The dog is vomiting white foam: possible causes. Dog diseases

Causes of physiological vomiting

Single vomiting occurs in healthy animals. This phenomenon is within the physiological norm, so it does not cause concern for experienced dog breeders. A dog may vomit in the following cases:

1. With the help of vomiting, the pet gets rid of excess food eaten or a foreign object that has entered the stomach.
2. Excessive white foam at the mouth in small breed dogs is a natural process that occurs due to sensitive digestion. The appearance of such a reaction can be provoked by sudden changes in diet. At the same time, the pet’s general condition does not deteriorate. The dog remains highly active and has an appetite.
3. Sometimes white foam is released due to the anatomical structure of the jaw. This is typical for mastiffs, bulldogs and boxers. Saliva constantly flows from their mouth. Bubbles appear due to active movements of the jaw.
4. The dog may vomit white foam if there is a long gap between feedings. This is a sign of exhaustion. Hydrochloric acid is constantly produced. Therefore, if the pet is not fed, the gastric juice reacts with the protective mucus in the stomach and passes through the esophagus in the form of white foam.

In some cases, the cause of the appearance of a foamy substance may be stress and severe fear. In such a situation, the excitability of the animal’s nervous system increases, which increases the work of the salivary glands.

REFERENCE. White foam may be released from fatigue after long walks.

Pathology and distinctive features

To determine the initial pathological disease, it is necessary to know which diseases have similar symptoms.

Dog vomiting white foam

It is written above that vomiting white foam can also be a natural physiological manifestation, because of which pet owners should not be scared or panic. The fact is that this is a protective reaction of the body so that the dog’s stomach does not begin to digest itself.

If the pet has not eaten for a long time or, on the contrary, has eaten and vomited, it means that air has entered the stomach and cleansed it. If translucent mucus comes out along with white foam, then there is no need to be afraid of this either. Of course, now we are discussing isolated cases of vomiting that are not systematically repeated.

Vomiting with gastritis

White foam in an animal's vomit may also indicate the presence of gastritis. This happens because acid accumulates in the stomach and when it begins to irritate the stomach wall, a gag reflex occurs.

A dog with white foam with gastritis may vomit immediately after eating or some time after eating. After the first time, vomiting appears systematically.

The same situation can occur due to heartburn.

In case of flatulence, the dog experiences bloating. The stomach swells either immediately after eating or a little later. Due to the large accumulation of gases in the intestines, they begin to move towards the stomach, and a gag reflex appears. As a result, the dog has severe abdominal pain and disobedience.

Vomiting blood

If a dog vomits with white foam, then it’s not so bad. If your dog has red liquid coming out of his mouth, it is probably blood. There are two options here: either the damage is mechanical in nature, or these are symptoms of a serious disease.

The dog could simply have eaten something sharp, such as a nail, a paper clip, or chewed on sharp bones. Or she could have caught an infection or been poisoned by rat poison, which also causes vomiting of blood.

If the dog owner has noticed blood discharge from the pet’s mouth, then you should not waste time on self-medication and delay going to the veterinarian (anyway, no one will ever provide more qualified care to the pet than a doctor at a veterinary clinic). He will be able to make a diagnosis with all the consequences.

From the wrong selection of medications, your pet’s health can deteriorate sharply and develop into gastric bleeding.

In addition, the color of blood is not necessarily red or scarlet. When blood is removed from the stomach, it mixes with gastric juice and therefore may be brown or black.

Some owners may have difficulty identifying a particular symptom, so the best advice is that if there is the slightest change in the pet’s health, it is better to consult a veterinarian.

It is not at all necessary to go to a personal appointment, in some cases the situation does not require this, but calling and telling about the primary symptoms is necessary.

How to stop

If a dog vomits blood and white foam for a long time, then there is a need to provide first aid (if it is not possible to immediately take the pet to a veterinary clinic).

Here is a list of self-first aid:

1. do not feed your pet for 24 hours;
2. provide the pet with complete rest, do not play;
3. Give one tablet of the drug “Kvamatel” twice a day;

If even after taking these measures, the pet still does not return to normal, its lethargy is noticeable, or its temperature has risen, then stalling for time and trying to help yourself means risking the life of your four-legged pet. Temperature fluctuations mean the spread of the virus in the body and its reproduction. This can affect the liver and cause pathology.

The fact is that this disease is dangerous because it can develop into a chronic form. Therefore, even if the vomiting has stopped and the animal’s condition has improved, this does not mean that a relapse will not occur.

