Dog vomiting – when should I see a vet?
Contact a vet todayThis can have a serious cause – contact your vet today if any of the warning signs below apply, or if you are unsure. Vomiting in dogs is common and can have many causes, from minor problems to much more serious ones.
Contact a vet if you see any of this
- Continuous vomiting
- Blood in the vomit
- Bloody diarrhoea
- Diarrhoea without blood lasting for more than two to three days
- Low energy (lethargy)
- A painful abdomen
- Disorientation or collapse
- Signs of dehydration, such as sticky gums or sunken eyes
- Continuous retching or a bloated tummy
What you can do now
- Contact your vet if you are worried.
- Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
- Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
- Keep fresh water available.
- Let your dog rest somewhere calm.
Don't
- Do not give any human medicine.
- Do not wait if it gets worse.
What it can mean
Vomiting is common in dogs and can have many different causes, from minor problems to much more serious ones.[1] Continuous retching or a bloated tummy can be symptoms of a twisted stomach (GDV), a life-threatening emergency.[1] Vomiting can also be caused by health conditions such as megaoesophagus and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).[1]
Possible causes
What the experts say
“However, it can also be caused by certain health conditions such as megaoesophagus, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which is most commonly seen in shorter-faced (brachycephalic) breeds like French Bulldogs.”
Not sure how serious it is?
OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.
OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.
Common questions
What can vomiting mean in dogs?
It can be caused by many different things, including gastritis, gastroenteritis, eating something harmful or poisonous, a gut blockage, worms, travel sickness and food allergies.[1]
When should I contact a vet about my dog vomiting?
Contact a vet for continuous vomiting, blood in the vomit, bloody diarrhoea, diarrhoea without blood lasting for more than two to three days, low energy, a painful abdomen, disorientation or collapse, signs of dehydration, or continuous retching or a bloated tummy.[1]
Could a bloated tummy with vomiting be an emergency?
Continuous retching or a bloated tummy can be symptoms of a twisted stomach (GDV), which is a life-threatening emergency.[1]
Sources
How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages
Weight Loss
Bad Breath
Blindness
Coughing
Diarrhoea