Vomiting in puppies isn’t uncommon – and if they only vomit once and are otherwise well, it’s not usually anything to worry about. But what causes these upset stomachs, and when should you be concerned?
In this comprehensive article we’ll cover the most common types and causes of puppy vomiting, when you should see a vet, and what you can do to help prevent your puppy from throwing up.
Puppy Vomit: What it Might Look Like
Have you noticed your puppy vomiting white foam? How about undigested food, or a yellow liquid?
What a puppy vomits depends partly on what’s in their stomach, and partly on the underlying cause of the vomiting. For example, a puppy vomiting undigested food may have eaten too quickly.
Most types of vomit in puppies can be divided into the following categories.
White Foam Vomit
Puppy vomit that looks like white foam is common when puppies have an empty stomach. Causes range from a mild infection or stomach irritation (from eating something unsuitable like plant material) to more serious health issues. If your puppy eats plant material like grass, the vomit may also be green-tinged.
It can be tricky to tell the difference between a puppy vomiting white foam and coughing up froth and saliva due to kennel cough. If you’re not sure whether your puppy is coughing vigorously (and potentially retching as a result) or truly vomiting, it can be helpful to show your vet a video.
Yellow Vomit
Yellow vomit is also relatively common in puppies. The yellow color comes from bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver. If a puppy vomits, bile can be brought up along with the contents of the stomach. If the stomach is empty, you may see only the yellow liquid.
Similarly to white foam vomit, there are a range of potential causes including infections, stomach irritation, and underlying diseases.
If your puppy is vomiting yellow bile once first thing in the morning but is otherwise well, they could have bilious vomiting syndrome. This causes bile to leak into the stomach if it’s empty for too long overnight, causing irritation and vomiting. Feeding a small amount of food late at night and avoiding prolonged fasting can help to prevent this from happening.
Vomit with Undigested Food
Vomit with undigested food may appear as brown or beige chunks. It may contain more recognizable bits of food, depending on how thoroughly they chew and how much time has passed.
Overeating or eating too rapidly can easily lead to a puppy vomiting undigested food. However, it’s also easily caused by illness or underlying disease making the stomach more sensitive.
Vomit with Worms
There are two main reasons a puppy may vomit worms.
- First, if a puppy has gastrointestinal worms, they can cause inflammation and lead to vomiting.
- Secondly, in more serious cases, the gut may become blocked by worms. The obstruction causes gut contents to back up and can trigger vomiting.
If your puppy vomits worms, you should see a vet as soon as possible. Repeated vomiting could indicate an obstruction, which can be life-threatening if left untreated.
Vomit Containing Blood
A puppy throwing up blood is an emergency, as it could indicate a severe infection, toxicity, clotting problems, or other severe underlying disease.
Blood in vomit may appear as streaks of bright red, fresh blood, red-tinged froth or liquid or, if it’s partially digested, dark material like coffee grounds.
Is it Normal for Puppies to Throw Up?
Puppies have sensitive stomachs and vomit relatively easily due to things like eating too quickly, so vomiting on occasion can be described as ‘normal’.
However, it’s not normal for a healthy puppy to throw up for no reason – there’s always an underlying cause.
It may be as simple as having eaten too much or being a little stressed, but if your puppy vomits it’s a good idea to try to work out what might have caused it and keep a close eye on them for any other symptoms.
If a puppy is vomiting repeatedly, it is not normal. Puppies can become very unwell much more rapidly than adult dogs, so they should be seen by a vet as soon as possible if they throw up multiple times.
Why Is My Puppy Vomiting? Possible Causes Explained
Many conditions can cause vomiting in puppies, often alongside other symptoms. Here are some possible reasons your puppy may throw up.
Eating Something They Shouldn’t
Often referred to as ‘dietary indiscretion’ this is one of the most common causes of vomiting in adult dogs and puppies alike. If they’ve nabbed another pet’s food or eaten some non-toxic plants outside, a brief bout of vomiting and/or diarrhea may be the only symptoms.
However, dietary indiscretion can be more serious if it involves toxic substances or results in a gastrointestinal obstruction.
Toxins
Common plants, foods, medications and other substances can be highly toxic to puppies – and their size means even a small dose can be dangerous.
This includes human foods such as chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic and foods containing the sweetener xylitol. Flowers and plants such as lilies and wild mushrooms can also be highly toxic.
Gut Obstructions
Puppies love to chew – and unfortunately, they sometimes eat things in the process. All sorts of indigestible materials can cause a blockage in the digestive tract, including pieces of plastic, bits of fabric, chunks of solid chew or bone, and strings. Urgent treatment is vital, and repeated vomiting is one of the main symptoms.
Rapid Dietary Changes
Any sudden change in a puppy’s diet can cause an upset stomach, including vomiting. It’s always recommended to transition puppies’ food slowly over a week to avoid this.
Stress
Stress can easily cause an upset stomach in puppies, leading to mild vomiting and diarrhea. This is relatively common when puppies are brought home for the first time, or if there are significant changes at home.
An upset stomach due to stress should be mild and pass by itself without any other symptoms like lethargy. But if your puppy has diarrhea and vomiting it’s worth checking with a vet that there’s nothing more concerning going on.
