Anything that stays in the stomach for too long causes irritation and can lead to vomiting, especially when the stomach is otherwise empty. If feeding more frequent meals doesn’t help, the cause could be a foreign body, which is the general term for something a dog swallows that can’t pass through the digestive system. Offering a small meal just before bedtime usually solves the problem.

Affected dogs usually vomit bile and foam in the early morning hours but are otherwise completely normal. This is commonly called empty tummy syndrome, or more formally, bilious vomiting syndrome. Some dogs vomit when their stomachs are empty for too long, perhaps because of irritation from the stomach acid that collects there. Should your dog be sensitive to a certain food or treat, your written and visual record will help you discover the connection. Should your pet develop chronic gastritis, this record will help your veterinarian make an accurate diagnosis. Take photos if you can, gross as it may seem. Include details like the amount of material vomited, the vomit’s consistency (food, liquid, foam, etc.), the vomit’s color, frequency of vomiting (note the date and time), and general observations about your dog’s appetite, attitude, appearance, and general health. If and when your dog vomits, write down what happened and when, what the dog ate, what came up, how long after eating the vomiting occurred, and what happened next. If you don’t already keep a health notebook for your dog, start now with basic information. Chloe, my Labrador Retriever, occasionally vomits after eating grass, organ meats, or lamb shoulder bones, and she usually races out the dog door in time to reach the back lawn. Many dogs look for or turn to their owners when they’re about to vomit, which can signal alert caregivers to move their pets to a better location! In time you might be able to train your dog to throw up where it does the least damage. When dogs feel nauseated and are about to throw up, they often drool, lick their lips, swallow excessively, and stand head down looking worried.

Chronic gastrointestinal problems are rarely self-correcting, so intermittent vomiting that persists for longer than a couple of weeks should be investigated by your vet to help correct a problem in its early stages. Dogs with this problem can become finicky, have low energy, and develop a dull, dry, poor-quality coat.

Chronic vomiting interferes with the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs, infections, foreign bodies, various canine illnesses, or a prolonged exposure to allergens can be underlying causes. A dog who vomits repeatedly or can’t keep even water down should be seen by a veterinarian.Ĭhronic gastritis describes intermittent vomiting lasting more than one to two weeks. However, continued vomiting can lead to dehydration, depression or lethargy, blood in the vomit or feces, abdominal pain, a loss of appetite, or other complications that require medical attention. The cause is usually some kind of dietary indiscretion, which includes the ingestion of spoiled food, garbage, cat litter, bones, plants, grass, molds, fungi, toys, socks, underwear, and other questionable items.įortunately, most dogs with acute gastritis recover without veterinary treatment. Vomiting is usually associated with gastritis, which describes inflammation of the stomach lining.Īcute gastritis causes dogs to vomit once or off and on for one or two days. How can you tell whether vomiting is serious enough for a vet visit or something you can treat at home? And what makes dogs throw up, anyway? Oh, that dreadful retching – followed by the up-chucking of anything from green bile to undigested dinners to things we’d rather not think about.

Dog projectile vomit