Dogs vomit from time to time, especially after eating and after rummaging through the litter. Dogs naturally remit foods that would cause indigestion. If your dog starts vomiting but otherwise seems fine, watch what he eats or drinks. If your dog shows symptoms of impatience in addition to vomiting, take him to the vet to treat other health problems.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Preventing Frequent Vomiting
Step 1. Make your dog eat slower
Many dogs swallow food too quickly; this means that together with the food they also swallow the air. This may be one of the reasons your dog may vomit later.
Some strategies to prevent your dog from overeating include putting food in muffin molds, putting large rocks (too big to swallow) in the bowl, or buying a specific bowl to solve this problem
Step 2. Lift the food bowl off the ground
Place it on a low wall, chair or table with the bowl above the dog's shoulders. Since the dog will be forced to stand up to eat, gravity will help move food from the esophagus to the stomach.
Keep your dog in a raised position for at least 10 minutes after he has finished eating. This can help get food down the stomach in dogs with weak esophageal muscles
Step 3. Consider a diet change
Think about the foods your dog has eaten in the past month and specifically the type of meat he has eaten. Choose a type of meat they have never eaten before (such as venison) and feed them only that type of protein with a type of carbohydrate (for example, potatoes).
Some dogs are more sensitive or intolerant to certain foods. The allergen is often a protein (a type of meat, such as lamb, beef, or fish), but it can also include gluten and even rice. The allergen causes the release of inflammatory cells which in turn causes vomiting
Step 4. Ask your vet to prescribe a diet
Alternatively, your vet can recommend ready-made hypoallergenic foods. Give your dog only the prescribed foods and nothing else, and don't expect results for a couple of weeks, often needed to reduce inflammation.
Examples of specific veterinary brands include: Hills Prescription Diet DD, Purina HA, and Royal Canin
Step 5. Get your dog dewormed
Worms can irritate the stomach walls increasing the risk of vomiting. Have your pet dewormed regularly by your vet, preferably every three months.
If your dog frequently rummages through litter or goes hunting, consider deworming him more frequently
Step 6. Treat your dog for motion sickness
Some dogs suffer during car journeys. Make sure the cabin is well ventilated and not too hot. For smaller dogs, it may be helpful to let them look out the window, in this case, buy a seat to lift the pet (always wear a safety harness when traveling too).
For longer trips, your vet may prescribe an anti-emetic drug, such as Cerenia, which is very effective in preventing vomiting. Also, since the drug does not cause drowsiness, the dog will be able to be active and alert throughout the day. The dose of medicine to be administered orally is 2mg / kg, every 24 hours for a maximum of 5 days
Step 7. Decide whether to take your dog to the vet
If the stool is normal, if it is not losing weight, if it is energetic and if the coat is nice and shiny, but if it continues to vomit several times a week, consider seeing your vet. Also, to help your vet make a diagnosis, take pictures of what your dog is putting back (to let him know if it's actually vomiting or regurgitation).
You can also make a diary in which you can write down how often you vomit, after how long after the meal and the food ingested. This can be useful to check for any repeated behavior at the origin of the episode. For example, did the malaise start shortly after changing the brand of your baby food? Or after he lost his favorite toy?
Part 2 of 2: Caring for your dog after he vomits
Step 1. Do not feed him for the next 24 hours
The dog may still suffer from nausea and vomit more food again. The repeated contractions of the stomach muscles caused by vomiting can inflame the walls that cover the stomach, causing it to vomit again and creating a vicious cycle.
Avoiding food intake the day after the malaise helps reduce nausea and interrupts the cycle. But remember to allow the dog to drink. If you vomit even after drinking, contact your vet right away
Step 2. Keep an eye on your water consumption
Make him drink small amounts of water regularly (making him sip a little at a time). For small dogs weighing less than 10 kg, offer them about a coffee cup filled with water every half hour. If the vomiting stops, after two hours you can give him free access to fluids. If, on the other hand, even after drinking small amounts, he continues to put back, contact your vet. (For larger dogs, such as Labradors, it is advisable to only administer half a glass of water every half hour):
If the dog has just put back, he is likely to want to get the taste of the vomit out of his mouth. However, if he were to drink a whole bowl of water, it is likely to irritate his already sensitive stomach causing another attack
Step 3. Include light foods in your diet
After 24 hours of fasting, give him a light meal. The amount of food should be a fraction of the usual amount to assess whether it can keep food in the stomach. Typically, light foods are low-fat foods, white meats such as chicken, turkey, rabbit, cod and easily digestible carbohydrates such as white rice, pasta or boiled mashed potatoes (without the addition of dairy products).
Avoid very fatty foods, such as dairy products, oily fish, or very rich protein sources, such as red meats. Your vet will also be able to give you specific ready-made diet foods to promote faster healing of your dog's sensitive stomach, such as Purina EN and Hills ID
Step 4. Return to your dog's usual diet
If all goes well and your dog has stopped vomiting after 24 hours of light food, go back to his traditional diet. However, avoid suddenly changing your diet, therefore, mix ⅓ of your normal baby food with ⅔ of a light diet on the first day; do half and half for the second day and ⅔ of normal diet with ⅓ of light food on the third day. On the fourth day, return to your usual diet.
It is advisable to feed the dog small amounts of food and often so as not to burden his stomach too much. Divide the daily dose of food into four portions and divide them into four meals: breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner
Step 5. Examine the symptoms to decide whether to take the dog to the vet
Vomiting is a general indication of discomfort and should not be ignored if the dog remits regularly. An animal that is unable to retain fluids may become dehydrated. Dehydration is dangerous and requires medical attention. Here are some symptoms not to be underestimated (take your dog to the vet if they occur):
- The dog does not retain liquids: if Fido drinks water but cannot keep it in the stomach for more than one or two hours.
- If the dog has other problems, such as diarrhea (i.e., the dog loses fluids with stool and vomiting).
- Persistent vomiting that has lasted for more than four hours.
- Blood in the vomit.
- If your dog takes medicines, such as painkillers from the NSAID group (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, such as Metacam, Onsior or Rimadyl).
- The dog is dehydrated - raise the scruff and let it go; if it takes a second or two to flatten out again, then the dog is dehydrated.
- The dog has other conditions such as kidney disease or diabetes.
- Apathy and lack of energy.
- The dog vomits regularly (every day) and has lost weight.
