There’s nothing more frustrating as a dog owner than to have a sick dog throwing up. So, why are dogs throwing up undigested food? This has always been a question that all dog owners have asked themselves at one time or another, simply due to the fact the vomiting is a frequent occurrence with dogs and readily dismissed as being normal in nature.
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Why Do Dogs Throw Up
It is not considered a disease in itself, and just like with humans, vomiting is namely a symptom of an underlying cause, generally ingested food, or in the case of canines, very possibly non edible items. The second most important factor is related to medical conditions.
Indeed, the act of dogs throwing up can end just as quickly as it started, and however distasteful it may be to witness, dogs can easily dip right back into their own vomit.
Dog Vomiting
Vomiting: this is defined as dogs intentionally and forcefully trying to expulse irritating elements from the stomach. Drooling and heaving usually precede the actual act of vomiting, with the abdominal muscles strongly contracting. It typically consists of yellow bile, which may at times appear to be brownish or look like a frothy type of liquids.
Dog Regurgitation
Regurgitating: a milder form of vomiting that seems to require much less effort, whatever is coming back up almost seems to do so without any help from the dog, usually caused by excessively rapid ingesting of foods.
Dog Gagging
Gagging: called retching in dogs, this condition is similar to choking. Strenuous coughing or hacking will result in visible muscle contractions in the chest rather than the abdomen. This is a more serious condition, as it may possibly indicate that something being swallowed could have been stuck in the throat instead and has become an obstruction. This may also be due to throat, heart or lung problems that should be quickly remedied.
Causes of Vomiting
Vomiting is very common to dogs. There could be many different reasons for vomiting such as stomach diseases, upper intestinal tract infection, ingestion of toxic substances, and so on. Vomiting is instinctive for dogs to force unwanted food or foreign objects out of their body. When a dog vomits, it does not necessarily mean that they have some kind of serious illness.
However, if your dog keeps throwing up followed by diarrhea, lethargy, or a change in behavior, then it is time to consult the veterinarian and request for medical attention.
Mild Acute Vomiting
The causes of dog vomiting can be divided into two those that lead to mild acute vomiting and chronic vomiting. Mild acute vomiting is a sudden episode of vomiting which often occurs just one time. Over-eating and eating too fast could cause a dog to vomit. To avoid this, dog owners could give smaller amounts of food perhaps two or three times a day instead of one big meal. Dogs could also vomit if they have eaten something indigestible or toxic.
Some dogs like to chew random objects or to dig through the garbage. If you know that your dog has a tendency to do these, it only means that your dog might have swallowed something that caused intestinal obstruction. What you should do to avoid this is to keep your garbage containers in an area that your dog does not have access to. Another cause of mild acute dog vomiting is motion sickness. Dogs, just like some people, could feel disturbed with loss of a sense of balance while inside moving vehicles like cars and boats.
Chronic Vomiting
Unlike mild acute dog vomiting, chronic vomiting implies continuous or frequent dog vomiting for more than two weeks. Some causes for chronic vomiting in dogs include food allergies, reaction to certain drugs like steroids and antibiotics, and stomach problems like gastritis and ulcer. If your dog vomits persistently, it may also mean that they have infectious diseases like parvovirus. Dogs are prone to this disease if they have not yet completed their vaccination sequence.
Parvovirus has been proven to attack and kill the cells in the intestinal lining of dogs. Other causes of chronic dog vomiting could also be worm infestation, obstruction in the stomach, liver disease, and even stomach cancer. It is important for dog owners to observe their pets carefully. If you see that your dog is getting worse, then a visit to the veterinarian should be made.
Diet
Any irritation inside the stomach can be the cause of dog puking. Although domesticated, dogs still retain their primeval instincts and are voracious eaters. In the presence of other dogs in particular, they will tend to eat as fast as possible out of concern that their food portions will be diminished by the competition. Interestingly, vomiting can also be induced by an empty stomach, as gastric acids can build up overnight.
