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Whether it’s a one-off episode or something that has gone on for weeks, most dog owners know that vomiting and diarrhea are signs of a problem. But what causes vomiting and diarrhea? The truth is hundreds of causes generally signal a problem with the gastrointestinal tract, but this can be secondary to disease elsewhere in the body.
Some cases of vomiting and diarrhea can be very mild, while others are immediately life-threatening; if you’re ever unsure whether you need to worry, we recommend talking with your vet. Our article will discuss vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, the potential causes, and the signs that you could be dealing with a more severe problem.
What Is Vomiting and Diarrhea?
Vomiting and diarrhea are signs of a problem impacting the gastrointestinal tract. During vomiting, dogs expel their stomach contents out of their mouths after drooling and forceful belly movements. When they bring up stomach contents, they usually look like digested or partially digested food with yellow bile and foamy saliva mixed in. In severe cases, dogs can vomit contents from the intestine, which can look and smell more like poop.
Sometimes, regurgitation can be confused with vomiting. Regurgitation doesn’t involve stomach contents; it occurs when food from the esophagus that hasn’t reached the stomach is brought back up. This process is more passive, and you won’t notice drooling or movement in the belly. The food that comes up is undigested but can have mucous. Sometimes, it is formed into the sausage shape of the esophagus.
Diarrhea is passing feces that are loose or even watery. Dogs with diarrhea usually “go” more frequently, and the stools can have blood or mucus; it’s worth checking for this and noting any color changes to discuss with your vet.
Dogs that posture to poop with nothing coming out may have diarrhea, as the inflammation in their colon makes them feel like they need to go. Then again, they could be constipated, so you should check what they are passing.
Signs to Look for With Vomiting and Diarrhea
Vomiting and diarrhea are signs of illness in themselves. However, they often occur with other signs. These signs, along with the severity of the vomiting and diarrhea, can help your vet determine whether you need to worry. Vomiting and diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration, as fluids are lost from the body.
The risk increases with the time and frequency it has been happening, and also if the dog won’t drink. Some cases of vomiting and diarrhea can be managed at home, whereas at other times, tests, hospital care, or medications could be needed.
- Tacky gums
- Small volumes of dark urine
- Poor appetite
- Not drinking
- Unable to keep food or water down
- Lethargy
- Shaking
- Restlessness
- Abdominal pain
- Tense abdomen
- Hunched posture
- Frequent vomiting
- Uncontrollable diarrhea
- Blood in stool or vomit
- Black tarry feces
- Weight loss
- Bloated abdomen
- Fever
- Collapse
- Breathing difficulties
What Are the Causes of Vomiting and Diarrhea?
As we’ve stated, there are hundreds of causes of vomiting or diarrhea. It can help to divide the possibilities into different categories like:
- Infection: Gastrointestinal infections include bacterial infections, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, parasitic infections, such as intestinal worms and Giardia, and uterine infections (pyometra) and septicemia.
- Immune-mediated: Allergic or anaphylactic reaction.
- Inflammatory: Inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, peritonitis.
- Hormonal: Addison’s disease, diabetic ketoacidosis, hypothyroidism.
- Dietary: Dietary indiscretion, food intolerance or allergy, change in diet, nutrient deficiency.
- Medication side-effects: Antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, chemotherapy drugs
- Toxic: Plants: Philodendrons, Sago Palm, Morning Glory, Azalea. Toxic foods: unripe tomatoes, grapes, onions, and garlic. Chemicals: bleach, carbamates
- Genetic: Intestinal cobalamin malabsorption in Border Collies, Basenji enteropathy, Granulomatous colitis in Boxers and French Bulldogs. Protein-losing enteropathy in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in German Shepherds.
- Degenerative: Chronic kidney disease.
- Trauma: Head trauma, perforated bowel
- Congenital: Pyloric stenosis, hiatal hernia, portosystemic shunt
- Cancer: Lymphosarcoma, gastrinoma, carcinoma
- Other: Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), intestinal foreign body, severe constipation
Diagnosing Vomiting and Diarrhea in Your Dog
Before making a vet appointment, you should assess the urgency of your dog’s situation. If you’re not sure, you can call your regular vet, go to an after-hours clinic, or consult a veterinary triage service. For urgent or emergency cases, you should go to an after-hours clinic. In milder cases, sometimes treatments are started at home, with the view to consult with a vet within 24 hours if things don’t resolve on their own.
