountered the fact that the dog eats grass while walking and vomits bile along with the eaten grass (as a rule, this happens in the morning on an empty stomach). In most cases, this behavior is due to the fact that the animal is cleaning its stomach. If this happens rarely (no more than 5 times a month), and the dog’s overall health is good, there is no reason to worry. However, often eating grass and the dog vomiting afterward may indicate excess bile in the stomach. In turn, the reason for this is most often the improper feeding of the dog, in particular, excess fat (additional symptoms: belching with a sour smell, soft stools with mucus, obesity, increased greasy coat). Also, in some cases, this behavior indicates infection with worms.

If after vomiting the pet looks cheerful, there is no blood or worms in the vomit, the temperature, appetite and stool are normal - it makes sense to take a break from feeding for 12 - 24 hours and observe the dynamics of the dog’s condition. In all other cases, when vomiting is profuse, with blood or worms, or is accompanied by at least one side symptom such as refusal of food, fever, diarrhea or constipation, or general lethargy of the pet, you need to take it to a veterinary clinic for examination as quickly as possible. Remember – your attentiveness and efficiency can save your dog’s life!

Vomiting bile in a dog

There can be several reasons for vomiting bile in dogs, but there is only one way out - an urgent trip to the veterinary clinic. But even the best doctor will not always immediately determine what exactly causes such symptoms, so it is very important for the dog owner to remember what events have happened recently.

The real reason why a dog is vomiting bile can only be determined after tests. Before that, try to alleviate the plight of your pet. Do not give the animal food; a small starvation diet will be useful, especially since the dog is unlikely to be able to eat fully in this state. Try giving the animal water, but if the pet is unable to drink due to constant nausea, the water balance will have to be restored through injections or through a drip. If your dog is already showing signs of dehydration, inject the saline solution directly into the withers. Place your pet in a dark, secluded place, away from noise and drafts. If your dog has chills, cover him with a warm cloth.

The main thing in such a situation is not to put off visiting a doctor. Do not self-medicate under any circumstances, do not give “human” pills or inject antibiotics. Take responsibility for your pet's life.

Vomiting in dogs while traveling in the car

Just like humans, dogs can experience travel nausea. Many puppies drool and become nauseous and vomit when traveling by car. This may be due to a disorder of the vestibular system, or the condition may be associated with stress when the puppy leaves his home for the first time.

When traveling in a car, it is helpful to hold your puppy tightly, or place him in a mesh wire basket and cover him with a light cotton material. In addition, you need to take the dog in the car before feeding, give it some kind of reward while moving, make stops and walk the dog. All this almost always helps the dog overcome a painful condition on the road.

Ideally, it is advisable for puppies to be accustomed to traveling by car before they reach the age of 8 weeks, that is, before the “fear period” begins in their development. If the puppy is unable to get used to riding in a car at this age, then it is better to abandon further attempts to accustom him, and use the methods described above for three months of age. It is not recommended to give animals medications intended to combat motion sickness in people on the road. Your veterinarian can provide you with medications made specifically for dogs and will advise you on how to use these products.

First of all, it is unacceptable to scold a dog if it stains the floors or carpet with vomit: firstly, it cannot restrain the urge to vomit, and secondly, toxins are removed from the body with vomit, so do not try to stop the dog from vomiting. If a muzzle or tight collar is worn, at the first urge to vomit, they must be removed immediately so that the dog does not choke on vomit.

The first thing to do if your dog is vomiting is to analyze the symptoms (the more detailed the information you give to the veterinarian, the easier it will be for him to understand what treatment is required). Vomiting in itself is not a disease - it is only a symptom of some kind of malfunction in the body.

Bloody vomiting in a pet is a serious symptom that indicates bleeding in the stomach; you should contact your veterinarian for examination.

Reasons

The main factors leading to this is gastric bleeding. Reasons for the presence of blood in vomit:

  • injuries to internal organs related to the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the upper respiratory tract;
  • the development of infectious diseases leading to disruption of the functioning of the digestive system;
  • poisoning of the dog’s body due to poisonous or chemical substances eaten, as well as medications, which caused intoxication;
  • an unbalanced diet or a sudden change in it, leading to intolerance to the food taken;
  • the presence of malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • presence of open gastric ulcer;
  • development of worms;
  • kidney or liver pathologies;
  • development of intestinal obstruction.

The presence of additional temperature, as well as diarrhea, indicates the appearance of an acute infection, in the form of plague, leptospirosis or parvovirus enteritis.

