Vomiting
Vomiting
Vomiting is a relatively common occurrence with dogs and cats. This isn’t surprising considering the large variety of conditions that can lead to vomiting. Vomiting is an active process. The abdomen often contracts multiple times before the vomit is expelled. The pet often salivates, acts uncomfortable or vocalizes and may gag or retch. It is important to distinguish vomiting from regurgitation, which is a passive process. With regurgitation, gastric or esophageal contents are expelled without any abdominal contractions or indications that the regurgitation is about to happen. Vomiting can be classified as acute or chronic. With acute vomiting, the duration is usually less than one week with variable frequency. Chronic vomiting has a duration of longer than one week and can be persistent or intermittent.
Why is my pet vomiting?
The causes of vomiting are diverse and vary greatly in degree of seriousness. The causes of vomiting can be classified as those related to a problem within the gastrointestinal tract and those outside of the gastrointestinal tract. Common gastrointestinal causes include: dietary indiscretion (sudden dietary change, eating foreign material or trash, table scraps, food sensitivity), ulcers, obstructions, inflammatory bowel disease, motility disorders, cancer, drugs, parasites and toxins. Causes of vomiting outside of the gastrointestinal tract include: infections, organ disease (kidneys, liver, pancreas), electrolyte imbalances, endocrine diseases (hypoadrenocorticism, diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperthyroidism), neurological diseases, ear infections, allergic reactions, heat stroke, motion sickness, pain and fear.
When should I be concerned about my pet's vomiting?
As a general guideline, if your pet vomits, but otherwise seems normal in terms of attitude and activity level, don’t offer any food for 12 hours. If there is no vomiting in that 12 hours, offer a small meal and see how the pet responds. If vomiting continues, the pet should see a veterinarian. You should seek medical attention for you pet if the vomiting is chronic in nature, if the pet is lethargic, if there is blood in the vomit (black, coffee ground appearance, or red), if the pet is vomiting multiple times in the course of the day, if there is associated weight loss with the vomiting or if you suspect the pet ingested something it shouldn’t have (trash, toxins, toys, etc…). If you have any question as to whether or not your pet’s vomiting is serious, you should seek medical attention from your veterinarian.
Why is it important to perform medical testing for vomiting?
As you can see, the causes of vomiting are numerous and diverse. It is important for your veterinarian to try and determine the cause of the vomiting in order to be able to provide you with an accurate diagnosis and the best treatment options for your pet.
What kinds of tests might be performed to determine why my pet is vomiting?
First and foremost, your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical examination. Combined with the history that you provide about your pet, this information will help your veterinarian begin to narrow down the possible causes for your pet’s vomiting and choose the most appropriate tests to reach a diagnosis. Blood work and urinalysis are commonly performed. These tests can give valuable information regarding the status of the organs such as the liver and kidneys, the thyroid, electrolytes and the blood cell counts. A fecal examination to evaluate for parasites and certain bacteria is often suggested.
Other tests might include radiographs of the chest and abdomen to determine if there are any visible abnormalities in the gastrointestinal system from the esophagus through the intestinal tract. The size and shape of the organs can also be evaluated. Contrast studies, such as a barium series, might help to locate a foreign object lodged in the gastrointestinal tract. Ultrasound might also be used to evaluate the internal structure of the organs to look for abnormalities such as masses. The thickness and layering of the stomach and intestines can also be evaluated.
More invasive tests that might be suggested in some cases include endoscopy, laparoscopy or exploratory surgery. Endoscopy is performed if the less invasive tests mentioned above point to the gastrointestinal tract as being the source of the problem. A long flexible tube with a camera on the end is inserted into the stomach and intestines to evaluate how the tissues look on the inside. Foreign material in the stomach and first part of the small intestine can be located and removed with the endoscope, making surgery unnecessary. Ulcers can also be identified and their seriousness evaluated. Small biopsies are taken from the stomach and intestines and evaluated by a pathologist to determine if there are any abnormalities at the cellular level.
Laparoscopy can be preformed in cases where organs outside of the gastrointestinal tract are believed to be the cause of vomiting. This is a less invasive method of exploring the abdominal organs and taking biopsies without requiring traditional surgery. Two small incisions (approximately ¼ inch long) are made on either side of the belly button. A small rigid scope with a camera on the end is inserted through one of the incisions and the biopsy instrument through the other. The entire abdominal cavity can be visualized using this procedure. In some cases, exploratory surgery may be indicated. Reasons for surgery might include the inability to determine a cause for the vomiting, if there is a mass that needs to be removed or if there is an obstruction in the intestine that can’t be reached or corrected with an endoscope.
Other tests might include radiographs of the chest and abdomen to determine if there are any visible abnormalities in the gastrointestinal system from the esophagus through the intestinal tract. The size and shape of the organs can also be evaluated. Contrast studies, such as a barium series, might help to locate a foreign object lodged in the gastrointestinal tract. Ultrasound might also be used to evaluate the internal structure of the organs to look for abnormalities such as masses. The thickness and layering of the stomach and intestines can also be evaluated.
More invasive tests that might be suggested in some cases include endoscopy, laparoscopy or exploratory surgery. Endoscopy is performed if the less invasive tests mentioned above point to the gastrointestinal tract as being the source of the problem. A long flexible tube with a camera on the end is inserted into the stomach and intestines to evaluate how the tissues look on the inside. Foreign material in the stomach and first part of the small intestine can be located and removed with the endoscope, making surgery unnecessary. Ulcers can also be identified and their seriousness evaluated. Small biopsies are taken from the stomach and intestines and evaluated by a pathologist to determine if there are any abnormalities at the cellular level.
Laparoscopy can be preformed in cases where organs outside of the gastrointestinal tract are believed to be the cause of vomiting. This is a less invasive method of exploring the abdominal organs and taking biopsies without requiring traditional surgery. Two small incisions (approximately ¼ inch long) are made on either side of the belly button. A small rigid scope with a camera on the end is inserted through one of the incisions and the biopsy instrument through the other. The entire abdominal cavity can be visualized using this procedure. In some cases, exploratory surgery may be indicated. Reasons for surgery might include the inability to determine a cause for the vomiting, if there is a mass that needs to be removed or if there is an obstruction in the intestine that can’t be reached or corrected with an endoscope.
How will my pet be treated for vomiting?
Treatment varies on a case-by-case basis depending on the cause of the vomiting. Hospitalization might be required if your pet is dehydrated, or has more serious complications such as electrolyte imbalances, organ dysfunction, obstruction or bleeding. Determining the cause of the vomiting is the most important factor, as it allows more specific treatment for the cause of your pet’s vomiting. Your veterinarian will discuss the diagnosis and treatment options with you and help you to make the best decisions for you and the care of your pet.
Back to PDQ Medical Information