Vomiting

What conditions can cause vomiting in pets?

Vomiting may be secondary to many medical conditions, including:

• Toxicity
• Intestinal obstruction
• Constipation
• Systemic illness
• Parvovirus
• Certain medications
• Viral and bacterial infections
• Heat stroke
• Diet change
• Intestinal parasites
• Pancreatitis
• Liver disease
• Kidney disease

How can vomiting affect my pet’s quality of life?

Pets can experience acute or chronic vomiting, which can drastically affect their lives and those of their families. Nausea and vomiting can make pets ill because they cannot keep down enough food to remain healthy, and they become irritable, restless, and lethargic. Chronic vomiting can also damage the upper gastrointestinal tract, making it difficult for pets to eat and drink comfortably. Vomiting is often a sign of a more serious problem that will require veterinary intervention. 

How can I manage my pet’s vomiting at home?

If your pet is suffering from vomiting episodes, these management tips may help improve their quality of life:

• Withhold food for 8 to 12 hours to rest the gastrointestinal tract, and then offer a small amount of water; however, contact your family veterinarian first, if your pet is on a medication that requires food.
• Ensure your pet remains hydrated by offering small amounts of reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth.
• Cook your pet a bland diet, such as a mixture of boiled white rice, skinless chicken breast, or ground beef, ensuring all the fat is strained off to make the meal easily digestible. Feed small amounts every few hours to prevent a large, heavy meal from upsetting your pet’s stomach again.
• Probiotics, like Purina FortiFlora, taken daily can help soothe an upset stomach and promote a healthy gut.
• Keep VetriScience’s Fast Balance GI Paste on hand for chronic vomiting. This paste contains a yeast extract, enzymes, probiotics, and B vitamins, which work together to help normalize the gastrointestinal tract. 
• Try a pet-safe treat that incorporates ginger, which is thought to have an antiemetic effect. If you are considering feeding ginger in raw or powder form, refer to the correct dosages outlined by DogsNaturally.

When should I seek veterinary help for my pet’s vomiting?

If your pet has a chronic condition, you should maintain close contact with your family veterinarian about their progress and management. Contact your family veterinarian in these situations:

• If your pet’s vomiting occurs more than twice in 24 hours
• If your pet’s vomiting is a chronic condition
• If your pet’s vomit contains blood
• If your pet is trying unsuccessfully to vomit
• If your pet cannot hold down food or water

Your family veterinarian may have additional management tips, and can prescribe anti-nausea and antiemetic medications to better manage your pet’s condition.

Before your pet’s condition becomes unmanageable, or they begin losing their quality of life, beginning end-of-life care discussions is vital. Learn more about pet hospice, in-home euthanasia, and our telehospice services, or contact a Lap of Love veterinarian in your area, so you can feel fully prepared for this difficult time.