Puppies with such diseases have an extremely high mortality rate.

What to do at home

Before visiting the veterinarian, the following rules must be observed:

  • Observe the behavior of the animal, recording all the details. This will help you make an accurate diagnosis at your doctor’s appointment;
  • It is forbidden to feed the animal after bloody vomiting appears. You should also only use ice cubes for drinking. Excessive intake of water into the stomach can cause new vomiting of blood;
  • You cannot independently treat an animal with medications or folk remedies to stop the eruption of stomach contents. Vomiting allows the body to get rid of poisonous toxins, and forcing it to stop will only cause harm.

Treatment by a veterinarian

After examination and diagnosis by a doctor, he can prescribe a set of drugs to eliminate the cause itself:

  • droppers for dehydration: Glucose, Ringer's solution, saline;
  • antispasmodic: No-shpa;
  • antiemetics: Cerucal;
  • absorbent agents: Enetrosgel, activated carbon, Polysorb, Smecta;
  • for infection, titrated antibiotics are used, those to which the pathogen is sensitive;
  • anthelmintics: Prazicide;
  • immunomodulators: Mexidol, Glycopin, Fosprenil;
  • to reduce acidity levels: Omez;
  • vitamin complexes to support a weakened body.


You cannot ignore visiting a doctor and refuse to treat your dog in a hospital setting. Serious diseases cannot be cured on your own.

Prevention

To prevent bloody vomiting in the dog, food is given fresh and high-quality food, without sudden changes in regime and diet. Regular examinations by a veterinarian can identify organ pathologies. Quarterly intake of anthelmintic drugs prevents their development.

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Cleansing the body of animals through vomiting is a natural process that occurs at regular intervals. Vomiting blood in dogs signals some problems in the pet's health. In addition, there can be a huge number of reasons for this phenomenon. There is no need to panic and think about the most terrible and deadly disease, but it is imperative to respond in a timely manner to the bloody nature of vomiting.

Most often, the main cause of the phenomenon is gastric bleeding, but this etiology is not clear. Among the most popular provocations that cause the presence of blood in the vomit of dogs, the leaders are:

The nature of the gag reflex is also relevant to determining the cause of its occurrence. If there is a malfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, the animal may vomit blood on an empty stomach, in the morning, and the feces in this case will be dark. If the etiology involves the entry of a foreign object into the esophagus or respiratory tract, the dog vomits immediately after the injury.

The color of vomit can have several variations, directly related to the reasons for its appearance. Blood with foam is colored red, brown, pink, scarlet, and the pungent smell of vomit quite accurately informs about the following reasons:

  • Dark color of the liquid and the same stool indicates the presence of blood in the stomach. The constant nature of such vomiting is the etiology of peptic ulcer disease.
  • Light-colored vomiting with foam and almost white feces indicate gastric indigestion or problems with the pancreas.
  • The sweetish aroma of vomit, reminiscent of acetone, indicates an increased sugar content.
  • An ammonia smell indicates kidney problems.
  • A putrid aroma confirms diseases of the intestines and oral cavity.

Despite the huge choice of reasons, when clarifying, it is worth paying attention to the dog’s age category, its gender, susceptibility to disease and nutritional balance. Therefore, there is no need to independently diagnose the animal and try to get rid of vomiting. It is better to take your pet to a veterinarian, who will examine the dog and prescribe the necessary measures aimed at treating the cause, rather than eliminating the symptoms.

Clinical picture of vomiting blood in dogs

In addition to visual symptoms, when an animal suffers from a reflexive rejection of internal contents, there are a lot of accompanying signs. A person’s attentive attitude to the full picture of the disease will help the veterinarian accurately make the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate treatment.

  1. You should pay close attention to the bloody sediment in the vomit. That is, in what form is the blood present: a clot, a coagulated mass, a liquefied thick substance with foam, etc.
  2. The time of onset of the gag reflex and the events accompanying it (after a meal, on an empty stomach, once, daily, accompanied by diarrhea, etc.) will help to exclude injury to the dog’s internal organs or poisoning.
  3. A decrease in appetite before vomiting may indicate pain of varying severity.
  4. Blackish stool indicates internal bleeding.
  5. An elevated body temperature may indicate an exacerbation of a chronic disease or infection of the body with viruses.
  6. Refusal to drink and licking your face more often than usual indicates constant nausea.
  7. Excessive salivation, loud belching of air and rumbling of the stomach should also alert the owner, even if the vomiting happened once and did not recur.
  8. The state of increased excitability of the animal against the background of severe weakness is a signal of discomfort in the dog’s body.

