How to Care for a Vomiting Dog

No matter how small or serious the reason, vomiting in dogs is not normal. For example, dogs like to dig through garbage to eat, so may vomit to clear spoiled food from the stomach. However, vomiting or convulsions can be a sign of some serious illness such as infection, pancreatitis, toxicity, cancer, or a blockage in the digestive tract. ^{[1] X Source of Research} You should take care of your dog with vomiting and know when to take your dog to the vet.

Table of Contents

Take care immediately after the dog vomits

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/5b/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-1-Version-4. jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-1-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/5/5b/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-1-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Care-for-a-Dog-After- It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-1-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Check for signs of shock. Dogs need immediate medical attention if they show signs of shock such as: ^{[2] X Research Sources}^{[3] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to source}

Pale skin and gums
Abnormal behavior
Fall down
Attenuate
Difficulty getting up and walking
Reluctantly raise your head
Bored

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/14/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-2-Version-5. jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-2-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/1/14/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-2-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Care-for-a-Dog-After- It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-2-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Keep your dog warm and comfortable. After your dog vomits, you should pat him to let him know he did nothing wrong. Try to get the dog to lie down and rest. If the dog seems cold and shivering, you should cover the dog, give him care and help as much as possible. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

You should help your dog feel comfortable. You can let the dog lie on the floor comfortably so that the dog does not try to get up or walk. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/72/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-3-Version-5. jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-3-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/7/72/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-3-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Care-for-a-Dog-After- It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-3-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Wipe the dog’s fur with a warm, wet towel. Dry vomit can make the coat sticky, so you need to clean the dog’s coat right away. You should only clean the coat when the dog has rested for a while and stop wiping immediately if the dog shows discomfort.

You can place puppy pads or old towels under the chin and around the dog. Thus, if the dog vomits again, it will not stain the floor mats. Some dogs know that a puppy pad is a place to go to the bathroom. This helps the dog to worry less about getting the house dirty every time he wants to vomit and find a place to vomit.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/98/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-4-Version-6. jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-4-Version-6.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/9/98/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-4-Version-6.jpg/v4-728px-Care-for-a-Dog-After- It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-4-Version-6.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Watch for signs that your dog may vomit again. You should keep a close eye on your dog from the first time he vomits, because persistent vomiting requires emergency care. Signs that your dog will vomit again include vomiting that is dry, or making a sound as if something is stuck in the throat; stiff posture and wandering aimlessly. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Identify emergency situations

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/7b/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-5-Version-5. jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-5-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/7/7b/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-5-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Care-for-a-Dog-After- It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-5-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Treat immediately if the dog’s abdomen is distended. If the dog vomits continuously, the dog can develop bloating – a serious and life-threatening condition. The symptoms of bloating are trying to vomit but not being able to and drooling (because dogs can’t swallow drool). ^{[7] X Research Source Small Animal Internal medicine. Nelson and Couto. Mobsy.}

Dogs need immediate medical attention for an upset stomach, as this is a serious condition that can kill a dog in just a few hours if left untreated.

Identify and rule out the cause of vomiting

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/2d/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-8-Version-6. jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-8-Version-6.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/2/2d/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-8-Version-6.jpg/v4-728px-Care-for-a-Dog-After- It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-8-Version-6.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Distinguish between vomiting and burping to determine the appropriate treatment. Dogs can also burp and push undigested food out without abdominal force or any sign of serious illness. ^{[11] X Research Source} When burping, dogs simply lift food up and rely on gravity to push food down into the stomach. However, in case of urgent vomiting (acute vomiting), the dog may expel all the contents of the stomach due to abdominal muscle contraction. You may see your dog bend over to vomit and throw up an unpleasant odor. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Ợ is often a sign of esophageal disease or digestive problems in the early stages. For example, if you eat too much and too quickly, the food your dog burps out is often undigested and intact. ^{[13] X Research Source}
If you burp frequently, your dog may be suffering from a long-term illness, so put the dog food on a high chair and take your dog to the vet. ^{[14] X Research Source Small Animal Internal medicine. Nelson and Couto. Mobsy.}

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/de/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-9-Version-5. jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-9-Version-5.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/d/de/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-9-Version-5.jpg/v4-728px-Care-for-a-Dog-After- It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-9-Version-5.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Consider the cause of the vomiting. You should pay attention to your dog’s recent diet, behavior, emotions, and environmental conditions to determine the cause of vomiting. For example, you can recall your last walk to determine if your dog has eaten any rotten or spoiled food. Vomiting can be a common symptom of “guts,” in which dogs ingest spoiled and unhealthy things, forcing the dog’s body to force the contents out. However, vomiting in dogs is caused by many other serious causes, such as: ^{[15] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to Source}^{[16] X Research Source}

