Types Of Vomiting In Dogs: What To Watch For
Vomiting in dogs can be as worrisome for owners as it is unpleasant for pets. Clearly, vomiting in dogs can have many different causes and can indicate a wide variety of conditions. Read on to learn more about this common problem.
Dogs vomit for many reasons. Some of them are serious, while others are not cause for concern. Thus, learning to tell the difference can be tricky, but it is essential to ensure that you seek veterinary attention as soon as necessary.
Differences between vomiting and regurgitation
Vomit may contain yellow bile or partially digested food: it usually smells sour, due to heartburn. Also, vomiting can occur hours after eating. The act of vomiting involves gagging with obvious involvement of the abdominal muscles.
On the other hand, in cases of regurgitation, the expulsion of undigested food occurs smoothly: it is a passive act, without gagging. It usually occurs shortly after eating and the act requires no obvious effort.
Reasons why dogs vomit
While dogs vomit for many reasons, gastrointestinal problems are perhaps one of the most common reasons for vomiting. These problems can include:
- Infections by viruses, bacteria or parasites.
- Gastritis or an upset stomach from having eaten garbage, foreign bodies or food in bad condition, as well as by ingestion of toxic plants or grass.
- Bad habits such as eating too fast, exercising after eating, or sudden change in diet.
Other pathologies that can occur with vomiting in dogs
Vomiting can also be a sign that something more serious is going on. For example, vomiting can be a secondary reaction in inflammatory bowel disease, kidney, liver or pancreatic conditions, as well as intestinal cancer.
It should be noted that vomiting can also indicate a neurological problem, such as a middle ear problem, a brain tumor, or even meningitis.
There may even be psychological causes, such as extreme fear or anxiety, similar to how it happens in a person.
The consistency of vomiting in dogs
By observing the vomit we can see its consistency. In the case of being able to distinguish what the pet has consumed, it is said that it has vomited undigested food. In case of not distinguishing the content, and if it is creamy, it is said to be granular. Additionally, vomit can be mostly watery or liquid.
- Vomiting from undigested food : this case commonly occurs due to sudden changes in diet, excessive eating, allergies or intolerance to components of the diet, such as excess fatty components. In these cases it is recommended to monitor the diet.
- Granular vomit : This consistency suggests that there was digestion and that the food remained in the stomach for a time before being vomited. It is especially important to watch for blood.
The color of vomiting in dogs
- Yellow vomit: If the vomit consists of a yellowish liquid, it may be due to increased production of bile or stomach acids. In this case it is recommended to offer smaller portions of food and to do it more frequently during the day.
- If it’s white foam vomit : If your dog is expelling white foam from his mouth, this may not really be vomit, but rather expectorated, like when we cough up phlegm. White foamy sputum may indicate kennel cough.
- Vomiting with blood (red or blackened) – This can be a serious condition. It is recommended to go to the veterinary consultation without delay
How liquid vomit is different
In general, yellow or clear liquid vomit is a sign of a completely different medical problem that has no connection to the food that was eaten.
Often, the fluid that occurs in vomiting comes from conditions in organs such as the kidney, liver, pancreas or severe gastritis. It requires medical attention.