Self-help for your pet with any of the above symptoms will cause more harm than good. Therefore, you should not delay time; it is better to consult with a veterinarian as quickly as possible by calling him at home or taking your pet to the clinic.

Standard diagnosis of the causes of vomiting with blood in dogs includes laboratory tests of biomaterial: blood (general and biochemical), urine, feces (stool for I/g and caprogram), as well as ultrasound or x-ray examination of the abdominal organs.

How to help an animal before consulting a veterinarian

To improve the dog’s condition before prescribing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, a loving owner must, first of all, not panic. When a dog vomits blood, it is important not to cause harm, which means it is worth understanding the following simple truths:

  • Surround your pet with love and care, showing your willingness to help. Under no circumstances should you raise the tone of the conversation or irritably reproach the animal for dirtying carpets or floors.
  • Carefully observe the dog’s behavior, recording in memory or on paper all the details of the clinical picture of the disease.
  • Do not feed your pet for at least several hours. It is better to use ice cubes as a drink, since excessive saturation with liquid will cause a new urge to vomit.
  • Self-treatment of an animal with medications or traditional medicine to stop the gag reflex is prohibited. By vomiting, the body can cleanse itself of toxins that poison the internal organs. And stopping the process in this case will only do harm.

After accurately identifying the diagnosis and the causes of the gag reflex, veterinarians usually prescribe a complex of medications:

  1. Antispasmodic: but - spa, papaverine and others.
  2. Anti-dehydration drips: glucose with Ringer's solution.
  3. Absorbents: activated carbon, smecta, polysorb.
  4. Cerucal as an antiemetic for persistent vomiting.
  5. Other medications prescribed based on the results of a thorough diagnosis and aimed at eliminating the causes of symptoms: antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, improving the secretory function of the stomach and intestines, and others.
  6. Vitamins and homeopathic medicines are prescribed already in the stage of stable remission, as supporting a weakened canine body.

In any case, you should not ignore visiting the veterinarian, and also refuse the conditions of inpatient treatment prescribed if necessary. Because some diseases simply cannot be treated at home. Moreover, the dog will be kept in a professional clinic for a day or two, after which treatment will be carried out on an outpatient basis.

Hematemesis or vomiting of blood in a dog is a phenomenon that should alert the pet owner. There may be several reasons for the occurrence of this symptom, but all of them are a characteristic sign of certain disorders in the body. Bloody discharge in vomit most often indicates injury or the presence of a chronic disease.

Timely identification of the main cause of bloody discharge will help cure the dog, and in some cases, save its life.

Symptoms of hematemesis in a dog

The main symptom of the disorder is the presence of fresh blood, clots or inclusions in the vomit. The primary symptom is usually accompanied by other disorders. Associated symptoms are:

Frequent vomiting for no apparent reason. The blood in your dog's vomit may be fresh and bright red, similar to an injury. Old, dark blood, often in clots, may also be present in the discharge.

  • Sudden weight loss, refusal of usual food.
  • Diarrhea is often an accompanying symptom.
  • The appearance of bloody discharge in the stool.
  • Cramps and pain in the abdomen.
  • Lethargy, sickly appearance.
  • Rapid difficulty breathing.
  • Heart murmurs, increased heart rate.

Types of hematemesis in dogs

If you discover that a dog is vomiting blood, you should carefully consider this phenomenon and, if possible, determine the type of violation. This will help to provide the necessary first aid to your pet in a timely manner and inform the veterinarian to establish the correct diagnosis.

Bright scarlet blood indicates injury. This can be any mechanical damage to the esophagus, oral cavity or pharynx. In this case, you should immediately examine the dog: check the gums, pay attention to the occurrence of tumors and wounds. Particular attention should be paid to the tongue and the cavity under it. Sometimes a thread loop may be found emerging from the gastrointestinal tract - evidence of intestinal obstruction.

If your dog is vomiting brown blood, this is a dangerous symptom. He's talking about internal bleeding in the stomach. Under the influence of hydrochloric acid, the blood mass becomes brown and thicker.

Dark color of vomit is a clear sign of kidney failure, poisoning, parvovirus enteritis. Associated signs of renal failure may include diarrhea and anemia. They also include the appearance of a slight ammonia odor from the dog’s mouth against the background of vomiting.

