Chronic Vomiting in Dogs: Ten Potential Sources

Vomiting in dogs can be caused by a disease or a number of other factors. Here are ten of the possible reasons for your dog's chronic vomiting.

Dietary Indiscretion

Chronic vomiting could be the result of your dog's dietary habits. He could be eating spoiled food or garbage, dead animals or foreign objects such as clothing or shoes. Sudden dietary changes can also cause chronic vomiting in dogs.

Food Allergies

Your dog's chronic vomiting may be the result of food allergies or sensitivities. Some dogs are sensitive to particular proteins; others are intolerant of lactose or allergic to food additives.

Infection

Chronic vomiting is often the result of infection, especially bacterial infection such as that caused by Salmonella or kidney infection. Fungal causes of chronic vomiting in dogs include histoplasmosis, aspergillosis and phycomycosis. Parasites such as roundworms, hookworms or whipworms can cause chronic vomiting in dogs.

Drugs or Toxins

Some drugs, such as NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), corticosteroids and antibiotics can cause chronic vomiting. Toxins that can induce chronic vomiting in dogs include antifreeze, home cleaning products and pesticides.

Gastrointestinal Blockage

Gastrointestinal blockage or obstruction can cause chronic vomiting in dogs. Blockage may be caused by tumors, foreign bodies or physical defects.

Disease

Diseases such as liver or kidney disease, Addison's disease and diabetes can cause chronic vomiting. Inflammatory bowel disorder or pancreatitis can also cause chronic vomiting in dogs.

Gastrointestinal Ulcers

Gastrointestinal or stomach ulcers can cause chronic vomiting. Such ulcers are rare, however, and usually occur concurrently with serious kidney and liver disease.

Hiatal Hernia

A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach slides up through the diaphragm and into the chest cavity. This allows food to move back up the esophagus, resulting in chronic vomiting.

Constipation

Chronic vomiting may occur as secondary to chronic constipation. This is because your dog simply can't digest more food without first eliminating waste from his intestinal tract.

Abdominal Disorders

Abdominal disorders are the cause of many cases of chronic vomiting in dogs. Abdominal disorders responsible for chronic vomiting can include tumors in the abdominal organs or adhesion of the abdominal organs. Motility disorders of the stomach and small intestines can cause chronic vomiting because they allow food to build up in the stomach. Disorders that affect digestion and absorption of food, such as lymphangiectasia, can cause chronic vomiting in dogs.

 

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