There are numerous reasons why your dog must be throwing up. It is nearly impossible to determine the actual cause. You will end up getting more worried than you should. It could be a regular thing, but they must partially rule out the chances of some underlying conditions. Therefore, in this article, we will try to answer your question – “Why is my dog throwing up?”
Dog Regurgitation Vs Vomiting
The information below helps you understand vomiting Vs. regurgitating:
#1 Regurgitation
It is the non-forceful ejection of food from the esophagus, or even the stomach, without feeling nauseous. Most of the time, it happens right after a meal. Your pet might try to eat the regurgitated food again. It does not involve abdominal muscles. Therefore, there is no heaving. It can respond to quickly ingested food, grass, or eating a considerable substance. The materials thrown out of the body may have a cylindrical form, owing to the tube-like structure of the esophagus.
#2 Vomiting
Vomiting is a forceful removal of the stomach and upper intestine contents. It involves heaving as it is destructive. Since they could partially digest the ejected content, the odor is usually sour and nasty. It could be yellow due to the presence of bile. Recurrent vomiting could indicate underlying problems. It is a succession of other minor symptoms like nausea, excessive licking of lips, swallowing hard, retching, or drooling. It makes the symptom list for other significant diseases but is not necessarily serious. Moreover, you can take vet recommended dog vomit medicine.
So the information that you see above let’s you understand the key difference between dog regurgitation vs vomiting.
What Does Dog’s Vomit Look Like?
Once confirmed that it is vomiting and not dog regurgitating food, you can classify the types of dog vomit by its smell, color, and form. Identification and classification of it can help you understand the possible causes. The color of the dog’s vomit changes with the subject to the ground.
#1 Green Vomit
It may be the result of an immense amount of grass intake. It can also indicate that they are throwing up bile. Though green vomits are not a matter of concern, a regular check on your dog may be helpful. If it continues to vomit and does not look fit, do pay a visit to the vet.
#2 Yellow Vomit
It usually happens middle of the night or early in the morning when your dog’s stomach is empty. It may contain bile but at a lesser volume than the green vomit.
#3 Clear Vomit
If your dog drinks plenty of water floating in its stomach, it may result in clear vomit.
#4 Dark Brown Vomit
However gross it may sound, this type of vomiting indicates either your dog has clogged intestines or has swallowed too much stool.
#5 Brown Vomit
It is usually the regurgitated food that never settles into the stomach. It can also signify that dog ate too quickly.
#6 Blood Vomit
It would help if you always took it seriously. Blood clots in the vomit can result from bleeding in the stomach or intestine.
#7 Mucus like Vomit
Mucky vomit that appears like mucus happens when a dog has a watery mouth, and it gets to the stomach.
#8 White Vomit
It is usually the result of acids forming inside the stomach. It is fizzy because of coming into contact with the air while puking.
#9 Black Vomit
Black color in vomit is rare, and it occurs when your dog has ingested dirt and sludge while playing around.
#10 Wormy Vomit
It is vomit that contains live worms and other infective organisms. These organisms are found in their stomach.
The texture or form of the vomit could mean something too. They are:
- Granular
It contains partially digested food, and the grains look like black powdered sugar. and It is not entirely liquid or chunky. It may have blood.
- Liquid
The texture seems slimy or frothy. It is purely liquid, and you will not find food particles. The color can vary between clear, cream, and yellow.
- Chunky
It is not something to worry about, as it is often associated with eating too fast. Dog throwing up undigested food because it has food particles or chunks visible. Since it is just carelessness, it mainly occurs soon after your dog eats the food. So, feed them with the best dog food and moreover, you can use home remedies for dog vomiting and upset stomach.
Why Is My Dog Throwing Up?
Why is my dog throwing up yellow? in most cases vomiting occurs when your dog vigorously dumps the stomach and intestine substances out of its mouth. Dog vomiting can occur for many reasons. Most of the time, dogs throw out when they eat a lot of grass, overeat, or because of some health issues. Some more reasons why a dog could be puking can include:
- Weakness
- Distress
- Dehydrators
- Indigestion
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Ingestion of foreign material
- Kidney, liver, or intestine infections
- Sudden change in diet
- Diseases like parvo or cancer
#1 Chronic Vomiting
It occurs over a long period and may contain blood. Some of the common reasons for chronic vomiting are dehydration, anxiety, fever, depression, pain, or loss of weight. Chronic vomiting is a matter of concern because they are widespread and sometimes long-term. Chronic vomiting can cause various diseases, including cancer, parvo, uterine infections, canine problems, or bladder problems.
#2 Acute Vomiting
They don’t sustain for extended periods; they usually end in 3 to 5 days. There are various possible causes for acute vomiting; some of the most reasons for dog throwing up include:
- Food poisoning
- Intoxication
- Stomachic problems
- Intestinal problems
- Liver problems
- Drug linked problems
Common Symptoms and the Causes
- Frequently drinking water, decrease in weight, recurrent urination – Diabetes or kidney failure.
- If your dog vomits undigested or partially processed food after 6-8 hours – Gastric problem.
- The fecal odor from vomit is – Small intestine problem
- Bloody vomit – Gastric ulcer.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Before treating your dog, veterinarians will conduct several tests to ensure that their hunch about the cause of vomiting is correct. They will also ask you about your dog’s daily routine and whether they have any access to garbage or dangerous substances. Besides this, you will be asked to provide a detailed profile of your dog’s history, current vomiting frequency, and medication record. The standard diagnostic tests are:
- Blood work
- X-ray
- Urine test
- Endoscopic evaluations/ fecal analysis
Common dog vomiting treatments to prevent further vomiting or to cure it completely are:
- Bland or easily processable and digestible diet
- The injection is the most effective solution.
- Professionals may suggest fluid therapy to correct dehydration.
- Antiemetic medications – Cerenia (mostly)
- Omeprazole or Famotidine are common medicines to stop vomiting at home. These drugs control acid reflux; expert advice is a must.
- Some severe conditions may demand hospitalization or surgery.
When to Visit Vet?
If you are a novice dog owner, you must be freaked out why do dogs throw up. But it is not uncommon for dogs to overeat or chew grass and throw up later. You can be relieved if no other symptoms follow, as your dog is wonderful. Visit a veterinarian without wasting time in the following cases:
- If you are a puppy owner, and you are concerned about why is my puppy throwing up, then immediately contact a vet before other symptoms appear. Puppies get vaccinations for various things and lose intrinsic immunity after six weeks. They should be taken to a professional for a check-up because vomiting could mean something.
- If your dog is old, do not wait and monitor.
- Dry heaving is a ubiquitous sign of bloat and can be fatal.
- When the dog urinates less or has an enlarged stomach, it is an excellent time to visit an expert.
- If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned in the article above, contact a vet immediately.
Conclusion
As a caring pet parent, ensure that you have correct information about your dog’s living conditions. If you are unaware of the lifestyle, your pet may be scavenging garbage or eating foreign objects. They can show signs of poor health by vomiting and showing other symptoms. Proper care and attention are required to guarantee the well-being of your dog.