Causes of vomiting blood in dogs

All pet owners know that ordinary vomiting is not dangerous and serves as a certain protective mechanism of the body. In contrast, the causes of vomiting blood in a dog are not at all harmless and most often indicate impending danger and require immediate treatment at the hospital.

Blood in vomit may be a clinical sign of disorders such as:

  • Coagulopathy. This term most often defines a set of painful conditions that indicate blood clotting disorders. Coagulopathy can cause bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract and indicates the presence of serious diseases. It can be observed in severe nephropathies, liver and kidney diseases, malignant tumors, mechanical trauma or serious chemical poisoning.
  • Ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract. The most common occurrence is an ulcer of the stomach and esophagus, in some cases observed with diseases of the duodenum.
    Entry of a foreign body. Foreign bodies in the dog's stomach cause chronic vomiting, and in the presence of injuries, bleeding occurs. Most often it is detected by endoscopy. If other symptoms are present, an ultrasound and biopsy of the intestines and stomach are performed to determine the extent of damage and inflammatory processes.
  • Poisoning. One of the most common causes of a dog's pathological condition is poisoning with rat poison. Pet owners often experience intentional or accidental poisoning. Zookoumarin is a strong poison that is used in the fight against rodents. This drug can cause bleeding.
  • In addition, the reasons may be: oncology or taking medications, the presence of chronic diseases. Risk factors are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs to reduce platelets in the blood.

Diagnosis and treatment of hematemesis in dogs

All pet owners should know that vomiting blood is a sign of serious health problems. In this case, it is necessary to immediately contact a specialist to establish a diagnosis and begin treatment.

The most effective diagnostic methods:

  • Complete analysis of blood, urine and feces.
  • Biochemical blood test.
  • Ultrasound and x-ray of internal organs, abdominal cavity and chest.
  • Advanced blood test for coagulation.
  • Gastrointestinal tract studies.
  • Endoscopic examination of the digestive system.

In addition, the veterinarian checks for mechanical damage, injuries, and other areas of possible bleeding.

Treatment methods

Based on the research results, a course of treatment is prescribed, which is carried out in a hospital setting. In addition, restorative therapy may be prescribed.

  • Before prescribing a diet, you should stop feeding your dog for some time. Water and liquids should also be excluded.
  • To maintain vital functions, the animal is prescribed IV fluids.
  • Based on the test results, a blood transfusion may be prescribed.
  • In the presence of ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract, medications and other drugs are prescribed.
  • Once the diagnosis is established, a more in-depth course of treatment is prescribed.

First aid and pet care

Since the appearance of blood in the vomit may indicate the presence of a deadly disease, you should immediately consult a specialist. While waiting for the veterinarian, you should administer first aid to your dog.

Stop feeding immediately - this will help reduce the level of irritation of the gastric mucosa. If necessary, water can be given, but in very small quantities.

The dog needs to be provided with complete rest. If the wait for the veterinarian is prolonged or it is not possible to urgently deliver the pet to the hospital, you need to give him Kvamatel - one tablet in the morning and in the evening.

If there are accompanying symptoms and other signs of the disease - a sharp increase in body temperature or rapid heartbeat, the animal should be taken to the clinic. Self-medication in this case can lead to death. In some cases, vomiting may stop, but do not delay treatment. Even if the dog feels well, it is necessary to conduct an extensive examination of the internal organs.

If an animal has blood in its urine or stool, hematomas appear, or there is heavy bleeding in wounds, the dog is most likely poisoned by zoocoumarin. Clinical signs of poisoning may appear several days after the poison enters the body. In this case, you should also immediately contact a veterinarian and provide the dog with first aid.

If no more than two hours have passed after the poison entered the animal’s stomach, emergency assistance must be provided:


When treating a dog with vitamin K1, more fatty foods should be introduced into the dog's diet.

Important to know! When a dog is poisoned by rat poison, the prognosis for treatment is always unfavorable. If 5-6 days have passed after poisoning and the blood in the animal’s vomit has a dark, almost black tint, there is a high probability that the basic functions of all internal organs have already been impaired. For treatment to be effective, you should immediately contact a specialist and carry out a set of medical measures in a hospital setting.

Prevention of hematemesis

In order to prevent animal poisoning, access to toxic substances and medications should be limited. If you have chronic or other diseases, you should strictly follow the veterinarian's recommendations to avoid side effects. A dog needs a healthy and balanced diet to reduce the likelihood of serious diseases of the digestive system and gastrointestinal tract.