It is necessary to visit a doctor in any case; he will be able to correctly assess the pet’s health status; if he is sick, the veterinarian will prescribe treatment; if he is healthy, he will prescribe a series of preventive measures.

Symptoms of diseases

When a dog vomits white foam, the following diseases can be diagnosed:

• diabetes;
• stomach ulcer;
• parvovirus;
• plague;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Blood impurities in vomit with white foam can be a sign of cancer in a dog’s body. If a dog vomits dark-colored blood clots, this may be a sign of mechanical damage to the stomach walls by foreign objects.

If a dog vomits for a long time and painfully, then the possibility of cholecystitis and pancreatitis cannot be ruled out.

The first symptom that must be carefully monitored is excessive salivation. The animal will begin to whine pitifully, rush about, and walk around the apartment, as if looking for something. If you listen closely, you can hear the dog's stomach growling. The final evidence of serious illness is belching.

Prolonged vomiting should not be allowed in dogs, especially puppies. Vomiting causes the body to become exhausted and unable to function normally.

Pathological causes and symptoms

If a dog vomits regularly and its condition gradually worsens, this may indicate the development of a pathological process in the body. In such a situation, it is necessary to find out the cause of the appearance of white foam as soon as possible and take the animal to the veterinarian, especially puppies.

When an animal is sick:

• whines;
• licks his lips frequently;
• increased salivation and restless behavior are observed;
• refuses water and drink.

Plague

The cause of vomiting white foam may be the intestinal form of plague. This dangerous infectious disease begins with conjunctivitis and redness of the eyes. The animal begins to hide in dark places, photosensitivity and photophobia are observed. The pet refuses to eat. As the general condition worsens, the clinical picture is complemented by a runny nose, fever and chills, diarrhea, and a sharp increase in temperature to +41°C. Poor stool and vomiting quickly dehydrate the dog’s body and lead to exhaustion.

Rabies

When infected with a deadly infection, the dog burps white viscous foam. In addition to salivation, the dog begins to be afraid of water. As the pathological process progresses, respiratory failure, paralysis of the pharynx and lower jaw are observed. As a result, the dog has problems with swallowing, and the animal tries to eat inedible objects. With rabies, the pet is characterized by increased aggression, so it can bite the owner. To prevent the spread of infection, the animal is isolated and euthanized.

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Epilepsy

If your dog vomits white foam and has seizures, all symptoms indicate the development of epilepsy. When a pathological process occurs, the animal falls, and the dog’s stomach contents are reflexively evacuated. Possible involuntary urination, loss of orientation in space. During a seizure, white foam is constantly released from the mouth.

REFERENCE. Poodles, Labradors and spaniels are susceptible to CNS disease.

Worm infestations

With a parasitic disease, general intoxication of the body occurs. The dog is constantly vomiting, the animal often coughs in the morning. Even with a normal appetite, the animal quickly loses weight. The excrement contains blood and mucous secretions.

Intoxication

When food poisoning occurs, a dog vomits not only white foam, but also green foam. When the body is intoxicated, the animal’s body temperature drops sharply, the pupils are dilated, and the fur looks matted. The pathological condition is accompanied by diarrhea, cramps, lack of appetite and muscle weakness.

Digestive system diseases

If your dog vomits white foam first, and then the color of the vomit changes, this may indicate damage to the digestive system:

• hepatitis;
• ulcerative-erosive disease of the stomach;
• cholecystitis;
• malignant neoplasms on the walls of the gastrointestinal tract.

In addition to color changes, the development of diseases of the digestive system can be indicated by impurities of blood and mucus in a food coma.

Treatment of diseases

Treatment for diseases must be comprehensive. It includes dietary nutrition, medication, cleansing and nutritional enemas, care for the animal’s nostrils and eyes. All procedures must be done as prescribed by a doctor. During the treatment process, the main task is to combat the cause that caused the disease, and then the symptoms. Significant efforts should be aimed at eliminating intoxication of the body, hypoxia, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and internal organs.

Medicines used

If a dog has lost a lot of fluid through vomiting with white foam and diarrhea, it is replenished with intravenous infusions. Treatment may include the use of various drugs. Among them:

1. Enzymes. Prescribed for inflammation of the stomach, intestines, and pancreas.
2. Drugs that normalize gastrointestinal motility.
3. Medicines against vomiting.
4. Antipyretics and analgesics.
5. Astringent, enveloping and adsorbing drugs that have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in diseases of the mucous membranes.
6. Antimicrobial drugs. These include antibiotics, sulfonamides, nitrofurans.
7. B vitamins are recommended in parallel with antimicrobial agents.
8. Hepatoprotectors. Prescribed to restore liver function.
9. Anthelmintic drugs are used to fight parasites. It should be remembered that they destroy only adult parasites, so they are prescribed in courses with a break of 10-14 days.