Dogs are furthermore still scavengers even when well fed. Contaminated food can be another cause of dog throwing up undigested food. Deficiencies in certain nutrients are possibly an additional cause why dogs scavenge.
Canines, especially inexperienced puppies, never cease to amaze their owners by the amount of inedible items they can ingest, unaware of the difference between ingesting and digesting. It is also astonishing the things that can progress through their digestive system and eventually come out the other end.
Foreign intruders
Worms and parasites are common scourges for dogs, and the Parvovirus is particularly worrisome. Diarrhea and possibly blood usually accompany vomiting in these cases. Loss of appetite or agitation could be further signs of distress.
A typical recommendation is to soften up kibble or dry foods with water to improve the digestive process, along with multiple smaller meals instead of one ample meal. It also is advisable to feed dogs at different times if more than one is being cared for at any given moment to alleviate food gulping.
Although professional help may be required at times, the answer to your dog throwing up can usually be found with some keen observation of its surroundings.
Dog Throwing Up Yellow
You wonder why your dog keeps throwing up? There are a lot of reasons why your dog could vomit. Some of the reasons why a dog could throw up are toxins in the blood, inflammation of the upper intestinal tract, and inflammation of the stomach.
When a dog throws up yellow bile then you have a big problem because this condition can cause serious problems. Throwing up yellow bile can cause intestinal obstruction, pancreatitis, and dehydration.
A dog keeps throwing up yellow bile can be caused by various activities. Some of the common causes are anxiety, over production of bile, fast eating, eating of inedible materials, eating raw foods, eating uncommon food, and gastritis.
Dogs make yellow bile when they are getting ready for eating their food. When they produce this yellow bile and there were no food to be served, dogs just throw up this yellow bile to prevent their stomachs from being burned. So bear in mind that when your dog’s meal is served in long gaps there is a great chance that your dog may vomit yellow bile.
Most of the time, a pet owner feeds the dog a lot when they fail to feed them on the appointed time, and they see their dogs vomit yellow bile. What happened is that the yellow bile and the intestinal fluids have already irritated the stomach so when a dog eats at this point the dog will only throw up the undigested food that it ate.
However, there are various treatments that you can give your dog to prevent the worsening of the condition. The best way to treat this condition is to give your dog medications that have ranitidine, famotidine, and cimetidine. These substances can regulate your dog’s production of yellow bile and gastric acids and thus eliminating the source of your dog’s pain and problem.
Puppy Vomiting
In young dogs, vomiting can be caused by viruses and parasites. Puppies at the age of 2-3 weeks have a high risk of contracting worms. When worms become active, they can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Canine Parvovirus is a very contagious, very serious illness that many puppies contract when they are not vaccinated at the right time. Parvovirus can cause extreme vomiting, which can lead to dehydration, stomach and intestinal problems, secondary infections and death, if not treated right away.
Ignoring vomiting in your puppy may lower his immune system and cause extreme illness and even death in some cases. It is important to get your puppy proper vaccinations, and keep him away from other animals who have not been vaccinated for worms or Parvo.
Dog Throwing Up Undigested Food Treatment
Having a dog with a vomiting problem can be a frightening experience. At first, you might find that it happens infrequently, but in some cases it can become a chronic issue. In other cases, it can the sign of a more serious, if not fatal, condition, such as bloat.
The first step in the dog vomiting treatment is to take your dog to a vet to make sure that the condition is not life threatening. You might be given medication, such as antibiotics (if the condition is bacterial), indigestion/antacid medicines, or even vaccinations against conditions like Bordatella and/or Rabies.
From there, if you’ve found that the condition is not fatal or life threatening, then it’s time to do what you can to ease the symptoms and help your dog feel better. Learning how to do this will help you treat the condition on your own rather than having to visit the vet every time your dog vomits.
The best dog vomiting treatment is a bland diet, which will help to settle the stomach and absorb stomach acid.
