Why Is My Puppy Vomiting?

Puppy vomit: it happens. There are many reasons your pup might lose his lunch and most aren’t cause for concern. Still, it’s helpful to know a few key things to look out for to make sure you don’t have a more serious issue on your hands. Make sure to pay attention to the frequency of your puppy’s vomiting, along with the color of your puppy’s vomit.

While all dogs are known to toss their treats every once in a while, puppies are particularly vomit-prone. Because of their adventurous inclinations, they frequently get into things they shouldn’t, which means they might eat and then — you guessed it — throw up their findings later. 

Puppies often develop gastroenteritis from finding their way into people food or sampling your houseplants. But as with adult dogs, a one-time vomit isn’t typically cause for concern. However, if your pup is vomiting regularly or frequently, you should contact your vet right away.

Common causes of puppy vomit

There are all kinds of reasons your puppy might be vomiting, but here are some of the most common: 

Eating too fast

This is very common and is usually not a cause for concern. (In fact, your puppy may just be regurgitating his dinner, which is different from vomiting and often happens right after meal time.) You may want to try feeding your puppy a few smaller meals throughout the day to avoid large amounts of food being consumed too quickly.

Consuming a foreign object

Like babies, puppies will try to eat anything. Some objects can be passed harmlessly by your puppy, but large or sharp objects may cause a problem. If you suspect your dog has eaten a large object or if he’s vomiting frequently, see a vet immediately. You should also contact your vet immediately if you suspect your dog has eaten something toxic, like a poisonous plant, rat poison, or insecticide.

Parvo

Certain infections like Parvovirus (or “Parvo” as the vets call it) can cause rapid dehydration and consistent vomiting, and occur more frequently in puppies than adult dogs. Parvo can be very serious, so you should make sure you take your puppy to the vet immediately.

Most of the time, puppy vomit isn’t caused by anything serious at all. But keep an eye out for how your pup is acting, how frequently he’s vomiting, and what the vomiting might be caused by. If you find your dog is experiencing frequent gastrointestinal distress, he may be suffering from food allergies. It may be worth trying an elimination diet or a fresh food diet to see if it helps. 

When in doubt, call your veterinarian

There’s no such thing as being too safe when it comes to your puppy’s health. If their vomiting appears chronic, painful or at all concerning, get a hold of your vet as quickly as you can. It’s always worth a check-in, even if it turns out to be nothing serious.