Important! Anthelmintics should not be given to animals during pregnancy and lactation. This must be done 14 days before mating or for puppies 3 weeks after birth.

Nutrition during treatment

When dietary feeding a dog, it is necessary to take into account the age of the animal and the characteristics of the breed. First you need to establish a fasting mode for 12-24 hours. Access to water and rehydration drinks must be constant.

Therapeutic food should be easily absorbed by the dog’s body and contain products that prevent inflammatory processes in the digestive organs. Food should be healthy, not fatty and low in fiber. The animal's diet should contain:

• B vitamins, which increase appetite;
• vitamins A, E, D, which take part in metabolism and contribute to the body’s resistance to infections, parasites and other factors.
• zinc - activates the metabolism of a weakened body;
• manganese - improves hematopoietic function.

If emaciation and dehydration are severe, the doctor may prescribe artificial feeding through the rectum. Solutions of glucose, sodium chloride, Ringer's (a mixture of sodium, potassium and calcium chlorides of a certain concentration) are used as nutrient mixtures. Rice broth, beef or chicken broth are also recommended. Before administering nutritional formula or medications, you must give your dog a cleansing enema.

Did you know? The dog considers the owner to be the leader. Other family members will be a step lower for her than the leader, but higher than the dog itself.

Danger of condition

If after the dog vomits, the vomiting of white foam does not stop, the pet begins to feel dehydrated. Together with the food masses, a large amount of liquid leaves the animal’s body. As a result, the water-electrolyte balance, kidney function and circulatory system are disrupted.

The gag reflex prevents food from being absorbed normally, which leads to depletion of internal reserves. This is especially dangerous for puppies and small dog breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier. In addition, while vomiting, the dog may choke on the food bolus. If food gets into the trachea, it can lead to the death of your pet.

REFERENCE. Yorkies may vomit 1-2 times a week. White foam indicates a violation of food digestion. To solve the problem, you should follow the principles of fractional nutrition and include fatty foods in your dog’s diet.

Foamy mucus and blood

What if a dog vomits foam and blood? This is the most serious form of pathology, and if detected, the animal should be immediately taken to a veterinarian. Most likely, the matter is that an ulcer has opened somewhere in the stomach or small intestine , or in general in this situation we have to talk about perforation of an ulcerative lesion. In addition, such a symptom may equally well indicate a serious infectious disease of the digestive system . Also, bloody foam is sometimes evidence of penetration of the wall of the stomach or intestines by sharp objects .

For example, chicken or beef bones carefully provided by the owner, the fragments of which are no duller than a knife. Finally, blood sometimes indicates poisoning with some particularly toxic poisons; sometimes advanced cases of helminthiasis (the appearance of vomit with mucus is especially typical).

Finally, if the vomit is not only thickly stained with blood, but also has some small and numerous inclusions, this sign may well indicate the disintegration of a malignant tumor. However, such neoplasms very rarely go unnoticed at this stage, and the owners of the animal most likely know about their pet’s cancer.

It’s not at all good when a dog vomits brown foam: this indicates a deep “buried” bleeding defect. During the passage of blood, it manages to be partially digested, coming out in a slightly modified state.

Bloody vomiting will in most cases be accompanied by diarrhea , which may also be the color of cranberry juice. If a bloody “belching” is accompanied by equally bloody diarrhea, the animal should be taken to the veterinarian as quickly as possible, since any delay can result in death. Please note that if these symptoms occur, it is advisable to take a sample of vomit with you so that the veterinarian can more easily understand what exactly he is dealing with.

It is a little easier if the dog vomits pink foam, slightly tinged with blood. Most likely, she is sick with infectious tracheobronchitis. This is another type of highly contagious upper respiratory tract infection. The main symptom is a painful, dry cough, accompanied by other symptoms. The latter include nasal discharge of mucous exudate, lethargy, loss of appetite and intermittent fever. Similar types of “colds” in dogs (like parainfluenza, for example) can also cause the development of a similar clinical picture.

