As a new puppy parent, you might get disturbed the first time you see your dog vomit. But as you will find out in time, vomiting is not all that uncommon. Most dogs do vomit once in a while, usually due to an upset stomach. Dogs are curious creatures, and even the most vigilant owner occasionally turns his back for a moment, only to find that his dog has eaten a leaf or a piece of paper that flew by. Most of the time, vomiting is not cause for concern. But there are some instances when it could indicate a serious medical problem, especially if the vomit has a foul-smelling odor.
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Definition of Vomiting
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Vomiting, also known as emesis, is technically defined as the act of forcefully expelling the contents of the stomach through the mouth. It is different from regurgitation, which refers to expelling food coming from the mouth or the esophagus.
Possible Causes of Foul-Smelling Vomit
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Some dogs develop the habit of eating feces, known as coprophagia. This is relatively common in puppies and results in vomiting. If your puppy eats poop, it'll naturally throw up poop, which explains the foul-smelling vomit.
One of the most common reasons for vomiting is food indiscretion. Some dogs tend to eat anything in sight, including non-food items. These are sometimes passed out through the bowels, but there are times when an item may be too big to pass out the normal way and gets stuck in the intestines. Blockage in the small intestines will cause diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. If the blockage is along the large intestines, the dog may vomit foul-smelling, fecal-like matter.
Dogs that are infected with the Parvo virus will have vomiting and diarrhea that is foul-smelling and bloody. Parvo virus is highly contagious and is usually transmitted by exposure to the feces of infected dogs. The disease may prove fatal, especially to puppies.
Diagnosis
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When bringing your dog to see the vet for foul-smelling vomit, be prepared to answer his questions. Your vet may ask you when the behavior began and to describe the vomit's appearance, frequency and other details regarding your dog's condition.
The vet may take a blood sample to perform a complete blood count and determine if an infection in the body is causing the symptom. He may also ask for urine and stool samples. If an intestinal obstruction is suspected, your vet may perform an X-ray to determine if and where the blockage is located.
Treatment
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Treatment will depend on the root cause of the problem. If your dog's vomit has a foul-smelling odor, the veterinarian will try to obtain a complete medical history to determine if copropgahia may be the cause. The vet may recommend certain products that deter puppies from eating their feces.
If the problem is due to an intestinal obstruction, surgery might be the best option in some circumstances.
Prevention
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The best way to prevent your dog from eating feces and having foul-smelling vomit is to keep its surroundings clean. Pick up its poop as soon as possible and keep the dog on a leash when going out for walks to prevent it from eating other dogs' feces. There are also products that can be added to dog food in order to make poop taste unappealing.
Puppy-proofing your home will prevent any accidental ingestion of non-food objects. Never leave your dog unsupervised when he is out of his crate. Give your dog plenty of exercise because eating non-food items may also be brought about by boredom and frustration.
Finally, adhere to the vaccination schedule prescribed by your vet in order to ensure that your dog is protected from Parvo virus.
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