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Why is My Dog Vomiting? | Northridge Animal Medical Center
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Why is My Dog Vomiting?

Why is My Dog Vomiting?

Cleaning up vomit is a fact of life if you're lucky enough to have a dog in your life. Although all dogs vomit from time to time, it's important to distinguish between simple upset stomachs and more serious conditions that can cause vomiting.

The Difference Between Regurgitation and Vomiting

Some people use "regurgitation" and "vomiting" interchangeably, but the words don't mean the same thing. Vomiting occurs when digested food is forcefully expelled from your dog's stomach. Regurgitated food never makes it the stomach. It becomes lodged in the esophagus until your dog manages to deposit it on your kitchen floor. You can often tell whether vomiting or regurgitation has occurred by taking a close look at the contents of your dog's digestive system. If the material is liquid, it's vomit. If it's fairly solid and composed of recognizable food, regurgitation has occurred.

What Causes Vomiting and Regurgitation?

Vomiting can be caused by:

  • Sampling the Trash. Eating foods found in the trash or even eating non-food items can cause vomiting.
  • Food Changes. Have you recently changed the food you feed your pet? New foods may upset your pet's stomach and cause vomiting.
  • Eating Chocolate. Chocolate contains theobromine, a substance that can cause death if your dog eats enough of it. Eating very small amounts of chocolate may only cause vomiting and diarrhea. If your dog eats any amount of chocolate, call our office for instructions.
  • Ingesting Poisons. Poisons and toxins found in lawn care products, pesticides and other products can cause vomiting.
  • Diseases and Illnesses. Your dog may vomit if he or she has a viral illness, bacterial infection, colitis, intestinal parasites, liver or kidney failure, pancreatitis or other conditions or diseases. Side effects from medications may also cause vomiting.
  • Obstructions: Vomiting can be a sign that your dog has an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract. Blockages can be caused by foreign objects, tumors, hernias, pyloric stenosis and other conditions.
  • Bloat. If your dog has bloat, he or she may try to vomit, but may not be successful. Bloat is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the stomach twists and fills with gas. If the condition isn't diagnosed and treated quickly, breathing difficulties, stomach rupture or death can occur.
  • Heatstroke. Heatstroke can cause vomiting, in addition to panting, drooling, reddened gums and low urine production. Pouring water over your pet can help, as long as the water is cool, not cold. After you cool down your pet, you'll need to take him or her to the veterinarian to make sure that there are no lasting effects from heatstroke.

Regurgitation may be caused by:

  • Megaesophagus. The condition occurs when the esophagus can't push food into the stomach because it's unable to contract normally. Megaesophagus can be present from birth or can be caused by a foreign object or certain diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, hypothyroidism or myasthenia gravis.
  • Other Causes. Regurgitation can also occur if your dog has a throat abnormality, a disease that affects the muscles or nerves in the throat or esophagus, cancer or a hiatal hernia.

When Should I Be Concerned About Vomiting?

Call the veterinarian if your dog is vomiting and you know or suspect he or she has eaten chocolate, ingested a poison or swallowed a foreign object. It's also important to call if your dog:

  • Can't stop vomiting
  • Vomits every week or every day
  • Vomits blood
  • Has seizures in addition to vomiting
  • Tries to vomit but can't
  • Vomits and also has bloody diarrhea
  • Vomits and displays other signs of illness, such as fever, weakness lack of appetite, weight loss and lethargy

How is Vomiting Treated?

Treatment for vomiting is based on the cause. Removing foreign objects, treating accidental poisoning or treating underlying diseases can be helpful. Vomiting, regardless of the cause, may cause dehydration. During your pet's visit, he or she may give intravenous fluids to combat the effects of dehydration.

The sudden onset of severe vomiting or vomiting that doesn't go away is always a reason for concern. If your dog displays any of the signs mentioned above, call our office as soon as possible.

Sources:

American Kennel Club: Dog Vomiting, 3/28/17 http://www.akc.org/content/health/articles/dog-vomiting-causes-diagnosis-and-treatment/

PetMD: Dog Vomiting – Why Is My Dog Throwing Up? https://www.petmd.com/dog/emergency/common-emergencies/e_dg_vomiting?page=2

Dogtime: Possible Reasons for Dog Vomiting http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/5478-reasons-dog-vomiting-faq-jenna-stregowski

Healthy Pets: Megaesophagus – The Regurgitation Disease, 10/29/12 https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/10/29/megaesophagus-disorder.aspx

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  • Wednesday 9:00am 6:00pm
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Dear NAMC Family:

With COVID-19 in the forefront of everyone's minds, we would like to update you on measures that we are taking to help keep us all (two-legged and four-legged) healthy and cared for.

As safety is our top priority, Northridge Animal Medical Center is strongly recommending that clients not attend their pets' appointments and adhere to our new Drop-Off Policy.

For drop-off, please call us as you are arriving in our rear parking lot and an attendant will take your pet in for you. For pick-up, please arrive five minutes prior to the end of your pet's appointment or at the time specified by our team, pick up at our rear entrance and an attendant will bring your pet to your car. Of course you may also wait for us to finish our evaluation and call you with our findings and treatment plans.

Our phone number is (818) 886-1216.

Please specify your concerns and share updates about your pet on the Drop-Off Form provided. You can also email us with your pet’s concerns. Updates following treatment will be emailed to you or shared over the phone. We also may email you images or videos as a visual aid when needed or required.

In addition to the above logistical changes, we have already implemented enhanced sanitation measures within the building, including:

  • Additional hand sanitizing stations throughout facility
  • Disinfection of facility several times daily
  • Educating employees on best practices to avoid spread of pathogens

COVID-19 IS NOT TRANSMITTED THROUGH PETS, SO LET'S KEEP GIVING THEM LOVE AND KEEPING THEM HEALTHY.

We appreciate you so much. Thank you for bearing with us as we move forward.

Lots of well wishes,

Dr. Frank Marco and the Northridge Animal Medical Center Team