Dog Vomiting Treatment With Balanced Diet
1 1/2 cups of white rice
1/2 cup cooked (baked, not fried) chicken or turkey
Mix together and serve.
The rice will serve to absorb acid while the bird will provide slow digesting protein to keep the system working on real food, rather than an empty stomach.
If this works, and the vomiting dies down, then you can slowly re-introduce regular foods until the condition is completely resolved.
Keep in mind that your dog may become dehydrated after long bouts of vomiting, so the next part of the dog vomiting treatment cycle may involve rehydration via water or Pedialyte. I don’t recommend Gatorade or other sports drinks, as they are loaded with sugar, which is not healthy for your dog.
Also, try not to let your dog drink too much too fast, as this can lead to ever greater problems. The recommend amount of water for a dog is 1/2 to 1 ounce per pound of body weight per day.
Dealing with Indigestion
If the issue is related to indigestion, then the simple solution is to change the diet to a bland diet, which consists of white rice and chicken mixture (baked, no skin and no grease). This will work to settle the stomach and absorb stomach acid, but if it does not work, then it’s possible your dog might have swallowed something they shouldn’t have.
An X-Ray can help identify the foreign object, but unless your dog is in pain, the treatment is simply to wait it out and let it pass…naturally.
If the bland diet is working, consider asking your vet for an antacid, such as Tagamet. Though I do not recommend giving antacids to your pet without the approval of a veterinarian, many of them are safe in short-term treatment cycles. However, you’ll have a much easier time getting your dog to take a pill than you would a liquid, such as Pepto Bismol.
Lastly, try to avoid strange and exotic foods, such as rawhides, pig skins, or other edible chew toys. Though these do occupy dogs and keep them from chewing on furniture, they are also terrible for the stomach, as they contain a variety of unhealthy by-products, chemicals, and dies.
Overall, dog vomiting treatment is simple, provided your pet has been properly diagnosed and is monitored frequently. Keep the diet bland, try antacids, and keep them away from foreign objects. Beyond that, the vet is your best friend!
Home Remedies
There’s nothing more frustrating as a dog owner than to have a sick dog especially if you are a first-time dog owner. Part of the problem is that there’s usually a mess involved, and the other is that you feel bad because your dog can’t talk and tell you how he or she feels.
This also leads to an issue where a non-observant pet owner might not notice the subtle symptoms that accompany health issues. Close observation of your pets is a must.
You might often find your dog vomiting white foam, grass, or even chunks of their food. The good news is that this is usually not life threatening, but the bad news is that it can be.
Experimenting with Foods
Your dog’s diet is the key to their healthy digestive system, so try to avoid cheap food and table scraps if you can. Dogs need a certain type of protein, which is why the premium dog foods are worth their cost. If you can’t afford a premium dog food, then keep trying different brands and flavors until you find one that doesn’t give your dog indigestion.
OTC Medicines
There are many supplements that can be used to treat vomiting in dogs, but I wouldn’t use any of them without getting your vet’s advice first. Some medications can be fatal, and even though OTC medicines like Tagamet and Pepto Bismol do not fall into that category, they should be used under a vet’s care.
If you must use something, consider using Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide). The safe dose for dog vomiting treatment is 2-5 ml per pound of body weight every 4 to 6 hours. Be careful not to use more than that, as it can also serve as a laxative, and being that your dog is already dehydrated from vomiting, diarrhea is the last thing he or she needs.
An alternative to Milk of Magnesia is Mineral Oil, at a dose of 10 to 50 ml, added to your dog’s food.
Dog Throwing Up Undigested Food Conclusion
As stated before, the most important thing you can do is use medicine that a vet gives you and to follow the instructions. Failure to do so can further complicate the issue.
These are some of the important things that you need to know if your dog keeps throwing up. Now you know what to do if you see your dog throwing up however, it is still best that you have your veterinarian check out your dog.
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