When to Feed a Dog After Vomiting

Treatment for Vomiting

• Your dog will occasionally vomit after having eaten something he should not have eaten or something that does not agree with his stomach. Sometimes an abrupt change in diet can cause vomiting. As long as your dog is acting normally and nothing else appears to be wrong with him, you can treat his vomiting by withholding his food for six to 12 hours if he is a small dog or puppy and for 12 to 24 hours for all other dogs. You should offer him small amounts of water during this time to avoid dehydration.

  After this fast, feed him a small meal of bland foods such as white rice, boiled chicken or plain mashed potatoes. If he keeps this food down, after four hours, offer him another small meal. Repeat this after another four hours. If all goes well, feed your dog normal-sized portions of bland food the following day. Over the following days you can begin mixing his regular food back into the bland food until he has gradually returned to his normal diet.

Vomiting Before or After Eating

• If your dog is vomiting up a frothy bile before she eats, it means the levels of acid in her empty stomach are too high. To remedy this, have food available for her at all times or feed her smaller, more frequent meals. You can also ask your veterinarian about giving her an antacid during the times when she usually vomits.

  If your dog is vomiting up all of her food after eating, she is probably eating too much food too fast. After she eats, the food absorbs water in her stomach, expanding and causing her to vomit it back up. Try putting her food in a toy designed to leak out a small amount of kibble while it is played with, try feeding her where she can relax and take her time, try feeding her smaller amounts more often or try soaking her food in water before feeding her.

When To Seek Help

• Sometimes vomiting is a sign of a more serious problem. In this case you want to seek veterinarian help instead of fasting your dog. Possible causes of a serious problem where vomiting is symptomatic are your dog having eaten something that has become trapped in his digestive system, parasites, a viral infection or pancreatitis.

  Seek help if your dog has severe vomiting that comes on suddenly; if he has any weakness, bloody diarrhea, blood in his vomit, fever, seizures or bloating; if you suspect he has eaten a foreign object; or if he is in obvious pain. Also note the color, consistency and frequency of the vomiting to help your veterinarian diagnosis your dog's problem.