Vomiting and Home |
 Vomiting is the forcible expulsion of stomach and/or intestinal contents through the mouth. Vomiting occurs commonly in dogs. It seems to be caused most often by irritation of the stomach, called simple gastritis. Gastritis is usually caused by the ingestion of an irritant substance--for example, decomposed food, grass, aluminum foil, paper, or bones. The dog often first vomits food or another irritant material and later vomits clear or yellow fluid. Dogs with gastric irritation may seek grass to eat, but grass eating is often an "enjoyable pastime" for dogs and not a sign of illness. They may or may not be interested in their normal food. If your dog vomits once or twice, has no fever or obvious abdominal pain, and is no more than slightly depressed (inactive), you can probably treat the vomiting at home. ********* It is time to seek veterinary help for vomiting if your dog vomits more than a few times, if the vomitus is ejected extremely forcefully, if there is blood in the vomitus or obvious abdominal pain, or if your dog seems particularly depressed or weak, has a fever, or retches unproductively, do not attempt to treat the condition at home. ********* Even simple gastritis cannot always be treated successfully without the help of a veterinarian, and there are many other serious causes of vomiting, among them intestinal foreign bodies, bowel or stomach torsion (twisting) inflammation of the pancreas, kidney failure, and even certain forms of epilepsy. ********* Some dogs, particularly young dogs used to eating several times a day, vomit during the hours preceding their regular meal. The vomitus usually looks like a frothy white or yellow fluid and is usually present in small amounts. This type of vomiting may be due to excess gastric acidity and can be controlled in several ways: 1. Feed two meal a day (morning and evening). ********* Another not-very-serious type of vomiting experienced frequently by young dogs occurs following meals, usually those who gobble their food, overeat, and/or exercise excessively immediately following eating. If your dog is an after-meal vomiter, you can try the following: 1. If your dog normally eats with other animals, feed the one who vomits by him- or herself. Competition encourages food gulping. ********* Home Treatment For Vomiting Never give a dog vomiting blood oral medications. Do not feed your dog for twelve to twenty-four hours following vomiting. At the end of twelve hours , you can offer a very small amount of soft, bland food such as cooked rice and skinless chicken breast, pasta, or potatoes mixed with low-fat cottage cheese (9-to1 ratio). If your dog keeps this small meal down for about four hours, another small meal can be offered, then another about four hours later. If no further vomiting occurs, the next day's meals can be normal-sized portion of bland food and the following day you can return your dog to a regular diet. Water should be offered only in small amounts but frequently in order to combat the tendency to dehydrate that accompanies vomiting. Large amount of food or water distend the already irritated stomach and usually cause vomiting to recur. An easy way to have water available in small portions is to place ice cubes in the water bowl and allow the dog to drink the liquid that accumulates as the cubes melt. Withholding food for 24 hours from very small dogs or puppies may lead to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and is dangerous. In this instance, withhold food for several hours and administer small amounts of honey, Karo syrup, or sugar water frequently during the period of food withdrawal. ********* Medications Doses vary widely from pet to pet, however, so be sure to ask your vet for advice. 1. Pepto-Bismol can be given. Give one teaspoon per 20 pounds of weight every four to six hours. 2. Kaopectate is helpful for digestive troubles. Give one teaspoon of Kaopectate for each ten pounds of weight every four hours. 3. Di Gel Liquid can be given up to 4 tbs. every 8 hours. 4. Maalox can be given up to 4 tbs. every 8 hours. 5. Antacid liquids for humans containing aluminum and/or magnesium hydroxide may help soothe the irritated stomach lining; however, the most important part of treatment is fasting! (Dose aluminum hydroxide antacids to provide 10mg per pound [22 mg/kg] of body weight every six hours.) If vomiting is present with diarrhea, drugs containing bismuth subsalicylate are best. Do not give any preparations containing aspirin when your pet has upset stomach.
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