Home Remedies for Vomiting Dog
Why Do Dogs Vomit?
The vomiting reflex is a natural ingrained response of the body to protect itself from substances ingested into the gastrointestinal tract that may cause damage. Often the body will recognize the material in the stomach as ‘bad’ for example moldy food, or a toxin.
The brain receives the signals from the stomach and releases chemicals to start the process of vomiting. The same process happens if the stomach is too full, or is irritated by the contents of the stomach, for example, a build-up of acid in the stomach.
What Are Some Home Remedies for Vomiting up Bile?
If your dog continues to vomit bile, try adjusting their diet with smaller, frequent meals, using ginger for upset stomachs, and utilizing electrolyte rehydration sachets to prevent dehydration. Here’s a breakdown:
Diet Changes
Some conditions like bilious vomiting syndrome and pancreatitis are managed with changes to your feeding schedule and if needed, the volumes of food fed at one time. Feeding small meals little and often, around four times a day with an easily digestible protein source can help the stomach to settle and reduce the chances of vomiting.
Feeding early in the morning and late at night can also reduce vomiting. This is important when considering the cause of bilious vomiting syndrome is a build-up of bile with nothing to digest in the stomach. If there is always food in the stomach or a constant trickle of food, the bile has a function throughout the day.
If the vomiting is a short-term problem, there are prescription foods such as the Royal Canin gastrointestinal diet or Hills i/d diet that can be fed to help soothe sore tummies. Another alternative, which can only be fed for a few days as it is not nutritionally balanced, is small frequent meals of chicken and rice. The gastrointestinal tract easily digests chicken and rice.
It is no longer recommended to withhold food for 24 hours (or longer) if your pet is vomiting. The gut needs a constant supply of energy from food, or it can start to die off. Continue to offer small amounts of food regularly and offer a variety of food to see if your pet prefers one option over another. Just your presence encouraging your dog to eat can be enough to get them to have a few mouthfuls of food. It is important when pets are sick that they still get nutrition into their bodies as this will speed up their recovery rate.
Ginger
Ginger is one of the best home remedies for your dog’s vomiting and upset stomach. You can make ginger tea by boiling fresh ginger root in water, cooling it, and giving it to your dog in small amounts throughout the day.
Electrolytes
Electrolyte rehydration sachets are easily obtained over the counter at your veterinary clinic or local pet store. They help to prevent dehydration, which vomiting can lead to quite quickly. The dosing instructions are on the back of the packets. It is crucial to use electrolytes specifically formulated for dogs, not human preparations as the concentration of the solutions vary between species.
TLC
Dogs who are vomiting feel miserable! They need extra love and support when they are feeling unwell. Remember dogs look to us to fill their every need, and emotional support plays a huge part in recovery from illness. Wipe away any drool around their mouths after they have finished vomiting and offer a drink of fresh water regularly. Avoid walks or strenuous play as this can further upset their tummies. Offer a calm, quiet space for them to rest and recover and lots of pats never hurt!
Probiotics
Probiotics will not stop your dog from vomiting but can be a useful supplement after the vomiting bout has passed. Probiotics contain the precursors for the ‘good’ bacteria which populate the gut and help with digestion. When pets are ill with vomiting and diarrhea, they can lose some of the ‘good’ bacteria during illness.
Supplementing a probiotic can give the gut the opportunity to repopulate with ‘good’ bacteria. It’s important to use probiotic sachets or supplements specifically made for dogs as their microflora are different from other species.