Your vet will examine your dog, including checking their hydration levels, temperature, and heart rate. Be prepared to answer questions to help the vet determine the most likely causes of your pet’s illness. Some areas you can be asked about are:
- Dietary history, including any recent changes in diet. This includes access to something they shouldn’t have eaten and treats.
- Current parasite prevention
- Duration and severity of illness
- Other signs your pet is showing
- Access to anything toxic
- Previous illnesses, medications, chronic conditions
- Exposure to other dogs and vaccination history
If your vet feels further investigation is appropriate, they will usually start with simple tests like:
- Fecal tests: Your vet may examine your pup’s feces under a microscope or perform a fecal float to look for parasites. The feces can also be sent to the lab for specific tests, such as bacterial culture or DNA testing for infectious diseases (PCR panels).
- Blood tests: Blood tests can check your pet’s red and white cell counts, organ function, electrolytes, acid-base balance, and hormone levels. It is important to look for underlying causes of gastroenteritis and problems secondary to vomiting and diarrhea.
- X-rays: X-rays are a simple test that is particularly useful for looking for intestinal foreign bodies but can also help diagnose other problems, like GDV. However, they don’t show good detail within the organs.
- Abdominal ultrasound: Unlike X-rays, ultrasound shows good detail of soft tissues such as the intestines, stomach, kidneys, and liver. If there are problematic areas, ultrasound helps to localize the issue.
- Elimination diet trial: If your vet suspects your dog has a food allergy, they may recommend a hypoallergenic dog food or diet trial. Your vet should give you strict instructions for an elimination diet trial.
In most cases, one or more of these tests will help diagnose your dog’s condition. However, sometimes, more invasive tests like tissue biopsies or advanced imaging (CT scan or MRI) are needed.
How Do I Care for a Dog With Vomiting and Diarrhea
When caring for a dog with vomiting or diarrhea, it’s important to follow your vet’s instructions for the best outcomes. You’re not going to have a good result if you start treating a dog with an intestinal obstruction, for example, at home.
After your vet visit, you probably have a diagnosis, or at least a preliminary diagnosis, with a plan to see how things go with treatment.
- Probiotics: With gastrointestinal issues, there may be an imbalance of good and bad gut bacteria. Probiotics are good bacteria that you can introduce into your dog’s system. They will help restore the balance and hopefully improve digestion.
- Medications: Depending on your pup’s diagnosis, they may be prescribed medication. Medication to protect the gastrointestinal tract, anti-nausea, antibiotics, or dewormers are common choices.
- Dietary changes: Sometimes, a bland diet is recommended until vomiting or diarrhea resolves. Feeding small, frequent meals is best. Sometimes, the vet may recommend a more specialized diet, like a hypoallergenic diet or one fortified to improve gut health.
- Hydration support: Maintaining hydration is one of the biggest challenges in dogs with vomiting or diarrhea. If your dog is drinking on their own, adding electrolytes to their water can help. If your pet is dehydrated, your vet may recommend an injection of fluids under the skin or a fluid drip into the vein.
- Surgery: Some illnesses that cause vomiting or diarrhea will necessitate surgery. Surgery can also be important for diagnosing your dog’s illness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Food Is Good for Dogs With Vomiting and Diarrhea?
Assuming your dog has no food sensitivities, bland food like boiled chicken and rice for a few days can be gentle on the stomach. You can also buy high-quality gastrointestinal foods that are nutritionally balanced and designed for digestibility and stool quality.
How long does gastro last in dogs?
Mild gastroenteritis from causes like dietary indiscretion generally improves in 24–72 hours, but it can sometimes last longer. More severe cases of vomiting or diarrhea that need interventions like medications and hospital care can take longer to resolve completely, usually around a week or two.
Vomiting that lasts longer than 1 week and diarrhea that lasts more than 2 weeks is classified as chronic.
Conclusion
Vomiting and diarrhea are signs of illnesses that can range from mild and self-limiting to severe and life-threatening. Each case is different, but if your dog shows one of the concerning signs listed in the article, along with vomiting or diarrhea, you should seek urgent veterinary care, even if this means visiting an after-hours clinic.
However, even if they aren’t showing these obvious signs, they can sometimes still need help sooner rather than later. Calling a vet to discuss your pet’s case or online veterinary consults can help you decide whether or not you should get them help immediately.
Featured Image Credit: My July, Shutterstock
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