Vomiting in dogs is a very common and can arise from a variety of causes, from simple gastritis to complex diseases of other body systems. It is not only very stressful for the dog and owner, but also presents a challenge for the veterinarian. This article describes the multiple causes of vomiting in dogs, including adverse reactions to food, and the range of treatment options available.
What is vomiting?
Vomiting is the expulsion of food,Liquids or debris from the stomach or small intestine through coordinated movements of the digestive, muscular and nervous systems. It is important to this regurgitation, which is a passive process as a coordinated effort like vomiting to differentiate.
Regurgitation is a sign of the disease in the esophagus, such as obstructions (foreign bodies, such as a stick, bone or toy, or a stricture), esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus) or megaesophagus (extendingEsophagus through the weakening of the smooth muscle). The main difference between regurgitation and vomiting is that regurgitation effortless, while vomiting, accompanied by strong abdominal contractions.
How can I tell vomiting and regurgitation apart?
Sometimes it is not easy to make. Generally, if it happens immediately after a meal, it is likely (though to be belching or vomiting occur, then). If the content of the material excludedseems to be completely undigested food, this also supports regurgitation. If the presence of bile can be confirmed, it is more likely to be vomiting.
Causes of vomiting
The most common causes of vomiting are dietary related, either by dietary indiscretion (eg overeating, eating overly rich or) spoiled food, the acute (sudden) vomiting, or adverse reactions to foods (food allergies), chronic (may cause long-term and intermittent) sourcesVomiting.
However, there arise a variety of other causes, either from the gastro-intestinal system itself (stomach and small intestine) or secondary disease elsewhere in the body (eg liver or kidney) disease. Within the stomach, possible causes:
1. Gastritis (inflammatory disease)
2. Stomach ulcers
3rd gastric cancer
4. Obstruction (foreign bodies, telescoping intestines)
5. Hiatal hernia (part herniating through the stomachMembrane)
Possible causes included in the intestine:
1. Infectious diseases (eg parvovirus)
2. Worms
3. Inflammatory bowel disease
4th cancer
Secondary causes of vomiting due to the disease elsewhere in the body include:
1. Pancreatitis (infection or inflammation of the pancreas)
2. Peritonitis (infection in the abdominal cavity)
3. Hepatitis (liver inflammation)
4. Renal failure
5. Pyometra(Infection of the uterus)
6. Hormonal deficiencies or excesses (eg Addisons disease, diabetes mellitus, sepsis, calcium imbalance)
Other possible causes that do not fit into the above categories drug reactions (eg digoxin, chemotherapy drugs, NSAIDs) and neurological disorders.
Treatment of Vomiting
Vomiting is a symptom, not a disease in itself. Regardless of whether the treatment is not appropriate, depends on individual circumstances. If the dog isVomiting only occasionally, is bright and otherwise normal in the investigation of the treatment is probably not necessary. Some dogs with sensitive stomachs pass systems are once or twice a month regardless of the treatment, and if they otherwise this too should be ignored.
In acute cases, vomiting, the first step should always be to starve the dog for 24 hours (and a lot of water available ad lib). After the time of the famine, the dog should be offered small portions of a verybland foods such as chicken and rice for a few days. Meals should be fed as smaller portions several times a day, rather than a larger meal.
Although the treatment of symptoms itself will often improve patient posture and comfort, there is no substitute for a proper diagnosis of the cause, and certain medications can be harmful because blind (for example, by metoclopramide, a dog with a digestive tract — obstruction). Certainly cases of acute and severeVomiting require immediate treatment, as dogs can quickly become dehydrated, develop electrolyte disturbances aspiration pneumonia otherwise.
Managing the vomiting dog
There are 2 goals when dealing with a dog vomit:
1. Identify the cause
2. Stop the vomiting in a safe and effective manner
In many cases, anti-(emetic therapy, the technical term for vomiting, vomiting, and still is) why drugs are used to treat it as an anti-emeticinitiated immediately, while the cause is being established.
