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Dog Vomiting White Foam

Submitted by Michael Adams on May 10, 2010

Most dog owners will relate to their dog coughing, gagging and throwing up white foam. Mostly a dog vomiting white bile when he has an upset stomach or if he has eaten something that has disagreed with his system. Usually, in such cases, the dog will eat grass and throw up white foam.

In such a case, if the dog is kept off food for about 12 to 16 hours and given a very small portion before he goes to sleep, he will be fine by morning. There is a syndrome called bilious vomiting syndrome, wherein the dog has excessive bile in the stomach, which is released through vomiting. Excessive bile can make the dog nauseated and, hence the vomiting.

A dog usually suffers from the syndrome in the morning. A visit to the vet will be needed to treat the condition.

A dog vomiting white foam however must be taken more seriously if that is not the only symptom, and there are other signs like restlessness, heavy panting, excessive dog salivation, appearing confused, attempting to vomit (for about 20 minutes), and hardness in the stomach. These symptoms can point to bloating, a condition in which the dog swallows excessive air and fluids causing a swelling in the stomach. The swelling can also twist the stomach between the esophagus and the upper intestine, eventually trapping air, water, and food in the stomach. Bloating then blocks the veins in the abdomen causing the blood pressure to drop and trauma to internal organs. This can be a life threatening condition for the dog. So, if one suspects bloating, the dog should be rushed to a vet immediately.

When suffering from bloating, the dog will also crouch in a strange position, drink excessive water, whine and pace around, ingest air or gulp, have difficulty defecating, lick the abdomen, collapse, and refuse to lie down. Dog vomiting causes also include seizures and digestive problems like pancreatis and bowel inflammation. Another possibility can be the dog choking on food. Smaller pieces of food must be given to him to prevent that. Canine vomiting treatments would include giving the dog a healthy diet twice a day, instead of just once. The dog must not be given too much water right after the meals and he must not be over-exercised an hour before and two hours after he has consumed food. Be vary of any food products that your dog may have an allergy to. He must be taken to a vet immediately if the vomiting continues.

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Dog Diseases