Why is my dog being sick

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Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

All dogs get sick from time to time, and usually, it is nothing to worry about and generally nothing to be concerned about. However, as good dog owners, we can’t help worrying when our fur babies are ill.  We want After all; we want our furbabies to have a fun-packed healthy life.

When a dog is sick, it is usually a result of overeating, eating too fast, eating or pinching food from the table or scavenging.

However, as with humans, if vomiting and a change in behaviour due to feeling unwell continue for more than 24 hours, it may be worth talking with a vet as it could be more serious.

If your dog continues to be sick, it could be an infection, a blockage due to swallowing a foreign object such as a toy, cooked bone, a stick or other things, toxic substances.  It could be cancer, kidney disease, or pancreatic disease in very rare cases.

When your best friend is feeling ill, whilst it is heartbreaking, it is essential to remember this is the time they look to us for help.

This article will hopefully help explain why dogs may be under the weather and vomiting, along with some things you can do

Why is my dog being sick?

It is important to remember that dogs, by nature, are scavengers. The drawbacks of this are that they do not understand what foods are toxic and swallowing objects that can cause internal damage and are just not good for them.

If your dog seems his usual self in every other way and carries on eating and going to the toilet as usual and nausea goes away as quickly as it came, then the chances are it is not serious and nothing to worry about too much.  I

Here are some reasons why your dog is being sick that are less worrying

Travel sickness – Like humans, not all dogs travel well.  However, this tends to be something they grow out of as their ear structure which they use for balance, develops, so it is more common in dogs under 18 months.

Changes to diet – Many dogs struggle with a sudden change in their food. Even just a new favour can cause problems.  Always make any changes in their food slowly by mixing the new food gradually over a few days you shouldn’t have any problem.  Our article on tips on feeding your dog is worth a read.

Leftovers and Table scraps – Some human leftovers such as Garlic and Onion are a BIG no-no, and you should be aware of foods that are toxic to dogs.  However, even those safe foods for dogs can upset a sensitive stomach, like changing the diet or introducing a new flavour.

Bilious vomiting syndrome – Bilious vomiting syndrome – This is where the dog’s stomach is empty and causing them to be sick (I feel sick when hungry).  As a result, the dog will be heaving and bringing up a yellow, frothy liquid which is usually yellow and occurs typically in the morning.  If this carries on happening, then re-consider how often and when you feed your dog.

Being greedy and eating too fast  – If you have a dog that gobbles its food down without pausing for breath, this can cause them to be sick.  The remedy for this is relatively simple, and there is a range of bowls designed to slow them down.  The other way is to feed them small amounts more frequently or use puzzle toys.

If your dog continues to be sick

If your dog continues to be sick and lasts for more than a few hours, then this is the time to contact the vet as it could be more severe and a possible sign they have one of the illnesses below.

•  Inflammatory bowel disease
• Intolerance to certain foods
• Gastroenteritis
• Intestinal parasites
• Swallowing objects such as toys concurs, lego and other household objects,
• Cancer
• IEating poisons and other toxins – the animal poison line is a number worth keeping in your phone
• Kidney, liver and pancreatic disease
• Viral infections
• Side effects from prescribed medication
• Bloat
• Heatstroke

The most important thing is to stay calm and contact your vet.

When you start to worry about your dog being sick and throwing up

When a dog is under the weather, you may get indications that you need to seek professional help.  If your dog is being sick, you must observe them for the next 24 hours or so.  Please take note of any unusual behaviour to other signs such as drooling, constant lip licking or constantly swelling are signs it could be more severe.

When dogs are feeling unwell, they may also eat grass.  Although no one understands why dogs eat grass, it is thought that it can help make them sick.

If the sickness lasts for more than a couple of hours or your dog is showing other signs, then make a note of as much information as you can to help your vet.  This should include things such.

When did your dog last eat? What did you’re dog last eat?  When was he last sick, and how often has he been sick? Does he have diarrhoea? Is there blood in the vomit?

If your dog has blood in their sick or diarrhoea, we suggest you talk to your vet.

should your dog have eaten something toxic such as onions, garlic, raisins, chocolate, etc., you need to get them to the vet as soon as possible and call them on the way to let them know what has happened.

If you are ever in, don’t then call your vet.  They will be able to give you advice as to what to do.  Which may be monitor at home and come in if the patient gets worse

My dog has just been sick. What should I do?

