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Vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs

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It is not unusual for dogs to suffer from an upset stomach with vomiting and diarrhoea. If your dog has been affected for 24 hours or more with no response to home treatment (see below), has become depressed or unwell, or is distressed by its problem it is essential that you have it checked over by a veterinarian. Usually such problems will resolve quickly with appropriate diet changes and medications. Puppies and elderly dogs can deteriorate rapidly when affected by diseases, therefore need medical attention as soon as possible.

Causes
There are a variety of possible causes for the problem. The most common causes include worms, food poisoning after scavenging of unpleasant materials on walks and sudden dietary changes, especially involving foods which are rich in protein or have a high fat content. A dog's intestine adapts surprisingly accurately to it's usual diet, and a sudden change of dog food brand or any large unusual meal often causes vomiting and/or diarrhoea. Most dogs recover quickly from these sorts of upset - follow the guidelines below regarding home treatment and when you need to see the vet.

More serious causes of vomiting and diarrhoea include blockages caused by foreign bodies or constipation, and metabolic diseases such as liver, pancreas and kidney problems. These conditions may require specific tests to confirm the appropriate cause and allow us to provide the correct treatment.

Unusual but serious causes of vomiting and diarrhoea include viral infections such as Parvovirus or Distemper. These diseases are fatal in a high proportion of cases. We recommend that all dogs are vaccinated as puppies and boosted every year in order to prevent these diseases.

Certain other infectious causes of vomiting and diarrhoea can be passed onto people (e.g. Giardia, Campylobacter and Salmonella). Where a client has young children or if there are old or ill members of the household, we would advise the client to consider undertaking faecal screening for such diseases, and to pay particular attention to disposal of faeces and disinfection until these infections are ruled out.

Management of vomiting and diarrhoea

  • Starve for 24 hours, but do not withhold water
  • After this period offer small frequent meals of bland foods for a further 24 hours. Suitable foods include boiled rice, steamed fish, boiled chicken and scrambled eggs. If vomiting or diarrhoea persist, seek further advice from the veterinarian.
  • If your pet is no better within 48 hours then veterinary attention must he sought, especially if your pet has become depressed or dehydrated.
  • Follow any advice the veterinarian has given you and if medication has been prescribed ensure that the whole course is given.
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