Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 4: Self-help First Aid
• Part 2 of 4: Identifying Urgent Veterinary Care
• Part 3 of 4: Identifying and treating the cause of vomiting
• Part 4 of 4: Feeding after vomiting

It is not uncommon for dogs to occasionally vomit, whether for minor or serious reasons. For example, your dog may enjoy picking up all sorts of leftovers on the street and vomiting in order to empty the bowel of spoiled food. On the other hand, if the dog's vomiting continues, the problem can be serious, including infection, pancreatitis, poisoning, cancer, or bowel obstruction. If your dog has vomited, you must provide first aid, and you must be able to recognize when your pet needs the attention of a veterinarian.

Steps

Part 1 of 4: Self-help First Aid

1. 1 Check if the dog is in shock. A dog may require urgent veterinary attention if it shows signs of shock. These include:
   • pallor of the skin and gums;
   • abnormal behavior;
   • complete loss of strength;
   • weakness;
   • difficulty getting up on paws and walking;
   • problematic raising the head;
   • depressed state.
2. 2 Keep your dog cozy and warm. If your dog vomits, reassure him so that he doesn't feel like he did something wrong. Try to get her to bed so she can rest. If the dog is cold and shivering, throw a blanket over it and provide your attention and support.
   • Make sure the dog is not worried. Help her get comfortable on the floor so she doesn't try to get up and walk.
3. 3 Wipe the stained dog's coat with a cloth dampened in warm water. Drying of vomit on the coat can lead to tangles, so it is wise to clean the coat right away. Do this only after the dog has rested for a while, and discontinue the procedure immediately if it is stressing the animal.
   • You can also spread disposable puppy nappies or old towels for your dog to prevent staining the carpet if he vomits again. Some dogs find disposable diapers to be a good place to go to the toilet. Having a diaper can reduce the pet's anxiety about possible cleanliness, since the dog will know that it can stain the diaper.
4. 4 Look for signs of impending vomiting. Keep a close eye on your dog after the first episode of vomiting, as persistent vomiting requires a veterinarian examination. Symptoms of impending vomiting include gagging or sounds like the dog has something stuck in the throat, a stiff, motionless posture, or constant aimless walking.

Part 2 of 4: Identifying Urgent Veterinary Care

1. 1 See your veterinarian right away for bloating. If your dog is nauseous but does not have any vomit, he may have a serious and life-threatening problem like bloating. Symptoms of bloating include ineffectual gagging and drooling (as the dog cannot swallow saliva in this condition).
   • Bloating requires immediate attention to the veterinarian, since if untreated, the animal can die within a few hours.
2. 2 Pay attention to dehydration. If the dog vomits once, it may continue to vomit, making it reluctant to drink. Refusal to drink in combination with loss of fluid during vomiting can cause dehydration if the amount of fluid lost exceeds the amount consumed. If your dog begins to show signs of dehydration, give an aqueous electrolyte solution every few hours throughout the day.If you are unable to manage dehydration on your own, see your veterinarian. The first signs of dehydration include:
   • severe shortness of breath;
   • dry mouth, gums, or nose;
   • obvious apathy (fatigue);
   • dry or sunken eyes;
   • loss of skin elasticity (the skin does not regain its original shape if it is pinched and released);
   • weakness of the hind legs (in the later stages of dehydration);
   • unsteadiness of gait (in the later stages of dehydration).
3. 3 Know when to see your veterinarian. If the vomiting began due to the fact that the dog rummaged in the garbage and ate spoiled food leftovers, then in most cases it is better to leave the dog at home, giving him something to drink and not giving him anything to eat for a while. However, you should always be aware of the symptoms that require an urgent visit to the veterinarian. These include:
   • ineffectual vomiting;
   • continued lethargy and depression after 1-2 cases of vomiting;
   • continuation of vomiting for 4 hours or inability to keep the water drunk;
   • the presence of blood in the vomit, which may indicate a serious ulcer in the stomach wall.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

   
   
   Veterinarian, Royal College of Veterinary Surgery Dr. Elliot, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal care. Graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. Has been working in the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

   Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
   Veterinarian, Royal College of Veterinary Surgery

   Pippa Elliot, an experienced veterinarian, advises: “Always listen to your intuition. If you are concerned that something is wrong with your pet, call your local veterinary clinic and ask for advice. It's better to call in vain than to ignore a potentially serious problem. "

