Written by Many times, owners notice that their pet vomits some food and know that this is not a sign of illness - the pet is cleaning its stomach. Dogs and cats vomit food eaten too quickly, or too much food eaten. Active and mobile pets also vomit if they have eaten a lot of jumping or running - more exercise causes vomiting if the stomach does not have time to digest a large amount of food. Cats vomit due to hair build-up in the digestive tract, so vomiting can be both a natural cleansing of the body and a sign of a more serious health problem.
The following factors may be responsible for the sudden onset of frequent vomiting in your pet:
- Bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract;
- Parasites - worms or mites;
- Foreign objects - swallowed toys, accumulations of hair;
- Changes in diet, food intolerances (dairy intolerance is particularly common), allergies;
- Kidney failure;
- Liver problems, pancreatitis;
- anaesthesia, which makes the animal dizzy, and certain medications;
- Poisoning;
- Constipation;
- Gastric diseases - gastritis;
- Tumours in the gastrointestinal tract.
So, a single, infrequent vomiting episode may be natural, but if it is a frequent and persistent condition - the owner should take time to go to the veterinary clinic to have the cause determined. Observe the frequency of the vomiting, if it happens once a day and the animal seems alert and is eating, then it is normal. You should be concerned if you notice other signs of ill health such as diarrhoea, sluggishness, blood in the stool or vomiting. Watch for weight loss, willingness to eat and water intake.
When determining the cause of vomiting, the veterinarian looks at the pet's age, body weight, and previous illnesses. Blood tests, echoscopy and abdominal palpation are necessary to diagnose the disease. Veterinarians recommend not giving the animal food for at least a couple of hours and ensuring that the animal has a drink of water when the condition is severe.
A further special diet is recommended - homemade chicken broth, boiled skinless chicken, rice with broth. These dietary recommendations should be followed for up to several days, depending on the cause of the vomiting and in accordance with the instructions of the veterinarian. The veterinarian may prescribe medication, injections or a drip to stop frequent and troublesome vomiting, depending on the cause of the vomiting.
Based on scientific literature and consultation with veterinary surgeons
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