Dog Vomiting: Causes, When to Worry and What to Do

What it usually means

Vomiting is the forceful emptying of the stomach, and sometimes the upper small intestine. It usually follows signs of nausea such as restlessness, lip-licking, drooling and repeated swallowing, and you can see the belly muscles heave. That is different from regurgitation, where food comes back up passively, often soon after eating or drinking, with no warning and no effort. Regurgitation points more toward the esophagus, so tell your vet which one you saw.

Vomiting is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Dogs bring things up readily, so one episode in an otherwise healthy dog may mean little. Eating garbage, spoiled food, table scraps or a plant is a frequent, usually minor cause. Serious causes include poisons, a swallowed object that blocks the gut, infections, pancreatitis, and kidney or liver disease.

What else is happening matters as much as the vomiting itself. Vomiting more than once or twice a day, or alongside blood, belly pain, weakness, fever or dehydration, calls for a proper exam. So does vomiting that keeps coming back over a day or two, even if your dog seems fine in between.

Common causes

What you can do at home

If your dog vomited once and is still bright, interested in food and drinking normally, watching closely is reasonable. Note how often it happens, how your dog's energy looks, and anything they might have eaten, since your vet will ask about garbage, plants and poisons.

Keep fresh water available. To check for dehydration, feel the gums, which should be moist rather than tacky, and gently lift the skin over the shoulders. Skin that is slow to settle back is a warning sign. A dog who cannot keep water down needs a vet right away.

Ask your vet whether to hold the next meal and for how long. Published advice varies and depends on age, size and health, so puppies and tiny dogs should not be left to fast on their own. Once vomiting stops, a vet may suggest small bland meals and a slow return to normal food over several days. Start that only on their advice.

Do not give human stomach or anti-nausea medicine, or leftover pills, unless your vet says so. Never try to make your dog vomit at home. If vomiting is joined by diarrhea, dehydration comes faster, so call your vet. If a toxin is possible, call your vet or an emergency clinic, or in the US ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (fees may apply).

What happens at the vet

Expect questions first: when the vomiting began, how often it happens, what your dog could have swallowed, and whether there is diarrhea, pain or a change in appetite. A physical exam follows, including the belly and mouth, and often a rectal exam.

For a mild, short episode with no other signs, a vet may do little beyond ruling out parasites and infection, and treat the symptoms while the gut recovers. X-rays are often taken even then, because they can reveal a swallowed object. If your dog seems unwell or the vomiting persists, expect blood, urine and fecal tests too, and sometimes ultrasound. Long-running cases may lead to endoscopy, which lets the vet look inside the stomach and take tiny tissue samples, or to advanced imaging.

Treatment follows the cause. Dehydrated dogs, and dogs with conditions such as kidney or heart disease, may need fluids, sometimes through a drip in the hospital. Anti-nausea medicine may be prescribed once the vet has looked at the whole picture. If a swallowed object is blocking the gut, surgery may be needed. Many dogs start to improve within a couple of days. If yours has not improved in about 48 hours, vets often change the plan or run more tests.

Prevention

Not every episode can be prevented, but a few habits cut the odds. Keep garbage, compost and spoiled food out of reach, and skip table scraps. Store medicines, cleaning products, toxic plants and toxic foods where your dog cannot get to them. If your dog tends to swallow objects, supervise outings and put tempting items out of reach.

Change foods gradually rather than overnight. Keep vaccinations and parasite prevention up to date so infections and worms are less likely. Puppy vaccines against parvovirus start early, from around 6 to 8 weeks, so ask your vet for a schedule.

Finally, learn your dog's normal. Knowing how much your dog usually eats, drinks and moves makes it much easier to spot when a bout of vomiting is more than a one-off.