Any disease that causes bloody discharge in vomit can become chronic. If the symptom was a one-time occurrence and went away without complications, one should not forget about possible relapses. Bloody vomiting should be a signal that the dog needs a comprehensive examination.

About the author: Anna Aleksandrovna Maksimenkova

Practicing veterinarian in a private clinic. Directions: therapy, oncology, surgery. Read more about me in the "About Us" section.

Vomiting in a domestic dog can be caused by a wide range of diseases of different nature. When diagnosing the cause of vomiting, the age of your pet, the presence of chronic diseases, and the dog’s diet are important.

Vomiting in dogs is an uncontrollable reflex act, as a result of which the contents of the animal’s stomach are expelled through the mouth. It is important to distinguish real vomiting from regurgitation - in the latter case, food does not have time to enter the stomach and is excreted directly from the esophagus in almost the same form in which it entered the dog’s mouth.

Why does the dog vomit?

Most often, vomiting occurs as a protective reaction of the body aimed at getting rid of various toxic substances. The most common causes of vomiting in dogs are:

Poisoning by poison or poor quality food;

Foreign body in the stomach;

Acute infectious diseases;

Chronic diseases;

Worm infestations;

Intestinal obstruction;

Individual intolerance to certain foods.

Vomiting in a dog: treating the real cause

Often the owner, seeing that the dog is vomiting, makes the erroneous conclusion that it is necessary to treat the vomiting itself. This is why questions appear every day on dog forums and veterinary portals: “how to treat vomiting in dogs,” “what to give a dog when vomiting,” or even “how to stop a dog from vomiting.” Meanwhile, “treating vomiting” on your own without determining what exactly caused it is not only pointless, but also dangerous - without making a diagnosis, this can lead to a deterioration in the animal’s condition. In most cases, only a veterinarian can determine the real cause of vomiting in a dog, but the dog owner can make his job much easier.

If your dog is vomiting, what to do before the doctor arrives?

First of all, it is unacceptable to scold a dog if it stains the floors or carpet with vomit: firstly, it cannot restrain the urge to vomit, and secondly, toxins are removed from the body with vomit, so do not try to stop the dog from vomiting. If a muzzle or tight collar is worn, at the first urge to vomit, they must be removed immediately so that the dog does not choke on vomit.

The first thing to do if your dog is vomiting is to analyze the symptoms (the more detailed the information you give to the veterinarian, the easier it will be for him to understand what treatment is required). As mentioned above, vomiting in itself is not a disease - it is only a symptom of some kind of malfunction in the body. In order to assess how serious this failure is, veterinarians recommend paying attention to a number of factors, based on which you can more accurately determine why a dog is vomiting:

1) The nature of vomiting (frequent, rare, on an empty stomach, after eating, etc.).

3) Adverse symptoms of vomiting: general condition of the dog (vigorous or lethargic), appetite (normal, increased or refusal of food), thirst or refusal of water, temperature, diarrhea, constipation, cough, discharge from the nose and eyes, bloating, pain, cramps, etc.

4) Everything that happened to the dog over the last 2-3 days: eating garbage while walking, a sudden change in diet, the time of the last meal, communication with sick/stray animals or unfriendly people who could give a poisoned treat, contact with harmful chemicals connections (for example, if you are undergoing repairs), etc.

Particular attention should be paid to such side symptoms as diarrhea, apathy, decreased or lack of appetite, low or high temperature - in combination with vomiting in a dog, they indicate diseases that require urgent veterinary attention.

Important! Regardless of the reasons, if it lasts for a long time and especially if the dog has uncontrollable vomiting, it is necessary to prevent dehydration (dehydration) of the body. To do this, you need to provide the dog with free access to water, and if it refuses to drink, force water in through its mouth using a syringe without a needle.

If your dog is vomiting blood

Bloody vomiting in dogs occurs due to gastric bleeding (massive hemorrhage from the vessels of the stomach). This is a very dangerous symptom that requires immediate attention to a veterinary hospital. The cause of bloody vomiting can be either mechanical damage to the gastric mucosa from a bone or foreign body, or infectious diseases (parvovirus enteritis, leptospirosis, infectious hepatitis). Also, the reason that a dog vomits blood may be poisoning (heavy metals, poison for rats and mice, aspirin and other analgesics), hypoadrenocorticism, and in some cases, tumor decay. Contrary to popular belief, bloody vomit is not always a bright red, scarlet color: if the bleeding is not heavy, or vomiting occurs some time after it, the vomit is usually red-brown, coffee-colored. Sometimes the owner thinks that the dog is vomiting black - but most often it is also bloody vomiting.

