Introduction
Vomiting is a clinical sign of something going wrong inside your pet; it is not a diagnosis or disorder in and of itself. Vomiting is common in companion animals and is a central nervous system reflex. Vomiting is not the same as regurgitation, which is the passive, retrograde expulsion of undigested food or fluid from the esophagus into the oral or nasal cavities. Vomiting, unlike regurgitation, requires abdominal effort, usually described as “retching” immediately prior to “throwing up.”
Vomiting can be caused by a number of things, including those of the gastrointestinal system, systemic or metabolic diseases and toxicities, and others. Vomiting can cause mild to serious consequences such as dehydration/volume depletion, electrolyte disturbances, inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis), aspiration pneumonia and malnutrition. Dogs may vomit after eating rancid food, poisonous plants or other substances. They may vomit because of an underlying medical condition or food or other allergies. While occasional vomiting can be normal, frequent bouts of vomiting should be assessed by a veterinarian.
Causes of Vomiting in Dogs
Vomiting often is preceded by nausea (in dogs, this can be indicated by excess salivation, licking of lips and swallowing), retching and abdominal contractions. Vomiting of undigested or partially digested food more than 12 hours after it was eaten suggests that there is some delay in the normal emptying of stomach contents. Chronic vomiting can show up as either intermittent episodes of vomiting that have not responded to treatment, or persistent vomiting of long duration with variable frequency.
Dogs will often experience occasional episodes of vomiting, which are normal. In most cases, the vomiting is the result of dietary indiscretion, which means that the dog has eaten something that it shouldn’t have eaten. Obviously, it is not uncommon for dogs to get “garbage gut,” which is basically an upset stomach from getting into the trash and eating spoiled or excess food. They also frequently will vomit if they eat rotten meat or if they are given table scraps that contain abundant spices and sauces that they aren’t used to.
If a dog is vomiting on a weekly or even daily basis, or if the dog is unable to hold down food or water, then a more serious condition may be present. Vomiting which is occasional but continues over a long period of time may be related to a food allergy. In rare cases, a physiological problem in the digestive tract can cause vomiting. Repeated vomiting, especially if accompanied by profuse diarrhea, can suggest a number of possible problems, including but not limited to: gastric disease (gastritis, parasites, foreign body, obstruction, ulceration, cancer, gastric dilatation and volvulous (bloat), hiatal hernia, motility disorders, pyloric stenosis), small intestinal disease (parasites, inflammatory bowel disease, foreign body, bacterial overgrowth, cancer, viral infection, intussusception), large intestinal disease (colitis, parasites, obstruction), dietary conditions (indiscretion, intolerance, allergy, pancreatitis), adverse drug reactions, diseases not primarily of the gastrointestinal tract (peritonitis, liver disease, cancer, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypoadrenocorticism, septicemia, pyometra), toxins (any number of inorganic, organic or plant toxins), neurologic disease (epilepsy, tumor, meningitis), among others. This is not an exhaustive list of the possible causes of recurrent vomiting, but it indicates the diversity of causes of vomiting. If your dog suddenly begins to vomit repeatedly and for no apparent reason, poisoning should be high on your list of differentials and you should get to your veterinarian as soon as you can. Some signs of poisoning - such as seizures, lack of coordination, weakness and diarrhea - may not appear until hours after vomiting begins.
While occasional vomiting does not necessarily indicate a health problem, it is best to have your dog examined by a veterinarian if you do not know why your dog is vomiting, or if the incidence or severity of vomiting increases.