Eating Too Quickly or Too Much
If your puppy is vomiting undigested food shortly after eating, eating too quickly or too much food may be the cause. Puppies have small stomachs, and if they eat too quickly they can overfill their stomachs and cause vomiting. If their food has been stored in the fridge the cold temperature can also irritate the stomach.
Infections
Infections are a relatively common cause of puppy vomiting and diarrhea.
Puppies are more susceptible to infections than adult dogs as their immune systems aren’t yet fully developed. If they’re not yet fully vaccinated, they may also be susceptible to parvovirus, which is a life-threatening viral infection that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea.
Bacterial infections can be picked up anywhere, but certain factors like a raw diet or scavenging outdoors can increase a puppy’s risk. While puppies may recover on their own from mild infections, it’s recommended to see a vet if you suspect an infection as a puppy’s health can deteriorate rapidly.
Intestinal Parasites
Puppies should typically be dewormed at least once a month until they’re 6 months old, as worms can cause significant gut inflammation and even obstruction in severe cases. If your puppy vomits worms, it’s worth seeing a vet as soon as possible.
Motion Sickness
Puppies’ balance systems in the ear aren’t fully developed, so just like children, they’re prone to motion sickness, especially when travelling by car.
Medication Reactions
Rarely, puppies may experience vomiting as a side effect of a medication such as a vaccination or flea or worm treatment. If you suspect they may be experiencing an adverse reaction to a medication, it’s important to seek advice from your vet as soon as possible.
Food Sensitivities or Allergies
Food sensitivities can cause vomiting (and diarrhea) in puppies, but this is uncommon. Most food allergies develop between 1 and 3 years of age and it’s rare for young puppies to develop them.
Organ Dysfunction
Unfortunately, some puppies have congenital abnormalities and their organs fail to develop or function properly. Problems related to this can worsen as puppies grow and more strain is placed on the affected organs. Infections and trauma can also affect organ function.
While this is relatively rare in puppies, dysfunction in organs such as the liver and kidneys can cause vomiting alongside a range of other symptoms.
Hernias
Umbilical hernias aren’t uncommon in puppies, and a soft, non-painful umbilical hernia is very unlikely to contribute to vomiting.
However, other types of hernia may cause vomiting, including those found internally (e.g. hiatal hernias) and umbilical hernias that have trapped a loop of gut, causing swelling and pain and preventing food from passing through the gut.
When to Worry About Puppy Vomiting
There are many potential causes of your puppy’s vomiting, and it can be hard to identify the cause at home. So, when is it worth a trip to the vet?
If your puppy has vomited more than once in a day or is vomiting on a regular basis over a longer period, it’s worth seeing your vet.
Other signs that you should look for include:
- Vomiting and diarrhea together. Puppies can become dehydrated much more quickly than adult dogs, especially if they’re experiencing both vomiting and diarrhea.
- If they’re not eating or drinking a normal amount
- If they’re lethargic or seem unwell in themselves
- Vomit with worms
When Is it a Potential Emergency?
- Severe vomiting and/or diarrhea – this can cause rapid dehydration and deterioration
- Blood in the vomit
- Vomiting multiple times in quick succession
- Inability to keep food or water down
- Not eating and/or drinking
- Significant lethargy
Puppies can deteriorate more rapidly than adult dogs due to their smaller size and still developing bodies and immune systems. If you’re concerned your puppy is unwell, it’s best to contact your vet for advice sooner rather than later.
How to Prevent Vomiting in Puppies
Nobody wants their puppy to vomit. So what can you do to avoid it? While some causes of vomiting are unavoidable, here’s a list of our top tips for preventing vomiting in puppies:
Feed a vet-recommended, high-quality diet formulated for puppies. Talk to your vet about the best food for your puppy. Look for foods that display the AAFCO label, as these will ensure complete and balanced nutrition for your growing dog.
Feed smaller meals more often. Feeding 3 or 4 times a day is recommended for puppies. Avoiding prolonged periods of fasting may help to prevent vomiting.
Transition between diets slowly. If you plan to switch your puppy’s food, try to do it gradually over a week. This can help avoid stomach upset.
Avoid overfeeding human foods. Puppies have sensitive stomachs and shouldn’t be given too many table scraps, especially those high in fat.
Keep toxins secure. Lock any cleaning agents or human items, including medications and foods like chocolate, in secure cabinets.
Keep garbage cans secured. Puppies are naturally curious and will try to get into garbage cans if allowed. Don’t leave your puppy with unsupervised access to the garbage and always keep lids secured.
Prevent gut obstructions. Check your puppy’s toys and other items they have access to for pieces that could break off. You should also clean up items, like socks, that they might ingest.
Deworm your puppy. Do this at appropriate intervals as recommended by your vet.
Keep regular vet appointments. See your vet for your puppy’s vaccinations and regular checkups. This can help you stay on top of your dog’s health from the start.
Most puppies recover rapidly from a one-off episode of vomiting, and simple changes to their diet and routines can help to prevent further issues. However, puppies are more vulnerable than adult dogs, so if you have concerns it’s best to see your vet sooner than later.
