One of the more common digestive complaints we are presented with in veterinary medicine is vomiting. When presented with this complaint in the medical history, we usually first classify the problem as either acute vomiting of short term duration, or chronic, longer term vomiting.
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There are many causes of acute vomiting ranging from simple viral or bacterial digestive upset, intestinal parasites, and even heartworms, dietary allergies and/or indiscretion or ingestion of foreign or toxic material, metabolic problems such as inflammation of the liver, kidneys or pancreas, an under active adrenal gland (known as Addison’s disease) and even cancer of the bowels. Although these latter categories we’re usually thinking more in terms of possible causes of chronic vomiting in dogs or cats. |
With cats hairballs can contribute to vomiting, but many pet guardians and even veterinarians often over diagnose hairballs as causes of particularly chronic vomiting in cats. Products such as Laxatone and Petromalt hairball remedy can often help with lessening hairball formation, however, I don’t like to overuse these products as they also have a lot of sugar and carbohydrates in them which stress a cat’s pancreas and liver.
Depending upon the severity of your pet’s acute vomiting problem would determine whether or not you would want to try and manage the issue at home, or consider a veterinary exam and diagnostics. If in doubt, it is always best to have a veterinary exam if needed. In my opinion the most important part of treatment of chronic vomiting in dogs or cats is to withhold solid food for 24 to 36 hours (unless a pet is suffering from a hormonal disorder such as diabetes or a tumor known as an insulinoma of the pancreas, or it’s a toy breed puppy under the age of 6 months, as these puppies are prone to low blood sugars).
While many clients will start a bland diet right away in vomiting pets, it is best to rest the digestive tract for this brief period of time to allow acute inflammation to subside. Small amounts of water/ice cubes and/or vegetable or chicken broth can be offered during the fast. A wonderful over the counter supplement that I have found helpful in digestive tract disorders of all kinds is using the herb slippery elm, which is available from most health food stores, and can be given during the brief fast, and is very soothing for an irritated digestive tract. Over the counter Pepcid AC at a dose of one half mg per pound once or twice daily is often safe to use in most situations and pets. Two excellent products to consider are Fast Balance, which restores digestive tract flora quite quickly in most pets, as well as NaturVet Enzymes and Probiotics from 1800PetMeds. The Fast Balance, slippery elm, and Pepcid AC can be used during the acute fasting phase of vomiting. If this settles the stomach down, a bland diet consisting of chicken or turkey and rice or even baby food in smaller pets (without onion powder in it) can then be introduced after the brief fast along with the NaturVet Enzymes and Probiotics, while the Fast Balance, slippery elm and Pepcid AC can be continued for the following few days.
Obviously if symptoms worsen and intensify and/or your pet appears to be getting weaker, then an immediate veterinary exam is needed, especially important in ruling out acute obstructions of the digestive tract as well as in dogs making sure acute organ failure or an acute presentation of Addison’s disease is not present. Sometimes IV or subcutaneous fluids are needed to be administered by the veterinarian to prevent or treat dehydration, as well as even prescription medications like Metoclopramide or Cerenia are often needed to help stop the vomiting in severe acute cases. .
With chronic vomiting in our dogs or cats a full veterinary workup is certainly recommended including physical exam, blood work, urine analysis, fecal checks for parasites, as well as x-rays and possibly an ultrasound or scoping of the digestive tract to get to underlying causes and best treatment plans for such cases, depending upon the individual details and history. Low allergy novel protein diets can be tried for 4-8 weeks for pets with chronic vomiting that have been worked up to rule out dietary sensitivity or allergy as a cause of chronic vomiting. However, it is important to have a full medical evaluation at the veterinarian first to rule out some of the chronic disorders mentioned above.
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11 Comments
my cat is 15 years old………she has periodic episodes of vomiting……so i have found only (one) type of cat food (wet) that does not upset her…when she has bouts of vomiting I take away her food for 24 hours and then start her back on her food with baby food(chicken/gravy……..she loves it and gets back on the right track…….i know the vet wants me to have her teeth cleaned and do a through exam but she is old and gets traumatized by vet visits…………..
