Vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs

It is not unusual for dogs to suffer from upset stomachs with vomiting and diarrhoea. Such problems will usually resolve themselves quickly with appropriate diet changes and medications if necessary.  However if your dog has been affected for 24 hours or more and isn't responding to home treatment (see below), or if he's become depressed or is clearly distressed, then you should definitely have him checked by a Vet.  You also need to be more vigilant with puppies and elderly dogs as they can deteriorate rapidly when affected by diseases and need medical attention as soon as possible.

Causes

The problem can be caused by a variety of things. It could be worms, or food poisoning after they've eaten something unpleasant on a walk.  Sudden changes of diet can also cause problems, especially if the food is rich in protein or has a high fat content. A dog's intestine adapts surprisingly accurately to its 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 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 on to humans (e.g. Giardia, Campylobacter and Salmonella). If you have young children or if there are old or ill members in the household, we would advise you 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 the dog 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 persists, seek further advice from the veterinarian.
• If your pet is no better within 48 hours then seek veterinary attention, especially if your pet has become depressed or dehydrated.
• Follow Veterinary advice and if medication has been prescribed make sure you give your pet the whole course.