Dog Vomiting: Causes, When It Is Serious and What to Do

Dogs vomit more readily than most animals, and isolated episodes are usually harmless. But repeated vomiting, bloody vomit, or vomiting paired with other symptoms can be a medical emergency. Here is how to assess what you're dealing with.

Common Harmless Causes

• Eating grass: A long-debated behaviour — most likely an instinctive response. Single episode with no other symptoms: monitor.
• Eating too fast: Undigested food returned minutes after eating. A slow feeder bowl usually solves this.
• Empty stomach bilious vomiting: Yellow, foamy vomit on an empty stomach, often first thing in the morning. More frequent small meals typically resolve this.
• Scavenging: Vomiting after eating something unsuitable found outdoors or in the bin.
• Motion sickness: Some dogs vomit in cars — typically drooling, then retching shortly after starting the journey.

Medical Causes

• Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV / bloat): Life-threatening stomach twisting. Mainly in large, deep-chested breeds. Repeated unproductive retching, distended abdomen, rapid deterioration. Emergency — go immediately to an emergency vet.
• Foreign body obstruction: Socks, toys, bones or stones can block the stomach or intestine. Repeated vomiting, abdominal pain, not eating.
• Pancreatitis: Often triggered by fatty food. Vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, fever.
• Gastroenteritis or intestinal infection: Parvovirus, Salmonella, Campylobacter — often with diarrhoea.
• Kidney failure: Uraemic vomiting as kidney toxins irritate the stomach lining.
• Poisoning: Chocolate, xylitol, grapes, medications, household chemicals.
• Other: Liver disease, Addison's disease, pyometra (infected uterus in unspayed females).

Emergency Signs — Go Now

• Repeated unproductive retching (no vomit produced) — GDV suspect
• Blood in vomit (fresh red or dark brown "coffee grounds")
• More than 3–4 vomiting episodes in a few hours
• Severe weakness, collapse or breathing difficulty
• Distended, hard, painful abdomen
• Concurrent bloody diarrhoea
• Known or suspected poisoning
• A puppy, senior dog, or dog with known health conditions

What to Do for Mild Cases at Home

• Withhold food for 4–6 hours (not water — small amounts frequently)
• Reintroduce with bland food: plain boiled chicken and white rice
• Watch for dehydration — signs include dry gums, skin that doesn't spring back when pinched
• Keep the dog calm and comfortable

No improvement after 12–24 hours, or symptoms worsen at any point: see the vet.