A veterinarian will start by providing a complete history, focusing primarily on normal diet, current medications, immunizations and the description of the symptoms. He or she must ensure first that the dog is really, vomiting and not regurgitating, which has a completely different causes. It is also important to get a graphical representation of the ejected material, and whether they contain bile, fresh blood orseems to be coffee granules (partially) digested blood.
The next step is a comprehensive clinical examination, including carefully feeling the abdomen, where the dogs rectal temperature and the assessment of hydration status. Once this is completed, a veterinarian, a rather restricted list of differential diagnoses in mind. If the dog is not drained, light in behavior, and both vital parameters and feeling the abdomen normal, the veterinarian often) (righta presumptive diagnosis of gastritis or gastroenteritis if diarrhea is present, and prescribe antibiotics to combat bacterial infection likely. The owner is then likely to be sent home with instructions to starve the dog for 24 hours and give bland food for a few days in addition to the antibiotics. The owner is asked to closely monitor the dog and return it immediately if there are any signs of deterioration or 2 to 3 days later for a routine check.
If there are anyFindings in the medical history or physical examination that cause concern, then further tests are needed. The first of these is usually blood tests for hematology and biochemistry profiles. Urine and feces can also be analyzed, with the latter either for bad bacteria or parasites. Further laboratory tests may under certain circumstances, such as bile acid stimulation test is required if hepatic dysfunction is suspected, or looking for an ACTH stimulation test for adrenal disease.
Thenext stage of the work includes up imaging. The most useful is abdominal radiography (xrays), ultrasound and endoscopy, but can also be very important. X-ray and endoscopy both have to be performed under general anesthesia, while ultrasonography can be performed are aware. If the picture does not show the underlying cause biopsies can then be taken, either endoscopically guided or via exploratory discussions surgery. Histopathology of these samples) can be microscopically (examination of tissueprovide important clues about the cause, in particular by distinguishing between inflammation and cancer.
The final diagnostic option is the therapeutic procedure. If the dog is always better on the prescribed medication, then there is a certain type of disease that must have been the drug response. By that reasoning Wormers may be selected antibiotics or an exclusion diet trial.
Drugs for the treatment of vomiting
1. Gastric protection and antacids
TheseDrugs are useful when stomach ulceration is suspected. Examples include sucralfate (acts like a plaster over the ulcer), H2 antagonists (reduce acid production) and omeprazole (also reduces acidity).
2. Metoclopramide
The drug blocks a neurotransmitter in the brain called dopamine, which activate the vomiting center in the brain (such as the chemoreceptor trigger zone prevents known). It is only partially effective Here, however, and has the additional effect offurther increasing motility of the intestine. This means there should never be given to dogs that may have a stomach or intestinal obstruction. It may also cause mental changes such as hyperactivity and disorientation.
3. Phenothiazines (eg Acepromazine, ACP)
This is the blockage of dopamine receptors, the above effect, in addition to other receptors involved in the vomiting reflex. They are normally used when metoclopramide has failed, but also have undesirable side effects such assuch as hypotension and sedation.
4. Antihistamines
Histamine receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone, the part of the brain that controls the vomiting reflex. Antihistamines are in blocking vomiting, motion sickness is due to take effect, but little use against other causes.
5. Domperidone
Domperidone has a similar action to metoclopramide that blocked dopamine receptors and secondarily blocks serotonin receptors, but it does not workpromotility the effects of metoclopramide. However, side effects include vulvar enlargement and its possible impact on fertility.
6. Maropitant
This is a new drug that is a neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor antagonist. It can be administered orally or by injection, and is very effective in ending vomiting by working both on the vomiting center in the brain and the stomach. It is considered so effective at stopping vomiting that veterinarians must be careful, properly investigatedpotentially dangerous causes, this could be masked by this deadly drug.