5 Natural Home Remedies for Dog Vomiting (Expert Tips!)
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The essential thing to understand about vomiting is it’s a symptom and not a diagnostic sign of itself. So many things can cause it. The same point applies to cats, too. If it’s a one-off occurrence, the chances are that it isn’t serious. If it’s chronic, then it means taking your pooch to the vet for further investigation. Some reasons are severe and even life-threatening.
We recommend monitoring your dog’s behavior for any other symptoms he may be experiencing. That can provide valuable clues for both you and your veterinarian about what’s behind his vomiting. After all, there is always a root cause. It could be something minor like he ate too much or something didn’t agree with him. He may have eaten some onions that fell on the floor when you made dinner that night.
However, vomiting is also a sign of conditions that require a vet’s assistance and not a home remedy. They include things like poisoning, cancer, gastritis or infections. That’s why getting a complete view of your pup’s behavior is vital. Other things to pay attention to are whether there’s a pattern.
- Does it happen after he eats certain foods?
- Are there other symptoms of GI distress?
- Is he acting depressed or in pain?
- Did the vomiting occur suddenly?
Top 5 Natural Home Remedies for Dog Vomiting:
1. Withhold Food
The first thing you should do if your pup throws up is to pick up the food bowl and give his body a rest. Remember that vomiting is a reaction shared by many animals to rid themselves of something harmful. How long it stays in his system depends on the source. Canines digest carbs quicker than proteins like beef because it takes them longer to metabolize these nutrients.
2. Offer a Bland Diet
If your pet hasn’t vomited for several hours, you can slowly introduce food with something bland like boiled rice. That can help with other digestive symptoms like diarrhea. It won’t aggravate his sensitive tummy so that he can keep foods down and avoid irritating his esophagus. Throwing up is hard on a dog. Anything you can do to prevent a recurrence will help him through the worst of it.
3. Modify Your Pup’s Feeding
Sometimes, dogs will regurgitate their food if they eat too fast or too much at one time. Your pooch may still be excited after playing a game of frisbee. He might be so happy to see you after you’ve been away for a while. This situation differs from vomiting in that there isn’t any involvement of the abdominal muscles that would cause your pup to retch. Try feeding him smaller meals to see if that stops it.
4. Separate Your Dog from the Other Pets in the House
Related to the previous remedy is to isolate your pup from the other pets. Eating with them might encourage him to gobble his food too quickly and cause him to regurgitate it. Instead, try feeding him in a separate room or at a different time to remove the pressure of finishing his meal quickly. Sometimes, a simple change like this one can make a significant impact.
5. Monitor Your Pooch’s Time in the Yard
Both cats and dogs sometimes eat grass. It could be a bad habit he’s picked up somewhere. Other times, pups will do it to satisfy a nutrition craving from something missing in their diet. That’s why it’s essential to feed your dog a commercial food that has the necessary nutrients. If you notice that he vomits regularly after eating grass, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.
Final Thoughts
Vomiting or regurgitating once in a while is usually a cause for concern. It’s an instinctive response to eating something that is potentially toxic. The best action is to get rid of it as quickly as possible. That’s what your dog is doing. The red flags are other symptoms such as lethargy, unexplained weight loss, and behavior changes.
Because of the risk of serious causes, we strongly urge you to take your pup to the vet if the vomiting and other symptoms persist. It presents an added risk of dehydration if it continues, which will only complicate the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. Home remedies are appropriate only for one-off situations. Otherwise, it’s best to seek advice from a professional.
Related Reads:
- 7 Natural Home Remedies for Dog Stuffy Noses and Colds
- How to Get Dog Vomit Out of a Mattress: Step by Step Guide
Featured Image: Olexandr Andreiko, Shutterstock
