What Are the Treatments for Nausea in Dogs?

Nausea is a common symptom in dogs. It can be caused by a range of factors including a sudden change in diet, motion sickness (kinetosis), worms or an illness. Most cases of nausea are short-lived. You can take a number of simple actions at home to relieve your pet's symptoms and aid in recovery. Always take your dog to a veterinarian if it continues to vomit or if you suspect poisoning.

  1. Diet

    • A sudden spell of vomiting may have been brought on by something your dog ate, or perhaps because it ate too much too quickly. If you think this may be the case, try withholding food for around four hours and offer only water. This will give the dog's digestive system a chance to cleanse itself. To help settle your pet's stomach, start feeding again with smaller amounts of plain foods like cooked chicken or white rice for another 24 hours, then gradually reintroduce its regular diet.

    Worms

    • If your dog seems lethargic, it may have worms.

      If your dog appears to have no appetite, seems lethargic or suffers from diarrhea as well as nausea, it may have worms. Worms are intestinal parasites, and as different types of worm require different treatments, you need to take your pet to a veterinarian for a professional diagnosis. A fecal examination will indicate the presence and type of worm and your vet will prescribe the appropriate deworming program. Treatment will usually involve a course of tablets administered orally. They should be followed by preventive medication administered on a monthly basis.

    Gastritis

    • Nausea with frothy or bloody vomit may be a sign of gastritis, which is inflammation of the stomach lining. This is a common condition in dogs often accompanied by abdominal pain or discomfort. Acute gastritis may be caused by your pet eating garbage, rotten meat or some other bacteria-carrying substance. If you suspect this may be the case, withhold food for 24 to 48 hours, with water supplied frequently in small amounts during that time. Chronic gastritis is probably due to a longer-term imbalance in the intestinal flora and could be associated with a bacterial or viral infection. Your veterinarian may prescribe a course of antibiotics. In severe cases intravenous fluids may be needed to keep your pet hydrated and nourished while its stomach heals.

    Poison

    • If you suspect your dog may have eaten poison or some other harmful substance, do not delay. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Centre (888-426-4435) immediately. Try to identify the poison. Take the substance container or package with you to the clinic if you can. Alternatively, a sample of your dog's vomit may help the veterinarian to administer quick and efficient treatment.