Brittany Ippolito
September 19, 2024
Learn WHAT your dog is vomiting and WHY
We all know the sound a dog makes right before they’re about to vomit. That sound gets you moving faster than a bat out of hell and can wake you up from the deepest of sleeps.
The definition of vomiting is, “to eject matter from the stomach through the mouth.” It is the body’s natural response to something that it doesn’t believe should be in there. Vomiting is considered a reflex or an “automatic and involuntary response to a stimulus.”
Know when to see your vet. If vomiting is uncontrollable, coupled with diarrhea, presence of blood, or occurring in compromised individuals then you need to see your vet immediately
As a Canine Nutritionist, I follow both Western and Eastern methods of healing and so am always looking at health from two different angles.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), vomiting falls under the category of Rebellious Qi. Meaning, Qi (energy) has stopped or began to flow in the opposite direction. This halt or backflow in energy is what causes the contents of your dog’s stomach to revolt up and out.
The Qi in question is that of the Stomach, and Stomach Qi should be flowing downwards. In the case of vomiting, we have to figure out why this Qi is not descending.
When I hear the words, “my dog threw up bile.” I ask specific questions regarding the color, shade and contents of WHAT your dog threw up to help me identify WHY your dog is throwing up.
What: Stomach Acid
Why: nausea, weak stomach, empty stomach, heat/inflammation, hyperacidity, Liver or Gallbladder imbalance, stress/emotional upset, pathogen
What: Bile
Why: Bile that has been vomited before it has been digested by the stomach and turned into stomach acid. The same reasons listed in the yellow category can be applied here.
What: Blood
Why: bleeding, stomach ulcer, severe heat/inflammation, Blood Stagnation, Blood Stasis, Liver imbalance, pathogen
What: Dampness or excess fluid
Why: weak digestion, low stomach acid, cold digestion, pathogen
What: Phlegm or excess fluid that has become turbid
Why: weak digestion, toxic build up, pathogen
What: Fluid vacuity
Why: dehydration, excess Heat, Yin Deficiency
What: Food
Why: weak digestion, inappropriate diet, food stagnation, cold digestion, pathogen
Once you have identified WHAT your dog is throwing up and WHY you can then assess the situation from a dietary perspective. Start with the simplest solutions first.
In TCM damp foods are thought to be thick and sticky in nature and hard to digest. They promote a state of “sluggishness” in the body, which extends to the digestive system. Overtime, the consumption of dampening foods leads to a swamped and weak digestive system leading to a state of nausea.
Damp foods include: dairy, high fat, high carbs, too much fluid being served with food
Over consumption of warming or drying foods, like kibble, can consume fluids necessary for digestion.
The overconsumption of cold food taxes the digestive system. It’s like trying to cook with the stove off.
All dogs will do just fine with cooked food, but not all dogs do well with raw food. Some dogs don’t have the digestive strength to eat raw food. It also has a high bacteria load and not all dogs have the immune system to handle this.
Too many supplements and pretty powders that our dogs don’t need can send their system into overload. Anything your dog eats has to be processed by their body and when there is over supplementation, their body is going to get rid of it one way or another.
This can lead to regurgitation, which is the act of vomiting up food. Make sure your dog is eating an appropriate amount of calories.
This can lead to vomiting due to hunger. Make sure your dog is eating an appropriate amount of calories.
*Note: Food and herbal therapy is a highly individualized approach to health. If these adjustments don't help, an assessment by your vet, TCVM vet or Canine Nutritionist can help you determine the right dietary adjustments to make for your dog. Depending on which category your dog falls into (too damp, too hot, too cold, etc.), there are foods and herbs that can help rebalance their system.
Your dog needs to see a vet immediately. If you find yourself unable to see a vet, there are a few at home remedies you can try.
Uncontrollable vomiting leads to dehydration. It may then seem instinctual to load them up with fluids, but this can perpetuate the vomiting and lead to even further dehydration.
When they are ready and able to, I would start by feeding them SMALL amounts of white rice. The rice can help quell nausea and absorb excess fluid or stomach acid. White rice is easy to digest and since it absorbs much of the water it was cooked in, it is also hydrating. Once your dog is keeping down the rice, you can introduce a lean and bland protein. I like chicken for this, but any other lean protein will work if your dog can’t eat chicken. Once they can keep food down you can introduce SMALL amounts of liquid to them. Bone broth is great for hydration and replenishing electrolytes. Wait around 30 minutes before offering the next dose of food or drink.
Fresh ginger is a time tested at home remedy to quell nausea. A TINY sliver the size of your pinky nail for a 20lb dog is all you need.
Avoid any external factors that can trigger vomiting like strong odors, loud noises, bright lights, stress. Keep them comfortable, their head elevated and make sure their body temperature doesn’t drop until you can see your vet.
It is not easy to stomach the feeling that watching your dog vomit can evoke. While it does happen, vomiting is NOT normal. If your dog has repeated episodes of vomiting, chat to your vet.
You can also assess your dog from a nutritional lens to make sure the diet they’re eating is supporting them in the ways they need it to. If you want to learn more about how to solve your dog's vomiting habits through food and herbal therapy, book a consultation with me. CLICK HERE TO BOOK
Looking for advice and help with your dog's diet and nutritional needs?
Book a one on one call with me where we'll go through your dog's history, habits and any current health concerns. You'll receive tailored recipes and food/herbal therapy guidance on what will best meet their needs. I am also available to chat if you have questions along the way!
