How to treat puppy vomiting

When little Fido is throwing up it can be pretty scary -for both of you - and to treat puppy vomiting effectively you need to figure out what`s causing the problem.

It`s actually fairly common in puppies because they tend to try and eat anything, and everything, that they can get into their mouths... a recipe for an upset tummy for sure.

But there are also some very serious dog illnesses which include vomiting among the early, and most common, symptoms.

So, how do you know what`s at the root of the problem, and what actionto take?

Check out the information on this page to find out.....

When Vomiting Might Be Serious...

Ifyour puppy is showing any of the following types of behaviors or symptoms andis vomiting, he could be in big trouble.

Pups showing any of these symptoms need professional help.. right away!

• Repeated, forceful vomiting
  ifyour puppy has vomited several times over a period of 3 - 4 hours, hasemptied his tummy, and continues to vomit even though he hasn`t hadanything to eat or drink (or simply can`t keep anything down), he needshelp immediately. Repeated vomiting can cause serious dehydration, andeven if the cause of the vomiting turns out to be nothing to worryabout, the dehydration alone is a significant health risk.


• Also has diarrhea or other symptoms
  puppy vomiting that is accompanied by diarrhea, lethargy, loss ofappetite, panting, pacing or other signs of distress or illness needs tobe evaluated by a veterinarian immediately. It could be due topoisoning, a parasitic illness such as giardia, or a serious illnesssuch as Parvo or something similar. Again, dehydration is a big concern,as are complications or progression of the disease/toxin


• Blood in the vomit
  blood in your puppys` vomit could indicate significantirritation/inflammation of the esophagus, stomach ulcers or a bleedingdisorder of some sort. The blood can be bright red, or may be dark andlook sort of like coffee grounds. Seek help right away


• Evidence of foreign objects in vomit
  if you see pieces of things (non-food items) that your dog has ingested(such as string, plastic, cloth etc.) in his vomit, get him to the vetsoffice. If he is `retching` or `dry heaving`, strains to poop but isn`table to pass anything, or seems distressed in any way this could be anemergency


• Has a distended belly and seems distressed
  these can be symptoms of Bloat (also sometimes called Torsion), andthis condition is most common in large and giant breed puppies/dogs.It`s caused when the stomach fills too rapidly and literally twists intoan abnormal position. This causes repeated vomiting and/or retching,drooling, a swollen belly, stress and anxiety that progresses rapidly(often seen as panting, drooling and extreme restlessness). This is another emergency situation. If you even thinkyour dog could be suffering from bloat, don`t wait, get him to aveterinarian right away. Without prompt veterinary attention he couldeasily go into shock and die quickly and painfully. If you own a largeor giant breed puppy, check out my interview with The Great Dane Lady, where she discusses bloat in detail.

Thesort of acute puppy vomiting ALWAYS needs to be evaluatedby a vet quickly, to avoid potentially serious complications orconsequences.

Never try to treat puppy vomiting like this at home or by yourself. You need to get your little one to a veterinarian.

When You May Be Able To Treat Puppy Vomiting Yourself...

There are times, when you can often `wait and see` whether or not your puppy`s vomiting settles down, or you can try to treat him at home.

If your pup vomits once or twice, but isn`t showing any other symptoms and he doesn`t act or appear to be sick (ie he`s active, playful and will eat and drink without problems) then it may be something minor that`s causing him to throw up.

Video: Canine Diseases & Treatment : First Aid for Dog Vomiting

Inthis situation, you might be able to figure out what`s causing the problem and eithertreat it yourself, or at the very least take a `wait and see` attitudefor 24 hours or so, and give it a chance to clear up on it`s own.

BUT if you`re worried, or your puppy is acting unwell, don`t take chances. Get him to your vet right away!

Here are some things that might cause a temporary tummy upset in puppies, and tips on treating a puppy who is throwing up.

• Eating forbidden `stuff`
  puppy vomiting due to eating something he shouldn`t have (BUT NOTSOMETHING THAT IS TOXIC) usually causes your pup to look pretty sorryfor himself, and to be a bit quieter or less energetic than normal. It`spretty self-limiting though, and usually lasts 24 hours or so. He mayalso have a little diarrhea as well, but will otherwise seem fairlynormal. No real lethargy, or distress, and will drink water and be ableto keep it down. He will need to drink plenty to combat any dehydrationcaused by the vomiting. In this situation, you can usually afford towait 24 hours to see if he improves. However, if he doesn`t seem betterthe next day, or gets worse at any time, you need to have him examinedby your veterinarian.

  If Fido has ingested something toxic though he might be in real trouble, even if he seems okay right now. There are lots of common foods and products that are deadly for dogs, check out my Foods Poisonous To Dogs page to learn which ones you need to be on the lookout for.



• Sudden change in diet
  (anew puppy food, some table scraps, or different treats and so on) cancause tummy upset. Puppy vomiting that your sure is a result of thissort of dietary change, usually works itself out within a couple ofdays. Again, you shouldn`t see any other signs of illness in your puppy(other than maybe a little diarrhea), and he should seem happy, healthyand active otherwise. When this happens you can again usually give it aday or so, and see if there is improvement. Make sure he drinks plentyof water too. If he doesn`t improve, or gets worse, take himto your veterinarian for evaluation. You can usually avoid this sort oftummy upset by making any dietary changes gradually. If you need tochange his brand of food for example, make the transition over a periodof about a week or so, gradually introducing the new and phasing out theold. And don`t suddenly start giving him `extras` such as bones, fancytreats, or `edible chew toys`, introduce them a little at a time.


• Worms
  abad case of worms can cause puppy vomiting, and the vomit might evencontain the worms themselves! If your puppy has been given a dewormingmedicine, then you can probably wait a day and see if it gets better,but if he hasn`t been dewormed yet, see a vet right away.


• Medications
  some medications can have side effects, including making your pup feel nauseous, or actually make him throw up . The mostcommon `culprits` are worm medications, anti-biotics, certainpainkillers, drugs used to treat heart problems or Cushings` disease,high doses of steroids, and chemotherapy. If this happens, talk to yourveterinarian. Sometimes you can give certain drugs with food which helpsto offset the nausea effect, or change to another medicine. In manycases, the vomiting wears off as your dogs` body adjusts to themedication.
• A Too-Empty Tummythis might sound strange, but puppies often vomit a small amount of yellow or green foam or fluid, especially first thing in the morning. This is usually caused by a build-up of stomach acid overnight, due to his tummy being empty and the acid having nothing to `work on`. You can often treat puppy vomiting like this by giving your pup a handful of kibble, or a few plain dog biscuits about an hour before bedtime.

Video: How to treat vomiting in dog pt 3

Treating Chronic Vomiting In Puppies Or Dogs

If your puppy or older dog experiences chronic vomiting (ie he vomits on a regular basis,maybe once a day or several times a week), but doesn`t seem to beacutely unwell, have him seen by your veterinarian as soon as you can, but it isn`tnecessarily an emergency.

Conditions such as canine acid refluxdisease (can cause a puppy to vomits a yellow orgreenish liquid especially in the morning), irritable bowel syndrome, ongoing liver disease,hormonal imbalances or congenital diseases can all be at the root of theproblem.

If your puppy is throwing up, never give him over-the-counter or human medicines without first consulting your veterinarian.

Somehuman medications are toxic to dogs, and even when the medication isokay to use, it`s important to get the dosage exactly right.

Only yourveterinarian can advise you on this, so treat a puppy/dog who is vomiting on a regular basis (even if he seems fine otherwise) by getting him in for a check up.

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