Healthy Dogs

Vomiting in Dogs

Diagnosing the Problem

Help your vet diagnose your dog’s problem by paying close attention to when and how often your pet has vomited. Also mention anything else you noticed, such as blood in their vomit, diarrhea, weight loss, a change in appetite, and lethargy.

Your veterinarian may do diagnostic tests -- which could range from blood work and X-rays to exploratory surgery -- to find the cause of the problem.

Treating Vomiting

If your dog is healthy and has vomited only once, you should withhold food and water for about 12 hours to give your dog’s stomach time to rest.

After that, give your dog a few ice chips or a small amount of water (a quarter to half a cup, depending on your dog’s size) to see if they can tolerate it. You also can give them a small amount of pediatric electrolyte solution with the water.

If your pet seems fine with the water, offer a couple of tablespoons of bland food, such as boiled chicken breast and rice, every few hours. If he keeps it down, you can slowly reintroduce his regular diet. If he throws up again, see your veterinarian.

Your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics, a diet change, antiemetics (drugs that help control vomiting) or other medications. Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations on what is best for your pet.