Dog Vomiting — Vet or Wait?
A single episode of vomiting in an otherwise healthy dog is usually not an emergency, but repeated vomiting, blood, or lethargy means see a vet today.
Go to the vet now
- Vomiting blood or dark coffee-ground material
- Vomiting repeatedly for more than 6 hours
- Abdomen appears swollen or painful to touch
- Dog is lethargic, weak, or unable to stand
- Known ingestion of a toxic substance
OK to wait & monitor
- Single episode followed by normal behavior and appetite
- Ate too fast or ate grass and vomited once
- Vomiting occurred after car ride (motion sickness)
- Dog is still playful, drinking water, and acting normally
Home care tips
- 1Withhold food for 12 hours, then offer a small bland meal (boiled chicken and rice)
- 2Offer small amounts of water frequently rather than a full bowl
- 3Remove access to grass, garbage, or anything they might eat
- 4Monitor for additional episodes and note the color and contents
- 5Keep your dog calm and avoid vigorous play or exercise
When to escalate
If your dog vomits more than twice in 24 hours, cannot keep water down, shows signs of pain or bloating, or if the vomiting continues beyond 24 hours, transition from home monitoring to a vet visit. Puppies and senior dogs should be seen sooner as they dehydrate faster.
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