What To Do When Your Dog Vomits

by Christy Caplan | July 12, 2018

Vet disclaimer: I’m not a vet and anything you decide to do based on these details and tips should be verified with your vet!

Some dogs vomit occasionally. Keeping track of frequency, consistency, color (is it bile?) and their overall behavior is really key to determine if this is a true emergency. Are they vomiting because they just ate grass? Is it bile early in the a.m.? Or are you confident they actually got into something like chocolate?

What are the signs to watch for?

These absolutely indicate your dog is nauseous.

• Drooling
• Licking their lips
• Swallowing excessively

Typically a dog will race to the back door when they need to vomit.

What should you do for your dog while you’re observing if this was a one-time incident or something more serious?

Based on my experience as a certified vet tech (CVT), the most popular go-to diet is the bland diet after resting their stomachs. The key is to skip a meal (sometimes even as long as 24 hours) and then feel a small meal of boiled chicken and boiled white rice. If after the resting period and after the meal is fed there is no more vomiting you should observe your dog. If the vomiting continues you should take your dog to the vet immediately.

Also, consider if your dog is a senior. Seniors are the exception and if there are underlying issues it’s important to have them seen by your vet if they start vomiting.

You can always keep Pepcid (Famotidine) on hand as well. It decreases stomach acid and seems to help our dogs after they vomit. I use my best judgment though on when it’s appropriate to give. Often times I’ll use it if I see acute vomiting rather than vomit resulting from some long grass eaten in the yard.

When is it time to call the Vet?

There are some clear cases when you should just call your vet and get into the vet.

• Blood in the vomit
• Your dog also has a fever or is clearly lethargic and in pain
• The vomiting is very acute and persists (our dog Sherm ate a slug and literally started vomiting and it wouldn’t stop!)
• You are confident they ate something that falls into the foreign object category

Natural solutions for mild cases of vomiting:  

Ginger is often used for dogs that are nauseous.  

Ginger is used as its nausea-relieving properties are well known and it is often used as a remedy for vomiting and motion sickness. “A dog who tends to be carsick might benefit from powdered gingerroot capsules given half hour before the excursion. Because of its properties as a stomach soother, this herb also helps treat indigestion,” says Denise Flaim, author of The Holistic Dog Book.

Essential Oils can help too.

Peppermint is known for calming upset stomachs. Denise Flaim also suggests diluting the peppermint essential oil in an equal amount of carrier oil (coconut oil is popular) and putting it in an area where the dog WILL lick.

*From personal experience with my pack of hounds I know that inhaling meals can be an issue for some dogs so consider small meals a few hours apart or a puzzle toy to help slow them down.

Is there ever a reason to induce vomiting?

Whatever you do, resist the urge to turn to the internet and induce vomiting unless you’ve spoken with your vet. According to the Preventive Vet, “In some cases, and with some poisons (toxins), making your dog vomit is NOT the right thing to do.” This can actually cause more harm than good. And if you suspect your dog has been poisoned, you need to call the closest emergency vet and head there immediately. Don’t take a wait and see approach if you know your dog is vomiting from something toxic!

So I’m hoping this helps pet parents determine when to worry and the steps they should take when this happens.