Dog Vomiting or Diarrhoea: When to Worry

Quick answer

A single bout of vomiting or loose poo in an otherwise bright adult dog is common and often settles within a day or two with rest, water and small bland meals. Call a vet straight away if your dog is a puppy, keeps vomiting, can't keep water down, has blood in the vomit or diarrhoea, seems weak or in pain, may have eaten something toxic or a toy, or is retching without bringing anything up with a swollen belly. That last one can be a twisted stomach, which is a life-threatening emergency.

Vomiting, regurgitation or retching?

It helps to know what you actually saw, because your vet will ask.

• Vomiting is an active process. The dog looks queasy, may drool or lick its lips, heaves, and brings up food, froth or yellow bile from the stomach.
• Regurgitation is passive. Undigested food just comes back up, often soon after eating, with little or no heaving. A one-off may be from eating too fast. If it keeps happening, see your vet, as it can point to a problem with the food pipe.
• Retching is heaving with little or nothing coming up. One retch is usually nothing. Repeated, unproductive retching, especially with a tight or swollen belly and restlessness, is an emergency (see below).

Common causes

Most short-lived upsets are down to something simple. "Dietary indiscretion" is the vet term for a dog eating what it shouldn't: bin raids, rich table scraps, dead things, grass. A sudden change of food, stress, travel sickness and mild gut infections are also common.

The causes you mustn't miss are less common but serious:

• Swallowed objects such as socks, toy pieces, corn cobs, bones or stones, which can block the gut
• Poisons and toxic foods, for example chocolate, grapes and raisins, xylitol (a sweetener in some sugar-free products), rat bait or human medicines; see Foods That Are Toxic to Dogs
• Parvovirus in unvaccinated or partly vaccinated puppies and young dogs; see Parvo in Dogs
• Worms and other parasites, particularly in puppies
• Pancreatitis, often after a fatty meal
• Haemorrhagic gastroenteritis, sudden bloody diarrhoea that can dehydrate a dog quickly
• Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV or "bloat"), mainly in large, deep-chested breeds
• Underlying illness such as kidney or liver disease, diabetes, hormonal disorders or, in unspayed females, a womb infection (pyometra)

Home care for a mild upset in an adult dog

This applies only if your dog is an adult, otherwise healthy, still bright and alert, has vomited once or twice or has mild diarrhoea, and has none of the red flags below.

Water first. Make sure fresh water is always available. If your dog gulps a lot and then vomits, offer small amounts often instead of a full bowl.

Small, bland meals. Rather than a long fast, offer small portions of a plain, low-fat, easily digested food several times a day. Plain boiled chicken or white fish with plain boiled rice is a common choice, with no skin, bones, butter, oil or seasoning. Your vet may suggest a ready-made gut-friendly diet instead.

Rest. Skip long walks and hard play for a day or so, but give plenty of chances to go to the toilet.

Back to normal food slowly. Once things have settled, mix the usual food back in gradually over two to three days.

Keep watching. Note how often your dog vomits or passes diarrhoea, what it looks like, and whether your dog is eating, drinking and peeing normally. Photos of the vomit or poo can help your vet.

Don't give human medicines. Some are toxic to dogs, and others can hide a problem that needs treatment. If your vet prescribes something, follow their dosing exactly.

When to see a vet

Go now (emergency)

• Repeated retching without bringing anything up, with a swollen or tight belly, drooling or restlessness
• Collapse, extreme weakness or very pale gums
• Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
• Large amounts of blood in the diarrhoea, or raspberry-jam-like diarrhoea
• You know or suspect your dog ate something toxic, a medicine, or an object such as a sock or toy
• Vomiting with a painful belly (crying out, hunched posture, reluctance to move)

Call your vet the same day

• Any vomiting or diarrhoea in a puppy, especially if not fully vaccinated
• Vomiting more than once or twice, or your dog can't keep water down
• Signs of dehydration: sticky or dry gums, sunken eyes, lethargy
• Black, tarry poo, or any noticeable blood in the poo
• Your dog is off food, dull or just "not right"
• A dog that is elderly, very small, or has an existing illness such as diabetes or kidney disease
• Fever, or vomiting and diarrhoea together in a dog that seems unwell

Book a check if

• Diarrhoea without blood lasts more than two or three days
• Vomiting or diarrhoea keeps coming back
• Your dog is losing weight or regurgitating food regularly

If you're unsure, ring the practice and describe what you've seen. They would much rather talk it through than see a dog arrive too late.

What the vet may do

Your vet will examine your dog and ask about diet, scavenging, vaccinations, worming and timings. Depending on what they find they may suggest a stool test, blood tests, X-rays or an ultrasound scan. Treatment ranges from a bland diet and anti-sickness medicine to fluids through a drip for dehydrated dogs, or surgery for a blockage or GDV. Treat any medicine plan as your vet's to set, and follow the dosing on the label they give you.

Prevention

• Keep bins, food waste, bones and corn cobs out of reach
• Change food gradually over about a week
• Know the common toxic foods and keep medicines locked away
• Keep vaccinations and parasite control up to date as your vet advises
• Choose chew toys that can't be broken into swallowable pieces
• For large, deep-chested breeds, ask your vet about bloat risk and feeding habits

Get to know your dog's normal appetite, energy and poo. Spotting a change early makes it far easier to decide when to watch and when to call. If you're adding a dog to your family, verified sellers on Paalo can share the puppy's vaccination and worming history.