By the way, where does blood get into the foamy liquid in all these cases? It's simple. From a constant and painful cough, the mucous membranes of organs are damaged, thinned, which is why they can begin to “leak” blood. Let us remind you once again that when a dog vomits, it is precisely because of a strong cough; the digestive organs are in normal condition (as a rule). Thus, if a dog is coughing and vomiting white foam continuously, then most likely the problem is some kind of respiratory disease. It is very possible that this is some kind of infection (“ kennel cough ”, for example).

What to do: take it to the vet or treat it yourself

To prevent further absorption of toxic substances, after vomiting, the animal should be given activated carbon or other adsorbents to drink. The owner’s actions should depend on the cause of the pathology:

1. A small amount of white foam accumulating at the corners of the mouth indicates exhaustion. In this case, the owner can handle it on his own. It is necessary to review your pet's diet and reduce the time between feedings.
2. If there are worms in the foam, you should seek help from a veterinarian. The doctor will prescribe anthelmintic drugs depending on the body weight and age of the pet.
3. In case of stomatitis or oral trauma, which can lead to the formation of white foam, it is worth examining the animal's mouth. When the mucous membranes of the oral cavity are affected, the dog coughs up blood. It is necessary to remove foreign bodies from the wounds and treat them with a disinfectant solution. With the development of a purulent-inflammatory process, the dog will need antibiotics and special ointments for wound healing. They must be prescribed by a veterinarian.
4. During an epileptic seizure, you need to place the dog on its side, slightly holding its head above the floor. When the dog coughs up, you need to tilt his mouth down a little to facilitate the passage of vomit. The animal's body may be shaken by convulsions, so it is necessary to free the space from foreign objects. The dog can get hurt on them. After the attack passes, you need to take the dog to the veterinary clinic, where the pet will be prescribed anticonvulsant drugs.
5. If the dog is poisoned, you need to give the dog adsorbents and give enemas. To prevent dehydration, it is recommended to call a veterinarian at home. The specialist will put in a drip with saline solution.
6. If you suspect rabies, you must isolate your pet, call a veterinarian, or take it yourself to a clinic for euthanasia.
7. Plague is caused by pathogenic microorganisms - Yersinia. To eliminate them, antibiotics and immunostimulants are needed. Treatment should be carried out by a veterinarian. You can give your dog multivitamin complexes on its own.

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First aid

Before visiting a veterinary clinic, you should monitor your pet’s condition and take pre-medical care:

1. Let the dog lick the ice.
2. If the condition improves and the vomiting stops, you can give your pet chicken broth. The next day, if the dynamics of recovery are positive, you should give the animal fresh food in liquid form: puree poultry meat in a blender with the addition of herbs and boiled rice. It is allowed to switch to a normal diet for 3-4 days.
3. If the condition worsens and the dog refuses to drink or eat, it is necessary to urgently take the pet to the veterinarian. The doctor will prescribe tests, x-rays, ultrasound and cardiogram. Instrumental and laboratory tests will help evaluate the functioning of internal organs, exclude the development of allergies and check for the presence of cancerous tumors.

Drug therapy

If nausea and foamy vomiting occurs in the veterinary clinic, the dog is given injections of sodium chloride intramuscularly or subcutaneously to restore water and electrolyte balance. After this, a diagnosis is carried out and, depending on the data obtained, therapy with the following drugs is prescribed:

• Papaverine or No-shpa to relieve stomach cramps and pain;
• Cerucal, necessary to stabilize the vomiting center in the brain;
• Omez to reduce the acidity of gastric juice;
• Enterosgel, which allows you to speed up the removal of poison from the body.

Treatment with drugs should be carried out by the attending physician. Self-therapy can lead to a deterioration in the animal’s general condition and increases the risk of death. In parallel with taking medications, the veterinarian prescribes a gentle diet. Correcting the diet will help normalize the functioning of the digestive system and reduce the load on organs that are weakened due to intoxication.

Feeding and drinking regime

The pet owner needs to remember what his pet has eaten recently. This information can help determine the cause of vomiting. Before visiting the veterinarian, it is not recommended to feed your pet, so as not to accidentally provoke new discharge of white foam. The doctor should carry out the diagnosis on an empty stomach.

If the vomiting has stopped and the visit to the veterinary clinic is cancelled, you should also not give the dog food. Fasting for a day will help remove all toxins from the body and cleanse the gastrointestinal tract. During this period, you should give your pet boiled water to drink in small portions. After 24 hours, you are allowed to gradually return to your normal diet.

