Vomiting is pretty common among dogs. After all, they love eating just about anything – from spoiled food in the trash, dead carcasses, and even their own feces. But as much as vomiting is common, it should be addressed properly to avoid dehydration. To ensure that you’re armed with knowledge, I will share here reasons why dogs vomit and some home remedies for dog puking that works.
Take note that these tips and advice are solely based on my limited experience as a pet owner. It’s always best to consult your dog’s veterinarian if its vomiting isn’t ceasing.
Why is your dog vomiting?
Vomiting is a general symptom of a slew of health problems, so it can be tricky to point out what’s causing it in the first place. But according to experts, the following are the most common culprits to watch out for:
🐶Ingestion of foreign objects
Dogs are notorious for dietary indiscretion. This means they will try to eat foreign objects that aren’t really edible.
In the process, the ingested foreign matter will trigger irritation on the digestive tract. And as the body’s way of expelling the object, it will trigger vomiting.
Most dogs can regurgitate whatever foreign matter they have swallowed. However, there are also cases when vomiting can dislodge the object in a dangerous position, which can lead to choking.
Aside from that, foreign objects or substances are a leading source of bacteria. This can cause massive bacterial infections in your dog’s tummy, leading to vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms.
🐶Poisoning
Another reason why dogs vomit is the ingestion of poisonous substances. Poisoning can lead to diarrhea, severe vomiting, increased salivation, and lethargy. Take note that this is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate veterinary attention.
Take note that some human food items like chocolate, grapes, gum, and macadamia nuts are toxic to canines. This is why you should always mind the snacks you’re sharing with your pet.
🐶Indigestion
A dog’s vomiting can also be a random case of indigestion. It’s possible that the dog’s food is hard to digest or that the canine has eaten too fast.
If indigestion occurs regularly, you probably need to switch your pooch to a new diet. This should be done gradually and after consulting a veterinarian.
🐶Intestinal parasites
Intestinal worms will wreak havoc on your canine’s tummy. Aside from stealing your dog’s nutrients, it will also cause a slew of digestive irritation. This can lead to repetitive vomiting, diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, and lethargy.
Take note that intestinal worms can be deadly for puppies. And even for adult dogs, it must be treated to avoid complications.
🐶Overheating
Overheating or heatstroke in dogs is a life-threatening condition that can happen easily if you’re not careful. Prolonged exposure to heat, especially for flat-nosed breeds like Bulldogs, can put your dog’s life at risk.
Since dogs don’t sweat as humans do, they find it hard to cool down under hot conditions. So when you place the dog in a hot place, say walking on a sunny afternoon, it will easily overheat.
One of the signs of overheating is vomiting, which is accompanied by panting, labored breathing, lethargy, and changes in gum color. In worst cases, the dog will collapse and even succumb to comatose.
🐶Medications
Some medications prescribed for your dog can trigger vomiting. It’s important to consult the vet when this happens, so your dog will be given an alternative drug. Also, it’s possible that the vet needs to cut back on the dosage to prevent adverse reactions.
🐶Serious medical conditions
Lastly, vomiting can be a sign of a serious health problem in dogs. If your pet is vomiting regularly, you should get it checked for kidney disease, liver failure, pancreatitis, parvovirus, colitis, and even cancer.
Since vomiting is a general symptom, it can point to various problems. What’s important is you seek professional diagnosis instead of second-guessing.
When to bring your dog to the vet
If your dog’s vomiting is recurring within 12 hours, you should bring it to the vet right away. You should do the same if your dog’s puking is intense. This means that the canine is losing a lot of fluids in a very short period.
Remember that dehydration is your leading enemy when it comes to vomiting. The challenging part is that dogs usually refuse to eat or drink when they are puking or experiencing digestive upset. In this case, repetitive vomiting can turn deadly in just a few hours.
Also, it’s important to remember that home remedies have limitations. Aside from that, you should only use these remedies if your dog isn’t exhibiting other symptoms. Most of all, you should consult your dog’s veterinarian for the best advice.
At the clinic, the veterinarian will examine your dog quickly. The canine will be put in an IV drip to combat dehydration. This drip can contain antiemetic medication to stop vomiting as the vet is trying to get to the root of the problem.
Depending on your dog’s case, blood tests, fecal tests, and ultrasound might be necessary.
Home remedies for dog puking
If your dog is suffering from mild vomiting, you can utilize a few home remedies to provide relief. Again, this isn’t a substitute for professional veterinary care. When in doubt, you should always consult your dog’s vet.
Nevertheless, here are some home solutions that can help calm your dog’s vomiting:
🐶Put your dog on fasting mode
The very first thing you need to do is put your dog in fasting mode. This is to stop further irritation as your pet’s digestive tract is already on overdrive. Also, it’s possible that your dog’s food is causing vomiting in the first place.
While you’ll deprive your dog off food for 12 hours, you should keep a fresh bowl of water available. This is to prevent dehydration.
Don’t worry because your dog won’t die of hunger just because it didn’t eat for 12 hours. Once your dog shows signs of recovery, you can proceed to the next tip.
🐶Switch to a bland diet
If your dog’s vomiting stopped after putting it in fasting, you should start feeding small amounts of bland food. For my dog, I give cooked rice and boiled chicken. Make sure that the chicken is unsalted and doesn’t have any spices.
This will help reset your dog’s tummy and reduce the risk of further puking. Also, this food is loaded with carbs that will help restore the canine’s energy levels. Aside from that, cooked rice is easy to digest and unlikely to trigger another stomach upset.
Remember to give small amounts of food at a time. You wouldn’t want your dog to gobble down an entire bowl and have another vomiting episode.
🐶Give ice chips
If your dog is refusing to eat or drink, you can try giving ice chips instead. Some dogs tend to vomit further when lapping on water, so ice chips are a perfect alternative.
