Dog
Health - Vomiting
© John Dow
One
of the most frequent dog health issues is vomiting. Dogs, like
people, will immediately regurgitate something that irritates
the stomach. Some dogs are more sensitive than others to
irritation and will vomit often. The trick is knowing when
vomiting is a sign of more serious problems.
All
dogs will occasional eat something that can cause a quick and
violent reaction, which causes them to throw up the offending
item. Dogs are not very particular about what they eat as we
all know. When it doubt, the dog will consume anything that
looks, smells, or tastes like food.
Obliviously,
prevention is the best method to eliminate consumption of
possible bad things for your dog to eat. Never leave anything
within reach of a dog that might not be a good thing to eat.
Be careful of houseplants and other common items of interest
that would present a target of opportunity. This includes toys
that can easily be ingested sue to size or materials.
My
dog, Tux, loves to chew off parts of any stuffed toy we give
him. A toy with eyes, ears, or even a tail has a very limited
life expectancy around Tux. The first thing on his agenda is
to chew off anything that will come off, then for desert he
goes after the stuffing. And he's dedicated and quick at these
tasks.
A
change in diet (new dog food) or even an emotional upset
(going to the vet) can cause some dogs to vomit. If this
occurs once, and no other signs of discomfort are visible it's
no cause for alarm.
But
if your dog vomits more than three times in a day, or two days
in a row this is not normal and can be a cause for concern.
First thing to do is look for what your dog may be eating to
cause this vomiting. There might be something that he is
continuing to eat that is the cause.
Take
away his food dish and limit his water intake. Vomiting can
cause dehydration so monitor his water consumption, and only
allow small amounts at one time. You can also give the dog a
small amount of Pepto-Bismol as it coats the stomach and can
relieve stomach irritation. 1/2 to 1 teaspoon per 5 pounds of
body weight is advised, no more than 3 times per day.
Pepcid
AC (contains famotidine) can help reduce the production of
stomach acid and calm an irritated stomach too. The
recommended dose is 5 milligrams per 10 pounds of body weight,
1 or 2 times per day.
Vomiting
can be a sign of a more serious problem and if it continues
more than two days, a trip to the Vet is recommended. There
are two possible threats when a dog vomits often. The loss of
water and lack of food can weaken a dog quickly. There are
also physical problems like a twisted stomach (more
predominate in large dog breeds) that can also cause dry
heaves and the dog has vomited for some time.
Some
commercial and natural poisons need to be treated immediately
and can be life threatening in a short time. There are also
many serious diseases that start with vomiting as a symptom
before other signs of discomfort.
Any
noticeable vomiting that is reoccurring and continues for more
than 48 hours can indicate more than just a stomach problem or
bad food. Vomiting could be a symptom of a more serious
disease of health issue if it occurs repeatedly and can cause
dehydration and other dog health risks. When in doubt it's always
a good idea to seek professional treatment from your Veterinarian.