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To begin with, it is recommended to give the animal chicken broth. After this, you need to monitor the dog’s well-being for 2 hours. If the dog is in a good mood, you can give him boiled rice or buckwheat. At the same time, 5-6 times a day you need to give the sick pet a decoction based on peppermint and flaxseeds. During the first week of rehabilitation, you need to give the animal food 5-6 times a day every 2-3 hours in small portions. The amount of food must be increased gradually. Thanks to this approach, it is possible to reduce the load on the digestive organs and normalize the process of absorption of nutrients.

What to feed your dog for vomiting and diarrhea

It is not advisable to feed during vomiting or diarrhea. The dog should be forced to drink more fluid on an empty stomach, and food can be given only 1 day after the urge to vomit has disappeared. It is important to follow a strict diet. In case of poisoning, it is allowed to give:

• chicken or turkey puree;
• boiled zucchini and fresh herbs.

On days 2-3 after most of the unpleasant symptoms have disappeared, the dog is fed slimy porridge and pieces of boiled meat.

Important! The number of feedings is increased to 6 times per day.

Bones and any treats are excluded from the diet, eating them is prohibited, the dog can vomit even more and belch, including immediately mucus. Food should be fresh, brought to room temperature. A veterinarian should give more precise recommendations. In some cases, it is recommended to feed the dog exclusively with special veterinary food designed for animals with gastrointestinal problems. In this case, she will burp less.

It is not advisable to feed if you are vomiting or having diarrhea.

What not to do

It is strictly forbidden to scold the dog or use physical violence as punishment if the dog soils the furniture or carpet while vomiting. During this period, the animal recovers from shock and experiences severe stress. The pathological condition can provoke an attack of aggression. In the worst case scenario, the dog will stop trusting its owner.

It is important to remember that the animal does not control the gag reflex. Along with semi-digested food, toxic substances and swallowed objects are removed from his body. This will help alleviate the dog's condition.

If your pet clears its throat, do not hit it on the back or sides. Strong impacts can damage the ribs. Such manipulations will not help the dog, because animals have a different body structure.

IMPORTANT. If an attack of vomiting occurs during a walk, you must immediately remove the narrow collar or muzzle from the dog. This is necessary so that the animal does not choke on the food masses.

Dog vomiting yellow foam

A dog's vomiting, which is yellow in color, may indicate the presence of many diseases. For example, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, hepatitis. There are diseases that occur in a latent form, without obvious signs, such as piroplasmosis. Noticing yellow foam at the mouth of a dog

, we can conclude that there is an admixture of bile there.
If the animal only eats once a day, then try to help it yourself by changing its diet. Try to feed the animal 3 times a day in small portions. If this does not help, contact a specialist. The animal may have cholecystitis. With this disease, bile is released into the intestines, irritating its walls, which leads to vomiting. Vomiting bile in a dog may be due to worms. Contact your veterinarian. He will make a diagnosis after an examination, which includes a biochemical and general blood test, ultrasound. All this can be done at a veterinary center. An advanced disease and not provided timely assistance can lead to the death of the animal. If a puppy vomits at the age of 3 months, it is contraindicated to treat it independently
. In this case, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.

Prevention

To avoid unpleasant consequences, it is necessary to prevent the disease in time. The main preventative measure is constant care, regular feeding and attention to pets. In addition, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Puppies need to train their vestibular apparatus. To do this, you can pick up your pet and often take it with you on short trips.
2. Dogs should not be allowed to eat foreign food on the street or lick garbage or excrement of other animals. You need to make sure that your dog doesn’t accidentally swallow a sharp object while walking. Large dogs should be muzzled when walking. It will help protect your pet from swallowing foreign bodies and toxic substances.
3. Monitor foods in your dog's diet. You cannot suddenly change the food or introduce a new product into the diet in large quantities. Food must be carefully checked for freshness.
4. Aerosols against lice and fleas should be hidden on the top shelves or in cabinets so that the dog cannot get them and chew them. Detergents and other toxic compounds should be stored in drawers with a handle.

Dogs must be promptly vaccinated at a certified veterinary clinic and dewormed.

Vomiting as a defense mechanism

Animals are sensitive to the needs of their bodies. If a dog greedily eats more than normal, the stomach will soon get rid of the excess amount of food. Vomiting occurs due to illness. For example, bitches feed their cubs poorly digested food, regurgitating it little by little.

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You should monitor your pet when vomiting becomes periodic. The presence of diseases of the stomach or intestines cannot be excluded. Often white vomit is a protective mechanism that cleanses the pet’s body of toxins during viral diseases or poisoning.