My Pet Vomits After Eating

When your pet vomits after eating, it may be a sign that something isn’t quite right. Occasionally, pets might bring up their food if they’ve eaten something unusual (like garbage or grass). This can be a natural defence that protects your pet when they have eaten something they shouldn’t have, or it can be a sign of illness. Vomiting can be acute, meaning short-lived and over within hours, or it can be severe and last for days. Take your pet to the vet for a professional diagnosis of what is causing them to throw up.

There are many causes of vomiting in pets. If they’ve ingested poisons, they will often bring it up quickly. If there is an obstruction that prevents food from moving further down the intestinal tract, they may vomit several hours after eating.

To most, occasional vomiting is considered to be quite a normal thing for an animal to do. However, there are many causes of vomiting that are related to true disease or illness. Dr Roslyn of Greencross Vets believes the more frequent a pet vomits, the more likely there’s a problem.

‘When dogs eat something that doesn’t suit their bodies, they can sometimes reject it, and behave quite normally afterward’ says Dr Roslyn. On the other hand, certain common household products, like snail baits or cleaning solutions can cause vomiting and may be fatal if left untreated. Therefore, it is always best to contact your local vet and be guided by their recommendations.

Vomiting can be caused by problems from within the stomach and intestines (gastrointestinal tract). Sometimes, problems such as kidney disease can be the cause. More common causes of vomiting include food allergies, illness, cancer, infections, drugs, parasites, plants, and poisons. Vomiting is also caused by incidents of overeating, foreign bodies, bloating, and constipation.

However, the reason can be simpler. ‘Some owners have different ideas of how much is an okay amount to feed their pet,’ says Dr Roslyn. ‘Sometimes, vomiting can just be a matter of feeding them too much at once, or your pet may also naturally have a sensitive stomach and a vet may prescribe a particular prescription diet or high-quality premium food.’

If you are concerned about the frequency or nature of your pet’s vomiting, contact your local Greencross Vet for treatment. Your vet will investigate your pet to identify what might be causing the vomiting. From there, your vet will monitor the pet and work together with you to determine the treatment plan.