Part 3 of 4: Identifying and treating the cause of vomiting

1. 1 To find the right treatment, you must be able to distinguish real vomiting from normal regurgitation. It is not uncommon for dogs to regurgitate undigested food without any abdominal effort or painful symptoms. If your dog is spitting up, he may just need to place his bowl higher so that the force of gravity helps the food eaten to pass smoothly further into the stomach. However, if the dog is really nauseous about the contents of its stomach, then the abdominal muscles contract. In this case, you will notice that the dog is crouching and vomit, which is likely to have a musty odor.
   • Regurgitation is usually a sign of problems with the esophagus or other problems in the early stages of digestion. For example, it is not uncommon for dogs to eat too much and too quickly. In this case, the regurgitated food will look like an undigested elongated lump.
   • If your dog regurgitates regularly, it may have some health problems, so raise the bowl higher (for example, on a chair) and also let the veterinarian examine your animal.
2. 2 Check out the possible causes of vomiting. Think about what your dog has been eating lately, how it has behaved, what its mood was like, what its environment was like. This can help identify the cause of vomiting. For example, think back to your last walks and consider if your dog might have eaten the carcass of an animal or had some scraps from the trash can. Vomiting can often be observed in "lovers of garbage" who eat food completely unsuitable for them, which makes the body reject spoiled food. However, non-stop vomiting can indicate more serious problems, including the following:
   • bacterial infection of the gastrointestinal tract;
   • the presence of intestinal parasites;
   • severe constipation;
   • acute renal failure;
   • acute liver failure;
   • colitis;
   • parvovirus;
   • inflammation of the gallbladder;
   • pancreatitis;
   • poisoning;
   • heatstroke;
   • uterine infection;
   • adverse reaction to medication;
   • crayfish.
3. 3 Pay attention to whether the vomiting was a one-off event or repeated over and over. If the dog vomited only once, after which it continued to eat normally without any problems from the gastrointestinal tract, then vomiting can be considered a one-time case. If your dog is sick all day or more, then you should immediately contact your veterinarian.
   • The cause of ongoing and repeated vomiting should be investigated by a veterinarian. He will be able to make a specific diagnosis after a series of procedures, including a conventional x-ray or x-ray of the intestine with barium, blood, fecal and urine tests, and ultrasound.
4. 4 Examine the vomit to try to understand the cause of the vomiting. Pay attention to the presence of foreign objects in the vomit, for example, wrappers, pieces of polyethylene, broken bones (you should not allow your dog to eat real bones, as this often provokes vomiting), and so on. If you notice blood in the vomit, go to your veterinarian immediately, as the dog can develop severe and fatal bleeding very quickly.
   • If there are no foreign objects in the vomit, then pay attention to their shape and consistency. Is the vomit liquid or undigested food? Write down everything you see so that you can tell the vet in case you continue to vomit. Also, the diagnosis can be facilitated by the presence of a photograph of the vomit and even a sample of them. The photo will additionally allow the veterinarian to assess the volume of vomit, which is also important for the correct treatment.

Part 4 of 4: Feeding after vomiting

1. 1 Try not to feed your dog for 12 hours after vomiting. Vomiting can irritate the lining of the stomach, causing it to continue if the dog eats something too soon after vomiting. The stomach needs rest, so refusing to eat will help to understand if vomiting was associated with food. Refrain from wanting to feed your dog if it shows hunger. This small fast will also allow the dog's body to rid itself of anything that has caused the vomiting.
   • A puppy or young dog should not be kept without feeding for more than 12 hours.
   • If your dog additionally suffers from any medical condition (especially diabetes), consult your veterinarian before refusing food.
2. 2 Give your dog water. Offer her every hour 2 teaspoons of water for every kilogram of weight. Continue giving water in this way throughout the day until the dog begins to drink on its own. Drinking too much after vomiting can provoke its continuation, while refusing to drink leads to dehydration. If your dog is unable to retain even a small amount of water, see your veterinarian.
   • For example, if your dog weighs 6 kg, give him 12 teaspoons (1/4 cup) every hour for 24 hours.
   • Consider purchasing a Regidron or other potable electrolyte solution from a regular pharmacy or veterinarian. Follow the instructions on the package when you prepare a solution from purchased powder and boiled water. Such solutions do not irritate the stomach so much and can protect the body from dehydration. Give your dog the same amount of electrolyte solution you would give him water. Be aware that not all dogs will like the taste of the solution, so your pet may refuse to drink it.
3. 3 If your dog refuses to drink, try other methods to stay hydrated. To prevent dehydration, you must make sure your dog is hydrated. Try wiping her gums with a cloth dampened with water. This will help freshen the mouth at a time when the dog is too nauseous to drink.You can also ask your dog to lick ice cubes, so he gets a little water and can moisten his mouth. You can also try offering your dog lukewarm herbal teas, such as ginger, chamomile, or mint, to help calm the stomach and digestive tract. As with water, only give your dog a few teaspoons of tea at a time.
   • If your dog refuses to drink tea, try freezing it in ice cube trays. Offer the tea to your dog like this. She might like it.
   • Continue offering your dog different liquids until he agrees to drink some of them.
4. 4 Start feeding your dog light food. After 12 hours, offer your dog 2-3 teaspoons of low-fat, easily digestible food. Lean meats like skinless chicken or beef patties will provide your dog with protein, while boiled potatoes, low-fat cottage cheese, or cooked rice will provide much-needed carbohydrates. To feed your dog, mix 1 part pure meat and 5 parts carbohydrates. All food must be low-fat, well-cooked and unflavored, making it easier to digest than regular dog food.
   • If your dog doesn't start to feel sick, feed him a little more food every hour or two. But if she starts vomiting again, take her to the vet.
5. 5 Introduce regular feed slowly. After one day of diet food, you can start adding regular dog food to it. For example, for the first feeding, mix dietary and regular food in a one-to-one ratio; for the second feed, take 3/4 of the regular food and 1/4 of the dietary food. Then, if the dog does not vomit again, go back to the normal feeding regimen. Always follow your veterinarian's advice and adhere to follow-up visit times.
   • If the dog starts to vomit again, stop feeding and contact your veterinarian. It is a good idea to write down everything the dog eats and drinks, how much, and how it behaves. This will provide valuable information to the veterinarian.
   • Do not experiment with food and medicine, as this can aggravate the condition of the dog.