Dogs sometimes vomit, especially after picking up trash and eating food. Naturally, dogs will regurgitate food which can lead to food poisoning if not vomited. If the dog vomits, but is still healthy, then pay close attention to what he eats and drinks. If your dog is vomiting, and it also shows other health problems, then take the dog to the vet and treat the health problems he is experiencing.
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Part 1 of 2: Preventing Dogs from Vomiting Often
Step 1. Prevent the dog from eating too fast
Many dogs swallow too quickly while eating, so they swallow air with the food. As a result, after that the dog will get sick.
Ways to make your dog eat more slowly include using a muffin tin as a food container, placing large stones (which are so large that they cannot be swallowed) in their food bowl, or buying a pet food dispenser that allows your dog to eat more slowly
Step 2. Place the food bowl on a higher level than the floor
Place the bowl on a low wall, chair, or table, so that the bowl is higher than the dog's shoulder height. When the dog has to raise its upper body off the floor to eat, gravity will help lower the food from the esophagus to the stomach.
Try to keep it in an elevated position for 10 minutes after the meal is finished. This can help some dogs regulate food even if the muscle pattern in the esophagus is poor
Step 3. Consider changing his diet
Review your dog's food intake in the past month and write down what types of meat he has eaten. Then choose a type of meat he's never eaten before (such as venison) and feed your dog only that meat and a source of carbohydrates (such as potatoes).
Some dogs are sensitive or have allergies to certain foods. The most common allergens are protein sources (types of meat such as mutton, beef, or fish), but gluten or even rice can also be included. The allergen causes the dog to release inflammatory cells, which causes the dog to vomit
Step 4. Ask the vet to determine the dog's diet
In addition, your veterinarian can also advise you on a hypoallergenic diet, which is prepared, so you don't have to go to the trouble of preparing it. Feed your dog on this diet alone, and don't expect to see results for about 2 weeks. The time it takes to calm the inflammation can be that long.
Examples of hypoallergenic diets include Hills DD range, HiIls ZD and ZD ultra, and Purina HA
Step 5. Give your dog deworming treatment
Worms can sometimes irritate the lining of the stomach, making the dog more likely to vomit. Take your dog to the vet for deworming treatment. Do this every 3 months if possible.
Consider giving more frequent deworming treatments if your dog regularly picks up trash for food or hunting
Step 6. Treat a dog with motion sickness
Some dogs who travel by car experience motion sickness. Make sure that the ventilation in the car is sufficient and not stuffy. It might help if a small dog can see out the window, so buy a dog lift chair to lift him higher (always wear a seat belt when traveling by car).
For long trips, your vet can prescribe Cerenia (maropitant), which is a highly effective, non-drowsy medication that prevents motion sickness. This medicine will not make the dog sleepy, so the dog will be on standby all day long. Maropitant is taken by mouth at a dose of 2 mg/kg, every 24 hours for up to 5 days
Step 7. Decide if you need to take your dog to the vet
If your dog's stools look normal, don't lose weight, have a lot of energy, and their skin is shiny, but your dog vomits several times a week, then consider taking him to the vet. In addition, make observations that can help the veterinarian. Take a few photos of the dog's vomit (this can help the vet determine if it is really vomit, or the dog is expelling food that has been swallowed).
You can also keep a simple diary of how often the dog gets sick, how long after eating it occurs, and what food is given to the dog. This can help you find embossed patterns. For example, did your dog get sick shortly after you changed the brand of dog food? Does the dog start getting sick right after his favorite toy is gone?
Part 2 of 2: Caring for a Dog that Has Finished Vomiting
Step 1. Do not feed him for 24 hours
Perhaps the dog is still feeling nauseous and the food may be vomited back up. Repeated contractions of the abdominal muscles when a dog vomits can cause inflammation of the stomach lining. This will make the dog more likely to vomit again, so a bad cycle will be established.
By not feeding the dog on that day, the nausea will disappear and the vomiting cycle will stop. Even so, still let the dog drink water. If your dog is drinking and vomiting, seek veterinary help immediately
Step 2. Monitor the amount of water your dog drinks
Give your dog small amounts of water regularly (much like humans sipping water when sick). For small dogs, such as those weighing under 10 kg, provide one cup of water every half hour. If your dog drinks it and doesn't vomit, then 2 hours later, you can give him an unlimited amount of water. If your dog vomits when he drinks a small amount of water, take him to the doctor immediately. (Larger dogs, such as the size of a Labrador, are allowed to drink half a cup every half hour.)
If the dog has vomited, the dog may want to get rid of the bad taste in his mouth. However, if the dog approaches the large bowl that holds the water and drains all the water, the water will hit his sensitive stomach and the dog will tend to vomit back the water he drank
Step 3. Introduce plain foods
When 24 hours without food have passed, give the dog small portions of plain food. The portion given should be smaller than the usual portion, to see if your dog will eat it or not. As a general rule, a plain diet consists of low-fat white meats, such as chicken, turkey, rabbit, cod, or coley and easy-to-digest carbohydrates such as white rice, pasta, or mashed boiled potatoes (without the addition of dairy products).
Avoid high-fat foods such as dairy products, oily fish, or protein-rich food sources such as red meat. Veterinarians can also provide pre-made and ready-to-use diets that have been shown to speed up healing time for stomach problems. These include Hills ID and Purina EN
Step 4. Revert back to the dog's normal diet
If all goes well and your dog doesn't vomit again after 24 hours of eating plain food, then switch back to his normal diet. Don't change the food suddenly. Mix normal food with plain food on the first day, then half on the second day, then normal food with plain food on the third day, and give full normal food on the fourth day.
It is best to feed little and often, so the dog's stomach won't hold too much food. Try dividing the daily amount of food into 4 servings and give 4 servings for: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dinner
Step 5. Watch for signs you should take your dog to the vet
Vomiting can be a common sign of unwell, and don't ignore it if your dog vomits regularly. Dogs that cannot hold water in their bodies will become dehydrated, which is dangerous for them and requires medical attention. Here are some signs a dog needs medical attention:
- Unable to retain water in the body: if the dog drinks water, but vomits it up, and this lasts for one to two hours.
- If the dog has other problems such as diarrhea (which means the dog will pass a lot of fluid too, just like when the dog vomits)
- Keep vomiting for more than 4 hours
- There is blood in the vomit
- Dogs are under the influence of analgesics from the NSAID group (such as Metacam, Onsior, or Rimadyl)
- The dog is dehydrated - lift the scruff and then let go. If it takes 1 to 2 seconds for the dog to lower his neck again, then the dog is dehydrated.
- Dogs have other health problems such as kidney disease or diabetes.
- The dog is weak or lethargic.
- Dogs vomit regularly (every day) and lose weight.