As soon as you notice your dog has been sick, you need to start keeping a close eye on them.

If possible, sift through the vomit.  Have a poke around.  By doing this, you may get some cli=ues as to why your dog was sick.  The other reason is that if you need veterinary help, it will enable you to provide comprehensive information (I know some people can’t do it without being sick, but please try).

Your dogs vomit can reveal a lot.

If your dog has just thrown up a yellow vile, which is often foamy, then this can indicate your dog is hungry, and his stomach is empty.  The reason being this comes from the intestines.

A very watery vomit indicates that, for some reason, your dog cannot keep fluids down.  Whilst seeking a vet help is not urgent if this carries on, then it is highly advisable to p[revent dehydration

If the vomit contains even a trace of blood, then contact your vet straight away.

People get confused with vomiting and regurgitating.  If they have regurgitated, this is simply food they have not digested properly and is either because they bolted their food down or whatever they eat didn’t agree with them.

If the vomit is bright green, it is time to contact the vet without delay as it indicates some rat poison.

After your dog has been sick, remove any food and water for access to food and water for a few hours. After 2 hours, you can let your dog have small sips of water hourly, but don’t feed them for a further 10 hours. If your dog doesn’t throw up during this time, you can introduce small amounts of bland foods.

Can I feed my dog as usual after he has been sick?

The short answer is no.

If your dog has thrown up after a few hours, then providing a small plain meal such as chicken and rice is an option to help settle their tummy.

Keep the portions small and offer them a chance to eat them every couple of hours throughout the day as long as they are not bringing it back.

You can then slowly increase the portions the next day and slowly reintroduce the normal food (as you would when changing food)-

If you can get your dog to eat ginger in some form, this will help relieve nausea.   Ginger is a natural anti-nausea, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. I always keep Ginger tablets in along with charcoal tablets as these are both good for upset stomachs.

If you are feeding fresh ginger, then finely grate it into some honey and put it onto a small piece of bread.

Should I make my dog vomit?

This is a very big question as depending on what they have consumed could do more harm than good.  Always speak to your vet.

On the other hand, if they have eaten something like chocolate or onions, making your dog bring it back up could save their lives. It should be noted that this should be done straight away if possible as after 2 hours, it is too late, and you need to seek professional help.

Unlike humans, never stick your fingers down the dog’s throat apart from anything; he is likely to be a bit scared and in fight or flight mode and so will clamp down on them#.

In the old days, mustard and salt were considered a safe way to make your dog sick. This is no longer the case and can cause long term harm.

However, if your dog has eaten something harmful to them, such as chocolate, then speed is of the essence. Give them some charcoal tablets to help absorb the poison and contact your vet immediately.

How can I prevent my dog from future vomiting?

Whilst dogs will get ill and become sick, which we cannot prevent, it is impossible to take some preventative measures to help;p keep your dog safe and prevent them from getting ill and being sick.

Below is our quick checklist

• Make sure that all harmful foods are well out of the  reach of your dog#
• Keep household cleaners such as bleach locked up in a secure cupboard
• If you decide to change the dog’s diet at any time, then please do this gradually so that your dog can adjust
• Avoid giving your dog table scraps.  The reason being is many human foods, including safe foods such as chicken, may have been cooked with salt or garlic etc. that are harmful to dogs
• Ensure that your dog cannot get into the kitchen bin.  This prevents them from scavenging and potentially getting hold of harmful foods
• Wash and replace toys as needed. If they become dirty, try and wash them in a washing machine.  If they show signs of wear and tear and bits coming off, then throw them away before they become a choking hazard
• Common household poisons such as rat poison, bleach and other chemicals. Keep all harmful foods, choking hazards and poisons out of reach to reduce the risk of your dog swallowing them.
• Do you have a dog that scavenged when you are out for a walk? , Then consider a Baskerville muzzle.  This allows them to breathe and you can feed treats through the muzzle whilst stopping them from scavenging harmful foods such as chicken bones.
• Feed him small amounts at regular intervals if your dog throws up after breakfast.

Whilst dogs will vomit. Generally, this is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about, just like humans.  However, it is essential to watch out for any other symptoms.  Also, if you notice your dog moping around or whining and being sick, then it might be worth talking g to the vet.