Why Do Dogs Throw Up?
Dog owners know that the pet vomits occasionally. There are several reason why a dog would expulse the food from its stomach. Similar to humans, dogs vomit if they have eaten something that does not agree with their system. Dogs commonly suffer from upset stomach given the fact that these indiscriminate eaters would not pass up the chance to eat inedible objects and spoiled foods.
Nature though has provided our four legged friends with an effective way of purging unwanted food and foreign objects from the stomach. All the dog need to do is eat grass and all the things ingested that were not accepted by the dog’s system will be thrown up. A vomiting bout will occur if the dog has consumed considerable amount of food and has drank a lot of water too quickly. Switching to a new dog food can also make the dog vomit. Not many dog owners are aware that stress can make a dog vomit.
A dog that was taken to a new home where there are already other pet dogs will vomit. This usually happens if the old pet is a large and dominant dog and the newcomer is a shy or nervous individual. Fortunately, this stress induced vomiting will need no treatment and would be gone once the new pet has adapted to the new environment. The vomiting will usually disappear after a while and the dog will be its usual energetic self. Owners of healthy dogs with normal energy levels and good appetite need not be too concerned with the pet’s vomiting. Dogs that occasionally vomit need not be taken to the vet’s. To prevent the dog from vomiting repeatedly, food must not be given for 24 hours.
The vomiting of the dog may have other causes aside from dietary indescrition. Vomiting is not considered a disease in itself but an indication of an underlying illness. Dogs that vomit repeatedly are susceptible to dehydration thus it is imperative for an owner to carefully monitor the condition of the pet.
A dog owner should be concerned if the pet that is vomiting repeatedly also has diarrhea, is lethargic and has developed a temperature. The pet’s vomiting may be caused by something serious like ingestion of poisonous substances. Vomiting can be due to parasites infestation or infectious diseases such as parvovirus. A blood tinged vomit can be an indication of an intestinal obstruction, stomach ulcers or kidney problem or pancreatitis. The pet must have immediate medical attention if vomiting has been going on for 24 hours especially if the dog is lethargic and unresponsive.
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