Vomiting in dogs can be caused by a variety of medical problems. Something as innocent as a diet change, or as severe as an intestinal torsion may be the route of your dogs vomiting. By understanding the common causes of vomiting, you can be prepared to better address your pets health needs, and seek veterinary attention if you suspect a serious medical problem might be the cause.
An Occasional Episode An occasional episode of vomiting in dogs is not necessarily a sign of a serious illness. In its simplest form, vomiting is nature’s way of ridding the body of something that does not belong. This may be a foreign object (like a chewed up toy, slipper, etc), a treat that doesn’t sit well, or any other number of things that dogs are notorious for getting into.
Stomach Upsets Stomach upsets are the most common cause of a single episode of vomiting in dogs. Changing the type of food your dog eats suddenly, feeding table scraps or even feeding treats can cause an upset stomach, leading to diarrhea or vomiting.
In many cases, vomiting caused by food-related stomach upsets can be treated at home, so long as the vomiting (and/or diarrhea) is not severe or repeated, and the dog continues to act normally.
The best treatment for stomach upsets is to withhold food from the dog for 24 hours, allowing the digestive system a break. Be sure to encourage water consumption during this time. If the dog appears back to normal after food has been withheld, you can offer small amounts of a bland diet, such as chicken and rice, in small amounts. If the dog tolerates the reintroduction of food without any further stomach upsets, gradually introduce his regular food back into his diet.
We Can Help! Use of Vitality Science’s Pet Flora can help to prevent and treat stomach upsets and episodes of vomiting in dogs. Packed with a unique form of soil-based probiotic organisms, the ingredients in Pet Flora help to balance and maintain the vital “good bacteria” in the gut that directly impacts your pets’ health and his ability to digest his food properly. By administering Pet Flora at the first sign of an intestinal upset, you can help to minimize and treat the cause of the vomiting, and assist your pet in more rapidly recovering from his illness.
Parasite Infections Parasite infections can cause vomiting in dogs, especially in young puppies that are especially susceptible due to immature immune systems.
Roundworms are extremely common in puppies, transmitted through the milk of infected mothers. Often visible in the stool appearing white and spaghetti-like, roundworms cause a pot-bellied appearance and can cause intestinal obstructions, pneumonia and even death if left untreated.
Giardia and coccidia are both single-celled organisms that live in the intestine of affected dogs. Giardia is especially common in kennels and dog parks, as it is easily transmitted from dog to dog via infected water. Diarrhea and vomiting are the most common symptoms of Giardia and Coccidia, though many pets can carry the parasite and not show any symptoms.
Fecal screening through your veterinarian can detect the presence of parasites in your dog. After administering the proper dewormer to your pet per your veterinarians instructions, use of Vitality Science Herbal Anti-Inflammatory can help to re-balance and disinfect the gastro-intestinal tract of your dog, helping it recover and return to normal functions.
Parasite infections can seriously inhibit your pets ability to absorb nutrients from his food, as well as destroy the natural bacteria that aids in digestion of food. After treatment for parasites, use of Pet Flora can restore the good bacteria in your dogs intestines, improving digestion and helping the body utilize the full extent of the nutrients in your dogs food.
Unfortunately, not all episodes of vomiting are created equal- sudden, repeated episodes of vomiting can be a sign of a serious medical emergency for your dog.
While dietary indiscretion in dogs (such as eating things out of the garbage, yard, or eating foreign objects) is often easily cured by withholding food and waiting for the offending substance or item to pass, any dog that vomits repeatedly, or becomes lethargic or painful should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
When foreign objects have been ingested, an intestinal blockage is a very real possibility, as the object can easily become lodged in the progressively smaller intestinal tract. An intestinal blockage is an emergency situation, causing severe abdominal pain, bloating and repeated, and frantic projectile vomiting. If allowed to go untreated, the intestines surrounding the blockage will begin to die, leading to a potentially deadly infection.
If an intestinal blockage is suspected, your veterinarian may take a radiograph (X-ray) to evaluate the situation. In most cases, surgery is necessary to remove the object and treat the surrounding intestines.
A gastric dialation-volvulus, also known as a bloat or torsion, is an extremely serious, life threatening condition. Most common to large breed dogs, bloat can occur when a large breed dog is fed a large meal, especially if he eats rapidly. While the exact cause is unknown, the distended, full stomach can become twisted, closing off the esophagus, leaving the dog unable to expel gas or food in the stomach by vomiting or belching. Signs of bloat include a rapidly distending abdomen, pain, and repeated, unproductive attempts to vomit.
Bloat is a live-threatening situation that can affect many of the body’s major organs. Immediate veterinary attention is required to diagnose the condition, help stabilize your dog and attempt to fix the torsion. In some cases a decompression of the stomach may be possible without surgery- in others, surgery may be required to untwist the stomach and save your dogs life.
The best way to prevent bloat in dogs is by feeding smaller meals throughout the day to prevent gastric dilatation. Waiting at least 2 hours after a meal to exercise your dog can also help to prevent the full stomach from twisting, causing a torsion.
Dogs that vomit more than once a week, but otherwise appear healthy, may be suffering from chronic vomiting. Vomiting frequently can lead to poor digestion and absorption of nutrients, and dogs may have a low energy level, poor hair coat, and be finicky eaters.
In some cases, chronic vomiting may be caused by food sensitivities and allergies, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Both of these conditions may have their routes in genetics, immune system and dietary management, with the exact causes often unknown. Treatment is aimed at removing food items that appear to cause sensitivities and inflammation, and try to reverse the damage done to the intestinal tract.
Vitality Science has had great success in treating dogs with chronic vomiting and inflammatory bowel disease with Canine Comfort, a carefully crafted combination of soil-based probiotic organisms, L-Glutamine to heal the intestinal lining, digestive enzymes several other ingredients to help soothe and heal the intestinal tract.
Once the symptoms of IBD are under control, Super Food Supplement can be added to the food to help promote a healthy immune system and allow your dog to get the maximum benefit from the nutrients in his food. |
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