My Pet is Throwing Up
What Is Vomiting?
Vomiting is the forceful emptying of the contents of the stomach. It is caused by the brain, sending a signal to the stomach. This signal originates in the brain known as the vomiting center. Vomiting was developed to help save animals from poisoning. Nerves in the stomach or certain chemicals in the blood tell the brain that the animal has eaten something toxic. However, toxins have become less of a problem for our pets than to wild animals. Many more triggers now signal the brain to vomit. Vomiting excessively can be dangerous since it can lead to dehydration.
Why is my pet throwing up food from the night before?
There are many reasons your pet may be vomiting. These are divided into gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, which include any problem that can affect the stomach and intestines and non-GI diseases, which affect all other organs. These are also broken into acute, meaning that they have just started happening. or chronic, meaning that they have been going on for a long time.
GI disorders that can cause vomiting are:
• Parasites
• Toxins
• Foreign bodies
• Spoiled food
• Food allergies
• Stomach ulcers
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Cancer
Non-GI disorders that can cause vomiting are:
• Motion sickness
• Thyroid disease
• Inflammation of the pancreas
• Pyometra
• Kidney or liver disease
• Canine Parvo or distemper
• Feline panleukopenia virus
What is acute vomiting?
Acute vomiting is when your cat and dog has been vomiting recently and does not have any other clinical signs. Most of the time, treatment involves supportive care and fluids.
What is ‘chronic’ vomiting?
Chronic vomiting is seen when vomiting persists for a long time, usually about a month. This is when further workup is needed.
Why can the color of vomit vary?
Vomit can differ in appearance from food to white frothy foam to yellow bile. Vomit can even look like brown coffee granules. This would suggest GI ulceration or bleed in the stomach. If you see coffee granules in the vomit, consult with your veterinarian.
How do you diagnose the cause of vomiting?
Before figuring out what is causing your pet to vomit, you must differentiate between vomiting and regurgitation. Vomiting requires abdominal effort and will actively expel stomach contents. Regurgitation happens without retching and is the passive elimination of stomach and esophagus contents. This differentiation is significant because the conditions that cause your pet to regurgitate are different from those that cause vomiting.
Once vomiting has been confirmed, your vet will attempt to diagnose and treat your pet. Your vet will consider your pet’s age and species to make a diagnosis. A young, energetic dog that is vomiting most likely has eaten something it shouldn’t have. At the same time, an older cat who is losing weight, drinking more, and vomiting is more likely to have a medical issue such as kidney disease or thyroid disease.
Your veterinarian will ask detailed questions regarding the length of illness, weight loss, medications, changes in appetite, and timing of the vomiting. A full physical exam will be performed to see if there is pain, dehydration, or other abnormalities suggesting the cause of the vomiting. You can bring some of the vomit to the clinic or take a picture to show the vet. The appearance of the vomit can assist with the diagnosis.
Your vet may also perform tests on blood, feces, and urine. They may also need to take X-rays and perform an ultrasound of the abdomen if your veterinarian thinks that the problem is in the stomach or the intestines.
A wide variety of tests can be used to diagnose the cause of your cat or dog’s vomiting. These tests will help to determine the best therapy. Blood tests are used to rule out many non-GI diseases. There are blood tests that can test for specific intestinal illness and pancreatitis. Diagnostic imaging is a non-invasively way to examine the stomach and other organs. Endoscopy is used to see inside of the stomach and upper intestines. Biopsy forceps can be passed down the endoscope and used to take a biopsy inside the stomach. Sometimes surgical exploration is needed to remove a foreign body.
How Is Vomiting Treated?
Dehydration from vomiting is the first concern, and it may be necessary to admit your pet to the hospital for fluids while other diagnoses are being pursued. Treatment is aimed at controlling the vomiting itself and ensure your pet can keep food down. Some causes are easily treated, while others may need surgery or more aggressive treatment.
How Can I Prevent Vomiting?
Vomiting is a sign to the owner and the vet that something is wrong. If your pet only vomits once, removing food and water for a few hours may help. If your pet continues to eat and drink, then vomiting may continue. If your pet continues to vomit without eating or drinking, call your vet promptly.
It can be tough to determine the cause of vomiting. This is true if a pet is not supervised or has access to different things that can cause vomiting. Keeping an eye on your pet and preventing them access to harmful elements will help prevent many causes of vomiting.
Having routine exams, fecal testing, and blood work will help with the early discovery and treatment of medical problems such as parasites, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, thyroid disease, and other conditions that cause vomiting. Early diagnosis and treatment will prevent vomiting in many cases.
Will my pet get better after vomiting?
The outcome depends on many factors. Some diseases are considered very hard to treat and have a poor prognosis. Many cases of vomiting see significant improvements as long as treatments are maintained.