Puppy Vomiting
What You Need To Know About Puppy Vomiting
Puppy vomiting is very common and can be due to a lot of difference reasons. Some are serious while others are not. Sometimes determining what caused it could save you a lot of extra stressful, panicked visits to the vet.
Most often, puppy vomiting is due to them eating something that they should not have. In a puppy's eyes, everything is potential food. They can surprisingly ingest a lot, however when it comes to actually digesting, that is a different story. If you can figure out what he ate then it could be helpful to know if he will be able to “pass it” himself.
Disease or illness can be another reason for puppy vomiting. It might just be a bacterial infection which is easily treated or it could be something like parvo which is very serious. You should notice if your puppy has any additional symptoms like diarrhea, fever, lethargy or loss of appetite.
Another cause for puppy vomiting is allergies or just plain sensitivity. Certain dog foods can trigger a food allergy or just simply upset their stomach. Additional reasons for puppy vomiting can be contagious diseases like giardia, distemper, coccidiosis and leptospirosis.
You should know, there are different types of puppy vomiting. Vomiting, technically is to eject contents from your stomach, with force out of your mouth. This kind of forceful vomiting would be more associated with your puppy having food poisoning or being car sick.
Regurgitation is a more common occurrence that is often mistaken for puppy vomiting. This often occurs when your puppy has eaten very quickly and then his body will purge it back with little effort and it makes them feel quite a bit better after.
If your puppy is gagging then it probably looks as though they are choking. They are usually trying to “bring something back up.” You will see a lot of puppies eat grass and then do this. The grass is very helpful to their digestion.
Sometimes puppy vomiting is nothing to worry about but is important to now when it is a potential issue that needs veterinary care. If your puppy has vomited several times in a few hours and has not had any food or water in between then he needs attention immediately before he gets dehydrated.
If diarrhea is presented along with the puppy vomiting or if he is also lethargic, panting or pacing then it could be a parasite illness like giardia which can easily be treated but if left to progress can become very serious.
If there is blood in the vomit it could be an inflammation or irritation in the esophagus or stomach ulcers and your puppy should see attention right away.
Puppy vomiting that is from eating things he shouldn't, that are not toxic is probably not a huge cause for concern as long as your puppy is drinking plenty of water and does not risk dehydration. Foods like bread or canned pumpkin can help push things through their system a bit quicker and boiled white rice will usually help calm their stomach.
If the puppy vomiting is due to a change in diet or a new kind of treat, this will usually just work itself out in a few days. They just have sensitive stomachs at a young age and sometimes the slightest variation can throw their system a little “off”. Always gradually introduce new dog food mixed in with the old and do not go overboard on the treats. It is just like giving a toddler a bunch of candy, they will get a stomach ache.
When puppy vomiting occurs, never give him over the counter medications for humans. Many of these are very toxic and fatal to dogs. If you feel the puppy vomiting is something serious, take him to the vet immediately as it is better to be safe then sorry. Most issues can be resolved much easier when they do not have time to progress to something more serious.