- VEG
- Mar 27
- 6 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
It’s not a pleasant subject, but dog vomiting is something that virtually every pet parent has to deal with. You know how it goes–either you’re walking into the kitchen and you—squish–step in a puddle of partially digested food, or your dog starts heaving in the middle of the night, startling you from sleep.
Regardless of how it happens, it can be alarming to see your pet suddenly vomiting, especially if they seemed perfectly fine just moments ago. You’ll probably have lots of questions, such as, “Is it serious?” and “What should I do?” We can help you answer these and other questions so you’ll know how to respond in the event of a dog vomiting episode. If you need immediate care for your dog, call VEG ER for Pets animal hospital or come in anytime.
Why do dogs throw up?
It’s amazing what our pets can ingest (and safely pass later), but there are just as many things out there that can cause vomiting. Vomiting can be due to minor stomach upset or indicate something more serious, like pancreatitis.
Before we list reasons why dogs throw up, it’s important to identify whether your dog is vomiting or regurgitating.
What regurgitation looks like in dogs
A dog may regurgitate if they ate too quickly. You’ll identify a dog’s regurgitation by the way they lower their head and bring up undigested food. Absent are the violent contractions that dogs make when vomiting. With regurgitation, there will be little to no bile, as the digestive process likely hasn’t yet begun before they bring up the food.
If your dog is vomiting more than once or repeatedly over a few days, call VEG and speak with a vet. Now, let’s look at some reasons dogs vomit.
Common reasons dogs throw up
They’ve eaten fatty foods, table scraps or garbage. Here is a full list of human foods your dog should never eat.
Ingesting bones, sticks, hair, stones, rubber balls, socks, plastic, hair ties, and other foreign objects.
Roundworms and other intestinal parasites
Diseases such as parvovirus and distemper
The ingestion of toxins or poisons, including antifreeze, rat poison, pesticides, and household drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen
Motion sickness (pets can get car sick, too!)
Stress or anxiety, too much excitement
When dog vomiting requires a visit to the vet
If your dog vomits, there is a chance it is not an emergency. However, there are cases where it can be, and that’s when you need to take action.
Here are some scenarios in which dog vomit can signify a more serious health problem:
There are other symptoms present
If your dog’s vomiting is accompanied by unusual behavior, listlessness, diarrhea, or a lack of appetite, we recommend calling your veterinarian or emergency vet right away.
It’s amazing what our pets can ingest (and safely pass later), but there are just as many things out there that can cause vomiting. Some of the more common culprits include:
Your dog is vomiting yellow
“Why is my dog vomiting yellow?” Seeing your pet vomiting yellow can be alarming; this common yellow color is caused by bile. Bile's purpose is to break down fats and oils so your pup can absorb nutrients. If vomited, bile can appear yellow, especially if mixed with stomach acid.
If vomiting bile continues, your dog refuses food, is extremely lethargic or in pain this can point to an intestinal blockage or other emergency. Head to VEG immediately.
You'll need to take your dog to an emergency vet to check for Bilious Vomiting Syndrome, or other serious reasons, like a bacterial infection or parasites.
Your dog vomiting white foam?
Acid reflux is not just a human headache, dogs can experience it too. If your dog is vomiting white foam but otherwise acting like themselves, acid reflux is likely the culprit. But repeatedly vomiting foam, pain, or a distended abdomen can move this from minor upset to a medical emergency and you should visit a VEG animal hospital immediately.
There is blood in your pet’s vomit
Blood in your dog’s vomit isn’t always red–if the blood is dried, it will look more like coffee grounds. Blood in your dog’s vomit could indicate a gastric ulcer or the presence of a foreign object with sharp edges, like a toy or a bone. This could require emergency attention, so we recommend you call your nearest VEG right away.
The vomiting won’t stop
If your dog is throwing up multiple times or is vomiting continuously, don’t hesitate to call the nearest VEG location (for after-hours emergency care) or your dog’s regular veterinarian.
Dog throwing up? What an emergency veterinarian can do to help
When you consult with one of our emergency veterinarians, we’ll need to do several things:
Find the cause of the vomiting
Before we can proceed with treatment, we need to perform an examination of your dog and determine what exactly is causing them to vomit. If possible, collect a small sample of your dog’s vomit and place it in a plastic bag so we can study it for clues.
Check for a blockage in your pet’s throat or digestive tract
We’ll also need to check your dog to confirm that they do not have a foreign object blocking their airway or digestive tract. If there is an obstruction, we’ll have to remove it as soon (and as safely) as possible. This may require surgery.
Check for an infection or signs of dehydration
An exam of your pet allows us to look for signs of infection or dehydration. This, plus additional testing, can alert us to signs of illness that may be tied to your dog’s vomiting.
Test for kidney and liver disease, diabetes, and pancreatitis
To screen your pet for diseases including diabetes, pancreatitis, and liver and kidney failure, we’ll need to examine their stomach and small intestine and run blood tests.
Call or visit VEG emergency vet hospital—always open to help
Dog vomiting is not always a sign of serious illness requiring a trip to the emergency vet.
However, it helps to understand the difference between regurgitation and vomiting, and to be able to tell whether your pet’s vomiting is a one-time occurrence or an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed with prompt treatment.
Be sure to contact your nearest VEG location if you suspect something serious, and don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions! You’ll always be able to speak directly with a qualified emergency vet.
Frequently asked questions about vomiting in dogs
Why is my dog puking up white foam?
If your dog's vomit appears white and frothy, it can be due to a variety of reasons, from gastritis to bloat to pancreatitis. Since white foam can be a serious problem, or just mild stomach irritation, it's best to have it checked by an emergency vet.
Why is my dog throwing up yellow bile
Yellow bile in dog's vomit usually indicates that their stomach has been empty for a while and stomach acid has irritated the lining of their stomach. Often, liver bile mixes with the stomach acid before expelling the vomit.
Simply from not eating for while, like refusal to eat or skipping meals, can cause Bilious Vomiting Syndrome, resulting in yellow bile. In some cases, yellow bile can indicate serious illness, like a bacterial infection or parasites.
Why is my dog throwing up undigested food?
If food is undigested, it's called regurgitation, rather than vomiting. Regurgition in dogs can be caused by a few things. Does your dog wolf down food? Eating too quickly commonly results in immediate regurgitation. Other causes include a change in their diet or eating while stressed.
Regurgitation can also occur for more serious reasons, requiring immediate vet care. For example, ingestion of a foreign object can cause an obstruction, blocking any food consumed. Just as serious, regurgitation can be caused by megaesophagus, a serious condition requiring medical treatment and care.
Why does my dog throw up after drinking water?
Dogs commonly regurgitate if they've lapped up water too quickly. Ingestion of air while drinking can cause dogs to regurgitate. If dog vomits after drinking water, it could be due to drinking too much after exercise. This overhydration is due to a dog drinking more water than their kidneys can hold. Overhydration also leads to a reduction in sodium, which can lead to seizure and other symptoms.
How do I stop my dog from throwing up?
First, it's important to get to the bottom of why your dog is throwing up. You'll want to bring your dog in for immediate vet care if there is blood in their vomit, if they're throwing up frequently, have diarrhea, have a swollen stomach, or vomiting accompanies other symptoms.
Be sure to note the frequency and consistency of your dog's vomit. This helps our vet determine the cause.
What home remedy can I give my dog for vomiting
After determining from the vet that you can treat your dog at home for vomiting, a vet will tell you how to move forward in your dog's care. Depending on the cause of vomiting, at-home treatment may include withholding a meal; providing hydration or hydration aids; and slowly introducing food.
