Most pet owners have to deal with their pet’s occasional gastrointestinal (GI) upset, which numerous issues can cause. However, while vomiting can be a benign issue, some cases indicate a serious health complication that prevents pets from getting the required nourishment. Our West Vets ER team wants to ensure your pet’s GI upset is addressed appropriately, so we explain when vomiting is a veterinary emergency.

Pet vomiting basics

Vomiting occurs when your pet’s vomiting center, which is located in their brain, is stimulated by one or more areas, including:

  • Gastrointestinal tract — Issues such as GI distention and mucosal irritation can send signals to stimulate the vomiting center.
  • Vestibular system — Vestibular signals also can stimulate the vomiting center, which is the case during motion sickness.
  • Cerebral cortex and thalamus — Anxiety or pain can cause specific parts of the brain—the cerebral cortex and thalamus—to stimulate the vomiting center.
  • Chemoreceptor trigger zone (CRTZ) — When drugs stimulate the CRTZ, vomiting results. 

Pet vomit appearance

The appearance of your pet’s vomit can help determine the cause. For example:

  • Undigested food — Undigested food can mean that your pet regurgitated, as opposed to vomited. 
  • Clear — Clear vomit can be caused by stomach secretions or when your pet drinks water before vomiting.
  • Yellow — Bile secretions cause yellow vomit. This typically occurs when your pet’s stomach is empty.
  • White — White foamy vomit usually indicates stomach acid buildup.
  • Green — Green vomit can be the result of eating grass, or may indicate a gallbladder issue.
  • Red — Red or pink vomit can indicate bleeding from your pet’s esophagus or stomach.
  • Black — Black vomit with a coffee-grounds appearance can indicate ulcerations in your pet’s stomach or small intestine.

Pet vomiting emergency

Pet vomiting situations that require emergency attention include:

  • Other signs — You should be concerned if your pet is exhibiting other signs, such as fever, pain, diarrhea, or lethargy, as well as vomiting.
  • Discomfort — A pet who is vomiting and panting, pacing, or cannot get comfortable is a veterinary emergency.
  • Black or red vomit — Bleeding in your pet’s GI tract is an emergency.
  • Food avoidance — When pets avoid food because they are nauseated by the smell, they may have a serious condition such as pancreatitis.
  • Foreign body — A foreign object ingested by your pet can irritate or completely obstruct their GI tract.
  • Toxin — If you know or suspect your pet ingested a toxin, seek veterinary help immediately.
  • Young pets — Puppies and kittens who are vomiting are susceptible to dehydration and hypoglycemia.
  • Old pets — Senior pets who vomit are at higher risk for underlying health issues.
  • Pre-existing medical condition — If your pet who has a pre-existing condition that requires medication is vomiting, you should contact your veterinarian right away.
  • Frequent — A pet who vomits frequently should be evaluated to determine the cause for their GI upset.

Pet vomiting diagnostics

Determining the underlying cause is important to properly address your pet’s vomiting. Diagnostics include:

  • History — We gather a detailed history about when your pet’s vomiting started, changes in their environment, other signs, known health conditions, and their medications.
  • Physical examination — Our team performs a thorough physical examination, looking for abnormalities that may indicate why your pet is sick.
  • Blood work — We will perform blood work, such as a complete blood count (CBC) and biochemistry profile, to assess numerous issues, including your pet’s liver and kidney health, electrolyte and glucose levels, and other parameters, that help us determine their overall health and the cause of their vomiting.
  • X-rays — We likely will need X-rays to identify issues such as a GI obstruction.
  • Ultrasound — In some cases, we may need to perform an ultrasound to determine why your pet is vomiting.

Pet vomiting treatment 

We will devise a treatment strategy based on the cause of your pet’s vomiting. Potential treatments include:

  • Intravenous (IV) fluids — Most vomiting pets need IV fluids to correct dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
  • Antibiotics — If your pet’s vomiting is caused by a bacterial infection, we may prescribe antibiotics.
  • Anti-emetics — In some cases, anti-emetics are necessary to prevent your pet from vomiting.
  • Nutritional support — We provide adequate nutritional support until your pet can eat without vomiting.
  • Surgery — In some cases, surgery is necessary to remove a GI obstruction or correct gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV).

Pet vomiting prevention

Not all pet vomiting cases can be prevented, but you can take steps to decrease your pet’s risk, including:

  • Don’t change your pet’s diet suddenly. When switching your pet’s food, gradually change their food over one to two weeks.
  • Keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date to prevent infections that can lead to vomiting.
  • Don’t feed your pet table scraps. Some human foods are toxic to pets, and high-fat foods can cause pancreatitis.
  • Keep your garbage in sealed containers to ensure your pet doesn’t ingest dangerous foods or foreign objects.
  • Provide size-appropriate toys for your pet, so they don’t accidentally swallow an object.
  • Read food labels to prevent feeding your pet a toxic ingredient.

If your pet is vomiting and needs emergency care, contact our West Vets ER team. We will ensure your pet gets the emergency treatment they need, and will work with your daytime veterinarian to ensure they receive first-rate ongoing care.