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my baby gets car sick and tends to vomit and not feel well afterwards, what can we do for her to help her more enjoy her traveling?
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June Ella Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 6:05 am
I give my dog who gets car sick 25 mg of benedryl. I give it to her an hour before we leave any where. She gets calms and it settles her tummy down.
It really works. My vet told me to give it to her. I use it when I take her to get groomed she doesn’t like her nails cuts and the benedryl calms her down and the groomers can do her nails and gland with no more problems.
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Thanks for sharing. Benadryl is often a good starting point for dogs with motion sickness problem. Dramamine or meclizine are others that can help as well.
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This blog is very informative.There’s so much you will going to learn in this blog.
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Thanks for the informative blog.I enjoyed reading it.
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
October 20th, 2010 at 11:00 am
you are very welcome. Please share this information with your friends.
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What is a good canned food for a kitten with acid reflux? I read that a low-fat diet is helpful.
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
October 16th, 2011 at 9:39 pm
I prefer actually high protein/high fat foods. Try canned halo from 1800petmeds. Also consider using pepcid AC at dose of 2.5 mg once daily which may help and add naturevet enzymes to meals and give fast balance probiotic from 1800petmeds. See vet if signs persistl.
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I have a 5lb puppy with motion sickness and can not tolerate the shortest of car trips. Is 25mg of benedryl too much for her. Are there other options in lighter doses. She is almost 5 months old.
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
October 30th, 2011 at 9:58 pm
You could try 1/4 teaspoon of liquid childrens benadryl, as 25 mg too high. Also consider homeopathic remedy cocculus which you can give in 30c potency. Give 1 pellot by mouth right before car trip.
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I have a 14 year old male cat that vomit 3 to 4 time a week alway early in the morning . I can’t take him to the vet because it traumatizes him . And he pulls his hair out . Any ideas ?
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
November 6th, 2011 at 11:11 pm
Vomiting like this can have many causes in a cat this age from metabolic diseases of liver, pancreas, kidney or thyroid disease, to primary intestinal inflammation known as IBD, food allergies, etc Pulling hair out can be due to inhalent/contact allergies, food allergies, flea bite allergies, etc.You could try novel protein diet like rabbit or venson. Check out availability from 1800petmeds. Also consider pepcid AC at dose of 2.5 mg twice daily a well as chlorphenirimine at dose of 2 mg twice daily to see if can help vomiting and/or hair problem. Best to see vet though for proper workup
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No coughing
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
November 6th, 2011 at 11:11 pm
See answer to prior posting.
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My dog keeps puking up yellowish bile, once to twice a day. He seems to have a healthy appetite despite this and no diarrhea. Any thoughts on what it could be?
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
December 15th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
Many possibilities from dietary allergy/sensitivity to metabolic diseases such as inflammation of the pancreas, liver,etc Try pepcid AC at dose of one half mg per pound once to twice daily and bland hamburger and rice diet. If symptoms persist or worsen,see your veterinarian for full GI workup
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Thank you, I’ll try that.
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I have a 10 yr old Schipperke, who has been a very healthy, hearty little dog ever since I first got him…However, last Monday morning (its been about a week now) he began vomiting and has continued to vomit when ever he eats anything..I had given him a pouch of Pedigree Lamb and Rice for dinner on Sunday evening last weekend before he started to vomit..he normally does not get the Lamb and Rice that often..
I have withheld his food for a 24 hr period and gave him only water…also, gave him cooked white meat chicken strips..he will not eat rice…he kept the chicken down for about 2 hours and then vomited it up..it came up looking like vanilla pudding? Same thing happened last night though he kept the chicken down for almost 5-6 hours…I have not seen any blood in his vomit or coffee ground looking stuff..this is the first time he has ever thrown up this much..I am scared that he has an obstruction in his tummy or his digestive tract is blocked..what can I do to get him some relief..I am reading about giving pepto bismol, pepsid ac/ even benadryl..or slippery elm..if I do dose him with slippery elm how much would I give him? he weighs around 20lbs..
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Dr. Michael Dym, VMD veterinarian Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 11:58 am
You can try two capsules of slippery elm every 8-12 hours, as well as pepcid AC at dose of one half mg per pound once to twice daily.
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