Chronic vomiting of blood in a dog that occurs at regular intervals may indicate a stomach ulcer. This disease usually occurs as a result of trauma to the stomach with a sharp object or due to poor diet. A characteristic feature is alternating periods of exacerbation (when the ulcer opens) and rest (after the ulcer scars). If periodically, in addition to vomiting blood (or blood and mucus), the dog simultaneously experiences lethargy, refusal to feed, and belching, it makes sense to do an examination to identify an ulcer.

Vomiting in a dog as a symptom of gastrointestinal diseases

Dog vomiting after eating or on an empty stomach in the morning is most often associated with the presence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, gastritis. But if a dog vomits 5-6 hours after eating, there may be a neoplasm or a foreign body in the stomach: to establish the exact cause of vomiting, a gastroscopy procedure will be required. Diseases such as acute pancreatitis, acute cholecystitis or hepatic colic usually cause debilitating (prolonged) vomiting. Also, vomiting yellow or white foam in the morning can be a symptom of pancreatitis or indigestion.

Vomiting and unpleasant odor from the dog's mouth

There are a number of serious diseases that cause vomiting, and they can be diagnosed by the appearance of a characteristic odor from the animal’s mouth:

The dog's breath smells like ammonia or urine - kidney failure is possible;

A sweet or acetone odor may indicate diabetes in a dog;

The smell of rot from a dog’s mouth indicates problems with the intestines or disease of the gums and teeth.

Vomiting and refusal to feed

If a dog does not eat and vomits, it could be...anything, from simple poisoning to an infection. First of all, do not try to force feed your dog; on the contrary, it is better to take a break from feeding. If after 12 hours there is still no appetite and vomiting continues, you should be examined by a veterinarian. If the dog does not eat anything and vomits, but at the same time it has a high/low temperature, diarrhea - there is no point in waiting 12 hours, show the dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Vomiting, diarrhea, fever in a dog

If a dog is vomiting and the temperature is increased or decreased, there is reason to suspect an acute infectious disease, primarily leptospirosis, the intestinal form of canine distemper, and parvovirus enteritis. All of these diseases are characterized by high mortality, especially among puppies, so it is necessary to take the dog to a doctor as quickly as possible to establish an accurate diagnosis and begin treatment.

Vomiting due to foreign bodies in the throat, esophagus, or intestines

If your dog is vomiting and is unable to go to the toilet normally, this may be a symptom of intestinal obstruction. Often, small toys, stones, bones, etc., eaten by the dog, get stuck in the intestines. As a rule, this does not “dissolve” on its own; the dog begins to lose weight and frequently vomit (many owners state that if there is an obstruction, the dog constantly vomits). If you suspect that the dog has swallowed an object, it is better to establish this as early as possible, since obstruction often requires surgery, and it will be more difficult for a weakened dog to endure it. Another dangerous symptom is the dog’s visible urge to vomit, but the vomit itself does not come out. If, against the background of such attempts, rapid swelling of the abdominal cavity is observed, it is necessary to immediately take the dog to a veterinary hospital. Vomiting with a cough, or coughing and retching, is often caused by a wound or foreign body in the throat or mouth. In this case, you should also immediately take the dog to a doctor.

Dog vomiting after eating grass

Many dog ​​owners have encountered the fact that the dog eats grass while walking and vomits bile along with the eaten grass (as a rule, this happens in the morning on an empty stomach). In most cases, this behavior is due to the fact that the animal is cleaning its stomach. If this happens rarely (no more than 5 times a month), and the dog’s overall health is good, there is no reason to worry. However, often eating grass and the dog vomiting afterward may indicate excess bile in the stomach. In turn, the reason for this is most often the improper feeding of the dog, in particular, excess fat (additional symptoms: belching with a sour smell, soft stools with mucus, obesity, increased greasy coat). Also, in some cases, this behavior indicates infection with worms.

So what should you do if your dog vomits? If after vomiting the pet looks cheerful, there is no blood or worms in the vomit, the temperature, appetite and stool are normal - it makes sense to take a break from feeding for 12 - 24 hours and observe the dynamics of the dog’s condition. In all other cases, when vomiting is profuse, with blood or worms, or is accompanied by at least one side symptom such as refusal of food, fever, diarrhea or constipation, or general lethargy of the pet, you need to take it to a veterinary clinic for examination as quickly as possible. Remember – your attentiveness and efficiency can save your dog’s life!