Vomiting
What causes vomiting?
Vomiting is not a disease but a symptom of many different diseases. Many cases
of vomiting are minor and self-limiting after a few days. For example - viral or
bacterial infections of the stomach or intestines. stomach or intestinal
parasites, and dietary indiscretions (such as eating rubbish or rich food).
Even when vomiting is caused by mild illnesses, it often requires treatment as
continuous vomiting can cause severe fluid and nutrient losses and may be
life-threatening if treatment is not begun early enough. Occasionally,
vomiting can be caused by serious diseases. Therefore if your dog
persistantly vomiting you should seek veterinary advice.
How is vomiting treated?
Mild cases may be successfully treated with drugs
alone. Drugs are given to control the motility of the intestinal tract,
relieve inflammation and treat infections. Often, in conjunction with
drugs a special diet may be given for a few days. This approach allows the
body's healing mechanisms to correct the problem. We expect improvement within
2-4 days; if this does not occur, we will make a change in medication or perform
further tests to better understand the problem. Please keep your veterinary
surgeon informed if your dog does not improve as expected.
What if the vomiting is serious?
We need to determine how sick the dog has become as a consequence of the
vomiting. When the dog is systemically ill (i.e. more than one body system is
involved), some of the following may be noted:
What types of tests are performed to find the cause?
If vomiting is associated with several of the above signs, we perform a series
of tests to help us diagnose the problem. Diagnostic tests may include
bloods tests, radiography (x-rays) with or without barium, ultrasound scans,
biopsies of the stomach and intestinal tract, and exploratory abdominal surgery.
Following these tests more specific treatment may be initiated - including
special medications, diets, and/or surgery.
