Vomiting is one of the most common reasons for a dog to visit their veterinarian. It is usually associated with irritation or inflammation of your dog’s stomach and small intestine, and has many causes.

One of the most common causes of vomiting in dogs is gulping their food too fast. This often happens if you have more than one dog, and they are worried that their canine buddy is going to take their food. To solve this problem, feed your dog two small meals a day instead of one large one. It might also be worth separating your dogs at dinner time.

A common cause of sudden vomiting in dogs is eating something inappropriate. They may have an irritated stomach, or they may actually have a foreign body stuck in their stomach or intestines. Vomiting is also one of the first symptoms of a viral infection such as parvovirus.

More chronic vomiting over weeks or months can be caused by more serious diseases such as liver or kidney failure. If your dog has one of these conditions, they often drink excessively and urinate a lot. They may also lose weight. These illnesses can make your dog seriously ill, so contact your veterinarian sooner rather than later.

Dogs can get inflammatory bowel disease, which also leads to long term vomiting and weight loss. This appears to be caused by a food allergy, and can often be managed by changing your dog’s diet.

If your dog suddenly starts vomiting but is otherwise bright and happy, there is no reason to rush to the vet immediately. Don’t feed them for 24 hours, and keep an eye on them. If they aren’t feeling better in a day or so, or they become depressed and quite unwell, take them to your veterinarian for treatment.

In Summary – Chronic vomiting does need veterinary care. Your dog will probably need to undergo testing to help your vet reach a diagnosis. Long term vomiting can lead to weight loss, lack of energy and electrolyte deficiencies, so don’t leave it too long before contacting your vet for advice.