Dog vomiting is a pretty common problem, but this fact does not mean that there isn’t something wrong. Vomiting is a natural reaction from the stomach to force out something that doesn’t agree with it.
Usually when a dog vomits, it is an isolated episode that is caused by something the dog ate. However, there are a few other causes of vomiting, so it is important to recognize the signs of when something is wrong.
Types of Vomiting
When it comes to dog health, vomiting can be one of two different types.Acute vomiting is usually a one-time episode, but chronic vomiting happens at least once a week for a while.
Acute vomiting usually has a sudden cause that is remedied easily by vomiting, while chronic vomiting has an underlying cause that keeps coming back and causing the dog to vomit.
In most cases, one episode of vomiting in dogs is no cause for concern, but when it becomes chronically, especially if it happens several times in one week, then it is time to see the veterinarian.
If the dog has several episodes of sudden, repeated vomiting, then it is an emergency.
Causes of Dog Vomiting
In most cases, vomiting dogs are simply being affected by something they ate. After all, we all know how dogs like to get in the trash or steal a scrap of food off our plates.
Dogs will eat almost anything, including some things that are not edible at all, and often the stomach’s reaction is to vomit.
Additionally, dogs can be prone to dog food allergies or intolerances, and often vomiting is the only way for the animal’s body to get rid of the food that doesn’t agree with it.
However, when youre talking about dog health, vomiting can be a sign of many different things.
Other than food, other causes of vomiting include parasites, kidney or liver problems, and intestinal obstructions.
Parasites are probably the second most common cause of vomiting, and they are usually an easy fix through a trip to the vet.
The veterinarian will likely perform several different tests to determine the exact cause of the vomiting before he recommends treatment. He will also ask if you noticed any other symptoms, which can provide the key to your dog’s health problem.
Dog Health: Vomit Treatment
If the dog vomiting happens only once, then there probably is no reason to take him to the vet. However, if he vomits a second time within or up to a week after, then it is definitely time for a trip to the vet.
Treatment of vomiting relies entirely on determining what the underlying cause of the vomiting is. Of course food allergies or intolerances are the easiest to fix, although they can take a while to correct, simply because you will have to eliminate various food’s from the animal’s diet and then gradually add them back in, one at a time, to determine which food is causing the allergy or intolerance.
After the vet performs several tests to determine the cause of the vomiting, then he will recommend a course of treatment. That treatment may include medication if a parasite or illness is causing the vomiting, or it may include a food elimination diet if he believes the problem is a food allergy or intolerance.
In some cases, the vet may recommend that you put your dog on a fast for 24 hours, and then gradually reintroduce food, starting with a bland diet of white rice and chicken.
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