What this means
Vomiting and regurgitation look similar but are not the same thing. A vomiting dog braces, the belly contracts, and there is usually drooling and restlessness beforehand. In regurgitation the food simply falls out with no effort, often soon after eating, undigested and tube-shaped. That difference points your vet at a completely different part of the body, so it is worth noticing which one you saw.
A few notes help: how many times it happened, what came up, whether there was undigested food, foam, grass or blood in it, how it related to mealtimes, and whether your dog seemed bright at the time. Notes like these say more at the appointment than trying to recall everything on the spot.
It is also worth thinking about whether your dog could have swallowed something. A piece of a toy, a bone, a cork, a sock or a plant from the windowsill can block the gut, and vomiting from that will not settle on its own. If you suspect your dog swallowed something, do not wait for the signs to get worse.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
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A sudden change of food, or something picked up outdoors
The gut reacts to a new food, a piece of human food or whatever your dog found on a walk. Vomiting from this is usually a one-off and the dog stays bright.
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Inflammation of the stomach or intestines
Inflamed gut lining causes vomiting, sometimes alongside loose stools. It can be short-lived or keep coming back.
About the condition: Gastroenteritis -
A foreign object in the gut
A swallowed object can partly or completely block the intestine. The giveaway is repeated vomiting in which neither water nor food stays down. This is an emergency.
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Inflammation of the pancreas
An inflamed pancreas causes vomiting, belly pain and lethargy. Dogs often stand stretched forwards and object to having the belly touched.
About the condition: Pancreatitis -
Problems with the internal organs
Kidney, liver or hormone problems can show themselves through vomiting even though the cause lies elsewhere. There are usually other changes alongside it, such as a different drinking or urinating pattern.
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Travel sickness and stress
A car journey or real anxiety makes some dogs drool and vomit. It passes once they settle, but if it keeps happening it is worth raising with your vet.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- How many times, and over what period
- Whether there is blood, foam or undigested food in it
- Whether your dog drinks, and keeps the water down
- Whether the stools changed at the same time
- Whether the belly looks swollen or is sore to touch
- Whether your dog is bright, or flat and hiding away
When to book a routine visit
Book a visit if the vomiting carries on for more than a day, if your dog is flat or losing weight, if it returns every few weeks, or if drinking habits changed at the same time. If any of the urgent signs above appear, go straight away rather than waiting for an appointment.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Pancreatitis Digestion and liver Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, in which digestive enzymes become active too early and start to irritate the pancreas itself and the tissue around it. It can come on suddenly or smoulder for a long time with repeated flare-ups, and in more severe cases it affects other organs too. The causes vary, so working out what is going on with a particular dog is a job for the vet.
- Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus) Digestion and liver This is a condition in which the stomach fills with gas and can twist around on itself, pinching off its blood vessels and cutting off circulation. It develops very quickly and is life-threatening, so the dog needs a vet immediately. Large, deep-chested dogs are known to be at risk, so it is worth noting the number of the nearest emergency clinic in advance.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Digestion and liver This is a long-term disorder of the digestive tract in which inflammatory cells build up in the wall of the stomach or intestine, so it becomes less able to digest food and absorb nutrients. The exact cause is not fully understood; an interplay between the immune system, gut bacteria and food is thought to play a part. Because many other digestive problems look much the same, a vet works out what is really going on with tests.
- Kidney disease Kidneys and bladder The kidneys filter the blood, remove waste from the body and help keep the balance of fluids and salts. When they are damaged suddenly, for example by poisoning or infection, or weaken gradually over a longer time, substances they should remove start to build up in the body. Long-term kidney changes can go unnoticed for a long time, because the healthy part of the kidneys takes over the work for a while.
- Addison's disease Hormones and metabolism Addison's disease is a condition in which the adrenal glands make too little of certain hormones that help the body cope with stress and keep its balance of salts and water. Its signs are vague and can come and go, so it is easy to miss. The condition can, however, suddenly worsen and become life-threatening, and then the dog needs a vet immediately.
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) Digestion and liver This is a condition in which too many bacteria, or the wrong kinds, take hold in the small intestine. They compete with the dog for nutrients and irritate the gut wall, so food is digested and absorbed less well. It can be the result of another intestinal or pancreatic problem, so a vet also looks for the underlying cause.
- Parvovirus Infections Parvovirus is a highly contagious viral disease of dogs that damages the lining of the gut and the blood cells that defend the body against infection. Puppies and unvaccinated dogs are at greatest risk. The illness moves fast and the dog loses a great deal of fluid, so it needs a vet immediately.
- Distemper Infections Distemper is a contagious viral disease that can damage the airways, the digestive system, the skin and the nervous system. Puppies and unvaccinated dogs are at greatest risk. What is making a dog ill and how far the disease has gone is for a vet to work out, and the first signs are easily mistaken for an ordinary cold.
- Leptospirosis Infections Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that a dog catches from water, damp ground or objects contaminated with the urine of infected animals, especially rodents. The bacteria damage the kidneys and liver, and the illness can quickly become life-threatening, so the dog needs a vet immediately. Leptospirosis also passes to people.
- Giardiasis Parasites Giardiasis is a gut disease caused by single-celled parasites called Giardia. A dog becomes infected by swallowing their cysts with water, grass or another dog's faeces. The parasites disturb the absorption of food, so the stools turn soft and the diarrhoea keeps coming back; a vet identifies the parasites from a stool sample.
- Pyometra General health Pyometra is a pus-filled infection of the womb that can develop in an unspayed bitch in the weeks after a season. Pus collects in the womb, and substances released by the bacteria harm the whole body. The condition can quickly become life-threatening, so the bitch needs a vet immediately.
- Gastroenteritis Digestion and liver Gastroenteritis is a sudden inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines, showing as vomiting and diarrhoea. It can be caused by food picked up or gone off, a sudden change of food, viruses, bacteria, parasites or toxic substances. A mild bout can pass in a day or two, while what caused it, and whether it is a more serious illness, is for a vet to work out.
- Poisoning General health Poisoning happens when a dog swallows, breathes in or absorbs through its skin a substance that harms its body. Much of what is found in a home and garden is dangerous to a dog: rodent bait, antifreeze, chocolate, grapes and raisins, the sweetener xylitol, preparations meant for people. Even if the dog seems well, it needs a vet immediately.
Body systems: Digestion and liver Kidneys and bladder Hormones and metabolism Infections Parasites General health