Gastrointestinal infections
Intestinal parasites (helminths)
Severe constipation
Acute kidney failure
Acute liver failure
Colitis
Parvo disease (gastroenteritis)
Cholecystitis
Pancreatitis
Ingesting poison
Thermal shock
Uterine infection
Drug reaction
Cancer

Diet after the dog vomits

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/76/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-12-Version-4. jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-12-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/7/76/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-12-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Care-for-a-Dog-After- It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-12-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Avoid feeding your dog within 12 hours. Vomiting can irritate the stomach lining and make your dog vomit more if eaten immediately afterwards. Your stomach needs time to rest, and this also helps you determine if the vomiting is caused by food. ^{[21] X Research Sources} You should avoid feeding your dog, even if the dog appears extremely hungry. Fasting is also an opportunity for the dog to get rid of whatever is causing the vomiting. ^{[22] X Research Source}

Puppies and small dogs should not fast for more than 12 hours.
If your dog is sick (especially diabetic), you should consult your veterinarian before fasting your dog.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/4b/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-13-Version-4. jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-13-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/4/4b/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-13-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Care-for-a-Dog-After- It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-13-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Give the dog water to drink. Every 1 hour, give the dog 1 teaspoon of water/0.5 kg of weight once. You should continue to give your dog water in this way throughout the day and night until he can drink water as usual. Drinking too much water after vomiting can cause your dog to vomit again. On the other hand, dogs can become dehydrated if they do not drink water. ^{[23] X Research Source} You should take your dog to the vet if he can’t even drink this small amount of water.

For example, dogs weighing more than 6 kg need to drink 12 teaspoons (¼ cup) of water every hour and throughout the day and night.
Consider purchasing electrolyte replacement drinks such as Pedialyte or Lectade from a pharmacy or veterinary clinic. You should follow the instructions on the package for how to mix the electrolyte replacement drink with boiled water. This drink soothes the stomach and fights dehydration. You should give your dog the correct amount of water as instructed above. Be careful because not all dogs like the taste of this water and will drink it.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/5/5e/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-14-Version-4. jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-14-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/5/5e/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-14-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Care-for-a-Dog-After- It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-14-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Add water if the dog refuses to drink. To prevent dehydration, you should find ways to keep your dog hydrated. You might consider dipping a towel in water and wiping your dog’s gums. This will help cool the dog’s mouth whenever the dog feels nauseous when drinking water. Or you can let your dog lick an ice cube to keep his mouth wet and get some water into his body. You can also try giving your dog warm ginger, chamomile or mint tea to soothe the stomach and digestive tract. Like water, you should only give your dog a few tablespoons at a time.

If your dog refuses to drink tea, you can try freezing the tea in an ice tray, then breaking it into pieces. Dogs can eat ice from tea this way. ^{[24] X Research Sources}
You should try to give your dog a variety of water until he finds the right one.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/48/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-15-Version-4. jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-15-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/4/48/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-15-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Care-for-a-Dog-After- It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-15-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Feed the dog again. After 12 hours, you can start feeding your dog 2-3 teaspoons of low-fat and easy-to-digest food. Lean meats like boneless chicken and hamburgers will provide your dog with the protein he needs. Meanwhile, boiled potatoes, low-fat cottage cheese and cooked rice can fully offset the amount of carbon-hydrate required by the dog. You can mix 1 part lean meat with 5 parts carbon-hydrate. You should make sure to feed your dog well-cooked, fat-free, and unseasoned foods that are easy to digest instead of giving your dog regular food. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

If your dog is not vomiting, you can give your dog a small amount of food every 1-2 hours. ^{[26] X Source of Study}^{[27] X Source of Research} However, you should take your dog to the vet right away if he vomits again.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/84/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-16-Version-4. jpg/v4-460px-Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-16-Version-4.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/ images/thumb/8/84/Care-for-a-Dog-After-It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-16-Version-4.jpg/v4-728px-Care-for-a-Dog-After- It-Has-Just-Vomited-Step-16-Version-4.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Slowly feed your dog back to normal. After the first day of bland food, you can mix the bland food with some regular food for one meal. For example, start mixing at a 50/50 ratio for one meal, then gradually increase to 3/4 regular food with 1/4 bland food. You can feed your dog normally after that if the dog is no longer vomiting. ^{[28] X Source of Research}^{[29] X Source of Research} Always remember to follow your veterinarian’s advice and take your dog for a follow-up visit if necessary.

Stop feeding your dog if he vomits again and take him to the vet right away. It’s best to keep a record of what your dog eats and drinks, the amount of food consumed, and the dog’s behavior. This information is very useful to veterinarians.
You should not test your dog’s food or medication as this can make vomiting worse. ^{[30] X Research Source}

Steps

Take care immediately after the dog vomits

Identify emergency situations

Identify and rule out the cause of vomiting

Diet after the dog vomits

Related Posts