Causes of Dog Vomit and What They Mean

When to Be Concerned

Because vomiting is not that unusual in dogs, pet parents are typically not fazed if a dog throws up occasionally. But when should you worry?

The Animal Hospital of North Asheville notes that there are few dog vomit scenarios that should be cause for concern:

• Other signs are present: If your dog has not only thrown up, but is also acting strangely — such as sleeping more than usual, refusing to eat or having diarrhea — you should call your veterinarian.
• There are signs of blood: If you see blood in the vomit or if your dog is throwing up something that looks like coffee grounds — dried blood — call the vet. The blood can be a sign of serious problems, such as gastric ulcers, or a dog who has eaten a sharp foreign object, such as a bone or toy.
• Your dog won't stop vomiting: While occasionally throwing up isn't unusual, if a dog throws up routinely or excessively, consult a vet to find out why.

If you're concerned at all about the different ways your dog vomits, don't hesitate to call your vet for advice.

What Your Vet Will Do

Your vet will first want to determine what caused your dog to vomit or regurgitation and how it is affecting your dog. It will be helpful to give the vet a sample of the vomit for them to identify what foreign material might be in the sample if you can collect one. Whether it is regurgitation or vomiting, your vet will likely check first to make sure there is no obstruction in your dog's throat or digestive tract, such as a sock, bone or other foreign object.

If your vet determines the problem is frequent or sudden-onset regurgitation, writes Wag!, they will look for issues related to the esophagus or stomach. They might also check for accidental poisoning, cancer, gastric reflux or an enlarged esophagus.

If the problem is unexplained vomiting, the most immediate things to check for are infections and dehydration, says the American Kennel Club. Your vet will also likely evaluate your dog's stomach and small intestine and test for diseases like kidney failure, diabetes, liver disease and pancreatitis.

What You Can Do

If your vet determines what causes your dog to vomit and says that at-home care is sufficient for your pup, you'll want to know how to treat him to alleviate his symptoms. Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine has these care tips for your vomiting dog:

• Withhold food for a few hours, but make sure to consult your veterinarian on how long first. (However, the college notes, water should never be withheld from a pet with certain health conditions. It's a good idea to talk to your vet before withholding fluids from your dog.) With persistent vomiting, dehydration can be a real cause for concern, which is why fluids are so important.
• Once vomiting stops, introduce a bland, low-fat food, and feed your dog small amounts three to six times daily for a few days. Gradually increase the amount of food and decrease the feedings as you transition to the dog's normal food. If your vet asked you to withhold water, re-introduce it slowly in small amounts.
• If you determine your dog is throwing up because he is eating too fast, one solution might be a "puzzle feeder," which forces dogs to eat slower as they work to obtain food.
• You can also try switching your dog's food to a high-quality option, such as Hill's^® Science Diet^® Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food, which offers your dog easy digestion and balanced nutrition. Switch to his new food slowly, rather than all at once or you might exacerbate the problem.

A dog who throws up is not necessarily ill or in need of immediate veterinary attention. But if you see signs that make you believe something might seriously be wrong, call your vet to determine what the problem is and how to solve it. You'll soon be back to petting your pup rather than cleaning up his puke.