Dogs eat things they should not, and vomiting is often the result. That makes it one of the most common reasons owners get in touch, and one where the range runs from trivial to immediately life-threatening.
There is one pattern that should never be watched and waited on, so it is worth putting first.
Everything else: what to note
- How many times, and over what period
- What came up: food, fluid, yellow bile, or blood
- Whether anything is produced at all, or it is retching alone
- Gum colour, and whether the abdomen is swollen or painful
- Whether they are drinking, and keeping water down
- Anything they may have scavenged, chewed or been given in the last few days
- Vaccination status, particularly for a puppy
Common causes
- Dietary indiscretion: scavenged food, a bin raid, or a sudden change of diet
- Intestinal parasites
- A swallowed foreign object, including bones and toys
- Infection, with parvovirus a serious risk in unvaccinated puppies
- Toxins: chocolate, xylitol, rat poison, human medicines and some plants
- Pancreatitis, often after a very fatty meal
- Kidney or liver disease, usually with other signs
- Heat: overheating causes vomiting, and matters here in summer
Go to a clinic now if you see
- Unproductive retching, or a swollen and hard abdomen
- Blood in the vomit, red or like coffee grounds
- Pale, white or grey gums, weakness, or collapse
- Repeated vomiting that continues past a few hours
- Vomiting in a puppy, especially one not fully vaccinated
- Any suspicion of poison or a swallowed object
- Vomiting alongside heavy panting and distress in the heat
What not to do
- Do not give human painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol: they are toxic to dogs
- Do not try to make your dog vomit unless a veterinarian has told you to, and never after a caustic substance
- Do not withhold water for long periods
- Do not feed a rich or fatty meal to settle the stomach
If your dog has vomited once, seems well, and none of the warning signs apply, a short period of watching is reasonable. If you are unsure, an online consultation will tell you quickly whether this is a wait-and-see or a get-in-the-car.
Common questions
My dog vomited once but seems fine. What should I do?
In a bright, well adult dog, one episode can reasonably be watched. Offer water in small amounts, hold off food for a few hours, then reintroduce something plain and small. If vomiting repeats, or anything else appears, get veterinary advice.
When is dog vomiting an emergency?
Retching that produces nothing, especially with a swollen or hard abdomen, needs immediate care: it can indicate a twisted stomach. So does vomiting with blood, collapse, pale gums, suspected poisoning, or repeated vomiting in a puppy.
Why does my dog vomit yellow foam?
Yellow means bile, and it often appears when the stomach has been empty for a while. Occasional early-morning bile in an otherwise well dog is common. Frequent episodes should be investigated.
Should I stop giving food and water?
Small, frequent amounts of water are usually better than none, unless a veterinarian has advised otherwise. Withholding water from a vomiting dog risks dehydration. Food can be paused briefly, but do not starve a puppy.