You may be extremely worried if you see your dog throwing up. Your gut instinct is to travel to an animal hospital in San Jose, CA, like Alum Rock Animal Hospital. However, dogs are well-known for eating things they shouldn’t, which can lead to vomiting. Of course, at the same time, canine vomiting can be a sign of something more serious. Therefore, it is important to understand the difference between vomiting and regurgitation.
What Is Regurgitation? What Is Vomiting?
Regurgitation is a passive process and tends to occur after a dog eats, especially a large amount or quickly. During regurgitation, a dog will lower his head and food will come up. Usually, this food hasn’t been digested and there is no bile present. The signs of regurgitation are heavy or difficulty breathing and/or coughing.
When your dog vomits, however, there is usually some bile present in what comes up and the food has been somewhat digested. The process is forceful. Before your dog vomits, he will likely exhibit signs of nausea.
When Is Dog Vomiting Serious?
Believe it or not, in most cases, vomiting by your dog is completely normal. Usually, it will resolve within 24 hours. However, in more serious cases, the vomiting will continue. If your dog is exhibiting any other signs, such as loss of appetite, fever, abdominal pain, lethargy, diarrhea, or dehydration, then a visit to the animal hospital is important.
Causes of Dog Vomiting
Your dog may vomit for any number of reasons, such as an upset stomach, spoiled food, or table scraps. However, the vomiting may be caused by a more serious condition, such as a viral or bacterial infection, allergies, intestinal obstruction, liver or kidney failure, or even cancer.
Schedule an Appointment with Our Veterinarian in San Jose, CA
As a pet owner, you want to do everything you can to ensure your dog is well cared for, happy, and healthy. You can visit Alum Rock Animal Hospital in San Jose, CA, to get your dog the care he needs when vomiting. Call us today at (408) 258-2735 with any questions or to schedule an appointment.