What To Do When Your Dog Starts Vomiting
Dogs will eat as much food as they can hold just because they can. They constantly sniff after something to snack on, be it their toys, your shoes, or the cat's food. Dogs vomit every now and then, and if it only happens every now and then, it's not something to worry about. However, All Friends Veterinary Hospital in East Islip NY needs to know a few things about the vomiting in order to keep your dog healthy.
What Causes Dogs To Vomit?
Dogs can't tell us when they're sick, and they wouldn't anyway. In the wild, a sick animal is often dinner for something, so animals naturally hide their illnesses. Your veterinarian will tell you things that cause dogs to vomit include:
- Bacterial or viral infections
- Diet changes or food intolerance
- Intestinal parasites
- Kidney or liver failure
- Ingesting pieces of toys, bones, or chewy treats
- Toxic substances
- Nausea following an operation
- Some medications
- Heatstroke
What To Look For
Examine the dog's vomit. Your veterinarian or an animal hospital will need to know if white foam, blood, or foreign materials are in the vomit. Bag the foreign objects and report anything appearing in the vomit. Also watch for diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss, your dog not drinking enough or any water, lethargy, and changes in appetite. These are indications of serious health conditions.
What To Do
Before taking him to the animal hospital, baby your dog as you would a sick child. Before you try to feed him, give him small sips of water on a spoon. If he keeps it down for an hour, then give him small bites of bland food on a spoon. This could be plain white rice, small pieces of skinless chicken or boiled potatoes. Don't season anything, because it could irritate the problem.
If he can keep the bland food down for an hour or two, feed him some more on a spoon. If he throws it up, wait for an hour before trying again. If the vomiting lasts for a couple of days, get your pet to All Friends Veterinary Hospital in East Islip NY as soon as possible.