Pet owners, at one time or another would witness the pet throwing up. A dog owner hearing the gagging sound made by the pet would instantly leap not to help the dog but to save the carpet from the mess. As if one heap of vomitus is not enough for the master to clean, the dog would transfer to another corner to make another mound. Does the dog has a vengeful spirit?

A dog owner should not be surprised if the dog throws up as these animals are indiscriminate eaters. Dogs have huge appetites not only for edible but also for non-edible objects. Objects that should not be in the stomach will be vomited by the dog. Dogs only have to vomit to remove the foreign objects from the stomach. Dogs have gargantuan appetites. Dogs can finish off significant amounts of food in so short a time.

The dog’s habit of gulping down food will result to vomiting if the dry food that fills the stomach absorbs moisture and expands. A dog may have chronic or acute bouts of vomiting. A dog may have sudden vomiting bouts but this condition is pretty ordinary in dogs and dog owners need not be concerned especially if the dog is its usual energetic self.

Generally, acute vomiting is not life threatening. Often times throwing up is a onetime occurrence and after the offending contents of the stomach are expulsed, the pet would be back in its normal voracious-eating self. Acute vomiting though can also be a medical emergency. We know how curious dogs are. These adorable creatures may have ingested poisonous substances or objects that were swallowed are too large to pass the smaller intestinal tract. Throwing up caused by poisoning or blockage of the intestinal tract would need immediate medical attention.

A seemingly healthy dog that has recurring bouts of vomiting may have an underlying medical condition. Chronic vomiting can be caused by distemper, parvovirus or by intestinal parasite infestation. Other causes are inflammatory bowel disease, allergies and pancreatitis.

Medical attention is mandatory for dogs with chronic vomiting as poor digestion can hamper the absorption of nutrients resulting not only to low energy level but also to poor physical appearance. Although occasional vomiting is normal in dogs, pet owners have to be observant – to know if the dog needs medical attention as throwing up may not be due to overeating but to life threatening concern.

Learn more about dogs throwing up at Sarah’s Dogs. This website answers many common questions about dog health and behaviour. Find out how to best help your dog when it is sick and vomiting.