Aside from delivering added hydration, the cold temperature of ice chips can somehow calm your dog down. This is also very helpful if your vomiting dog is also in the middle of the teething phase or if it’s suffering from overheating.
🐶Consider giving Pepto-Bismol
Pepto-Bismol, which is also known as pink bismuth, is a medication used to treat nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, and acid reflux in humans. It’s also safe to use on dogs suffering from vomiting, but you must do so at the right dosage.
In general, you should only give one teaspoon of Pepto-Bismol for every 10 lbs. of your dog’s weight. Also, you should only give it every 8 hours.
However, if your dog’s vomiting doesn’t stop after one to two doses, you should bring it to the vet instead. I also recommend consulting the veterinarian before giving this medication to your pet, especially if your dog is taking prescription drugs.
🐶Supply electrolytes
When a dog experiences vomiting, it loses fluids and electrolytes in the process. These electrolytes are bicarbonates, potassium, magnesium, and chloride ions. Very low electrolyte levels will impair your dog’s fluid regulation, blood clotting, muscle contraction, and other critical bodily functions.
Take note that electrolyte formulas made for humans aren’t always safe for canines. Nevertheless, during emergencies, you can give your dog a small amount of Gatorade.
But as much as possible, you should give natural electrolyte sources. An excellent example here is simmered bone broth. It contains vitamins and minerals that will help restore your dog’s energy levels.
Still, make sure that the broth has low sodium content since canines aren’t supposed to consume too much salt.
🐶Use some ginger powder
Lastly, you can give your dog a small amount of ginger powder to alleviate its vomiting. Ginger has carminative properties known to calm down the digestive tract.
However, the challenge here is that dogs aren’t big fans of ginger’s strong flavor. In this case, you can try mixing it with a small amount of honey or warm coconut milk.
Again, you should give this in small servings of one to three teaspoons every several hours. This is to prevent further stomach upset in case your dog doesn’t tolerate ginger that much.
How to make your dog feel better after puking
Once your dog’s vomiting has stopped, you can help it feel better by doing the following. Take note that this is aside from keeping your dog hydrated:
- Check for shock. Vomiting is a very stressful experience for dogs to the point that it can cause shock. Paleness, weakness, difficulty moving, and collapsing are just some of the signs. You should consider bringing your dog to the vet if you notice these symptoms.
- Keep your dog warm. Put a blanket on your dog to keep it warm and cozy. Petting your dog slowly and staying by its side will help the canine feel better.
- Don’t force the dog to move. If your dog is weak due to vomiting, you shouldn’t force it to move. Instead, carry it into its bed.
- Clean up your dog. Vomiting will soil your dog’s fur around its mouth. Make sure that you clean it so it doesn’t cause matting and further stress. You can use a dog grooming wipe for this. Remember that you should never bathe your dog if it recently had a vomiting streak.
- Call the vet. Even if your dog seems to be doing fine, you should still call its veterinarian. This way, you’ll be advised whether you need to bring your pet to the clinic. The vet will also give you more tips to help your dog recover.
- Keep monitoring. Take note that your dog’s vomiting can recur within 24 hours. It’s important to keep monitoring your pet, so you can provide proper remedies. Aside from vomiting, you should also keep the canine’s blood pressure in check.
- Don’t force food into your dog. Never force-feed your dog for the sake of restoring its energy levels. This will just result in further vomiting and more stress on your pet. Instead, you should let the dog eat on its will. And if your canine still refuses to consume food within 24 hours, the vet is always the best person to consult.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is my dog throwing up but acting normal?
A: Sometimes, dogs experience a minor case of vomiting. This is why your pet may throw up once then look fine after. That means the canine had already released whatever that’s irritating its throat or stomach. Still, you should keep observing your dog in case the vomiting recurs.
Q: Why does my dog vomit early in the morning?
A: Early morning vomiting is often yellowish due to its bile content. It’s a sign that your dog has been enduring an empty stomach for quite some time. This means that your dog is due for feeding, but I advise feeding small amounts at a time to avoid upsetting its stomach with a sudden surge of digestion.
Q: Why is my dog throwing up everything he eats?
A: If your dog vomits everything he eats, it’s probably eating too fast. When dogs eat too fast, they also swallow a lot of air, which can cause the food to be regurgitated and eventually vomited. This is why pet owners often use slow-feeding bowls to prevent their dogs from chomping on their food too fast.
Q: Why is my dog burping and throwing up?
A: Increase burping is often associated with an alkaline diet. However, if it’s followed by vomiting, your dog might be suffering from acid reflux. However, if the vomiting is non-productive and your dog is burping, you should check the possibility of gastric-dilatation volvulus. Take note that this condition can turn deadly in just a matter of hours, so immediate veterinary attention is necessary.
Q: Does a dog’s vomiting go away on its own?
A: Most cases of vomiting in dogs are mild and will stop once the dog has released the substance irritating its stomach. However, if your pet’s vomiting is continuing for more than 12 hours, it’s time to bring it to the veterinarian. At this point, dehydration may ensue and your dog will be exposed to life-threatening risks.
Q: Why is my dog puking foam?
A: A foamy vomit is indicative of gastrointestinal distress. It’s possible that the canine has excess gas on its stomach or it has consumed a poisonous substance. Also, if your dog’s stomach is empty, it will expel a foamy or frothy liquid. However, this can also point to a serious health problem, so the vet’s expertise is still the best option.
Final words
There are home remedies for dog puking, but remember that it doesn’t replace veterinary care. You should contact your dog’s vet for proper advice, especially if your dog’s vomiting isn’t ceasing. Remember that the best way to treat vomiting in dogs is to identify what caused it in the first place. In that case, the vet is the most qualified to diagnose your pet.
