Why Does My Dog Vomit Regularly?

Dog vomit may be due to simple indigestion, a relatively harmless condition, or an array of serious illnesses. If your dog vomits occasionally and feels fine afterward, the culprit may be a tendency to ingest foreign objects, like bottle caps, toys and plants. If this is the case, keep a closer eye on your dog. However, if your dog vomits regularly, seek medical advice so any underlying conditions can be treated as early as possible.

Stages of Vomiting

Whether benign or not, vomiting happens in three stages, causing mild to intense discomfort. First, your dog experiences nausea, with accompanying listlessness, shaking, hiding, yawning, lip-smacking, salivating and swallowing. Next, your dog retches but produces nothing from the mouth. Finally, during vomiting, your dog expels the contents of the stomach through the mouth and nose.

Types of Vomiting Signal Different Conditions

Noticing how your dog vomits, as well as how often, can help you and your vet pinpoint the cause. Here are various types of vomiting and possible underlying conditions:

  • Acute vomiting may be due to swallowing non-food items, the presence of worms in the stomach, or motion sickness. It's treated in healthy dogs by withholding food and water for a few hours. See your vet if the vomiting recurs.
  • Intermittent and persistent vomiting may be caused by food allergies, ulcers, tumors or life-threatening obstructions. See your vet within 48 hours.
  • Projectile vomiting may be caused by an obstruction or a brain disorder. See your vet the same day.
  • Vomiting blood or bile may be caused by ulceration of the stomach or small intestine, poisoning, a foreign object in the stomach, a tumor or an infection. See your vet the same day.
 

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