In the wild, dogs often go a day or two without food, and many times this is all that is needed to clear out their digestive tracts. If your dog’s gum color is pale or she is exhibiting other clinical signs of digestive distress, get her to the veterinarian right away.
Pick Up the Food Bowl
If your dog scarfs down food or drinks too fast, it can trigger nausea and vomiting. To prevent this, try using a food dispensing toy or spacing out meals.
If the vomit is brown or black, this usually means your dog has ingested something toxic. On the other hand, if the vomit is white and foamy, it could mean that your dog is vomiting stomach acid. read more
Home remedies like chamomile, fennel, ginger and peppermint can help with the upset stomach. However, if the symptoms continue for more than a day or your dog is very lethargic or unable to keep water down, take him to the vet immediately.
Other signs to watch for include a lack of energy, dry gums and glazed eyes, paw licking, whining, panting and gagging. A veterinarian may need to perform blood work, X-rays and a full physical exam to determine the cause of the vomiting. If the vomiting is severe and painful, the vet might recommend fluids under the skin or hospitalization for more intense treatment.
Give Your Dog Some Rest
Often, a dog’s digestive system simply needs to clear out and rest. In the wild, dogs go a day or more without food to let their bodies heal from gut-related problems. After your dog has vomited and soiled itself, it’s a good idea to withhold foods for twelve hours (though you should never remove access to water, as dehydration can occur quickly). Once your pet is feeling better, slowly start to feed him a homemade bland diet. Start with boiled rice, yogurt, or cooked chicken and then add in foods like applesauce and bananas that will be easy on his stomach.
Avoid feeding him anything that could cause GI issues, such as fatty meats and rich, oily foods, which can lead to pancreatitis. You may also want to try adding a tincture or powder of dandelion to your pup’s food, Sheen says, which helps stimulate the gallbladder to secrete bile for digestion. This will also help your dog absorb nutrients more easily, which may help with the vomiting.
Avoid High-Fat Foods
Vomiting is often a sign of serious problems like poisoning, cancer or gastrointestinal issues. A vet’s examination is important to find out what your pup ate that made him sick. If he is throwing up and has other signs of trouble such as lethargy, unexplained weight loss or behavior changes, it’s time to get him to the vet immediately.
A vet may suggest a 12-24 hour food fast, but only after giving your dog plenty of water to prevent dehydration. A diluted mixture of chamomile, marshmallow root and dandelion tinctures can help reduce nausea.
Some types of vomiting, such as white and foamy, can be a sign that your dog has ingested something that is causing stomach acid buildup or that he is eating too quickly. He may also regurgitate undigested food, which appears as a tube in the esophagus and is common if your pup eats too fast. This can also be a sign that your dog has an intestinal blockage.
Avoid Guzzling Water
Dogs may gulp down water in an effort to prevent dehydration, but guzzling can actually trigger vomiting. Instead, offer small amounts of water at regular intervals, as opposed to a single large bowl.
Some dogs eat too quickly and swallow food that never makes it to the stomach, prompting regurgitation. This is not as serious as actual vomiting, although it can be uncomfortable for your pup.
It’s important to note that if your pup vomits foamy, undigested food or if the vomiting is accompanied by other clinical signs, it requires immediate veterinary attention. These are symptoms of conditions like poisoning, gastritis or a blocked intestine.
Avoid these causes of vomiting by removing potentially harmful foods, bones and objects from your pup’s environment. Keep scavenging foods, rodent bait and cleaning products out of reach to ensure your pup doesn’t ingest them. It’s also a good idea to limit access to water and only feed them bland foods such as cooked chicken and rice until their digestive system returns to normal.