Morkie4
06-29-2010, 05:40 PM
Sometimes our fluffs get into things that can be harmful to them. So in an effort to educate the Members of Maltese Talk, here is some hopefully helpful information about inducing vomiting in our fluffs.
Dogs and Vomiting
Have you ever watched as your dog, who has just vomited, feverishly tries to eat it up before you can get to it? This behavior may seem odd or gross to us but in the dog world it is par for the course. Dogs probably strive to hard to eat their vomit because 1. their mothers regurgitated food for them when they were puppies and 2. their heightened sense of smell reveals the actual food particles in it.
Some vomiting is normal for dogs. Dogs vomit for many reasons including an irritated stomach, eating too fast or too much, or sometimes because of nervousness. A large amount of the time, vomiting is not something to worry about but sometimes it can indicate a serious condition. If your dog vomits once or more a week and it is accompanied by diarrhea, lethargy, or loss of appetite, check with your vet.
How to Know Your Dog is Going to Vomit
It helps to know the signs of a dog getting ready to vomit so you can have be well-prepared before they vomit. It can also help you prepare in case it is a situation where you'll need to get help immediately.
Signs of a Pre-Vomiting Dog:
•Wretching - that noise that comes from your dog that sounds like he has something stuck in his throat. You will also see his throat straining back and forth.
•Stiff Stance - your dog may become rigid as he attempts to keep from vomiting.
•Wandering - a dog will often wonder aimlessly right before he vomits.
•That Look - sometimes your dog will come to you right before he vomits and give you that "look" that something bad is about to happen.
How to Deduce if Your Dog Has Eaten Something Poisonous or an Object
The first thing to do is to check your dog's vomit. You shpuld look for any bits of foreign objects. Keeping an eye on your dog, look for food or products he might have eaten in the immediate area and the area he has just come from. Signs of things eaten include wrappers, crumbs, pieces of an object (such as a plastic bag) and things that used to be there that aren't now.
List of Some Common Dangerous Things Swallowed
Food•Chocolate
•Avocado
•Any fruit pits
•Raisins or grapes
•Mushrooms
•Potato peelings
Household Products
•Cleaning products - any cleaning product is dangerous to dogs, though the natural ones are far less toxic.
•Anti-freeze
•Auto oil
•Cocoa mulch
•Gardening chemicals
•Some household plants.
Things We Forget About
•Bones that splinter
•Toys with removable parts
•String, rubber bands and even dental floss
•Sugarless chewing gum
How to Induce Vomiting
Try to always call your vet or emergency clinic before inducing vomiting. Induce vomiting only when it's necessary and you've talked to a professional unless you suspect he's eaten something dangerous (especially anti-freeze), has lost consciousness, or has trouble breathing.
To induce vomiting, open your dog's mouth gently and, using a syringe, squirt the emetic down her throat. Wait ten minutes and retry. If she doesn't vomit after the thrid try, get her to a vet immediately.
Some Emetics to Keep on Hand•Peroxide - use 3 cc's for every 20 pounds.
•Activated Charcoal - use one activated charcoal tablet.
•Salt - place about 1 tsp. at the back of the mouth.
What to Do After Your Dog has Vomited
•Make Certain There is No Obstruction - gently place your hand in his mouth and at the top of his throat. If he is wheezing or has trouble breathing, there could be an obstruction further down so get him to the vet immediately.
•Give Him Fluids - including electrolytes.
•Keep Him Warm - a blanket and hugs work well.
•Reassure Him - make sure he doesn't think he's done something wrong.
•Feed Bland Food - feed your dog a diet of cooked chicken and white rice for a few days.
How to Know When to Go to the Emergency Vet
Safe is always best so if you have any reason to be worried, call your vet or the emergency clinic immediately and go there. Also, look for signs of poisoning or obstruction. These include chills, shaking, breathing difficulty, seizure, drooling or staggering. And when you check your dog's vomit, if you see any more than a few drops of blood or any amount of yellow bile, it's an emergency.
Different Ends of the Spectrum - Puppies and Senior Dogs and Vomiting
Puppies and senior dogs vomit more than those in between. Follow these guidelines to look for danger signs but, if after your vet checks him over, don't worry too much if they throw up almost daily, unless it is accompanied by other signs of illness. They both have less ability to keep food down than adult dogs.
With a bit of preparation you can be a Super-Vomitocious Dog Owner and be certain that your dog will be healthy and safe.
Dogs and Vomiting
Have you ever watched as your dog, who has just vomited, feverishly tries to eat it up before you can get to it? This behavior may seem odd or gross to us but in the dog world it is par for the course. Dogs probably strive to hard to eat their vomit because 1. their mothers regurgitated food for them when they were puppies and 2. their heightened sense of smell reveals the actual food particles in it.
Some vomiting is normal for dogs. Dogs vomit for many reasons including an irritated stomach, eating too fast or too much, or sometimes because of nervousness. A large amount of the time, vomiting is not something to worry about but sometimes it can indicate a serious condition. If your dog vomits once or more a week and it is accompanied by diarrhea, lethargy, or loss of appetite, check with your vet.
How to Know Your Dog is Going to Vomit
It helps to know the signs of a dog getting ready to vomit so you can have be well-prepared before they vomit. It can also help you prepare in case it is a situation where you'll need to get help immediately.
Signs of a Pre-Vomiting Dog:
•Wretching - that noise that comes from your dog that sounds like he has something stuck in his throat. You will also see his throat straining back and forth.
•Stiff Stance - your dog may become rigid as he attempts to keep from vomiting.
•Wandering - a dog will often wonder aimlessly right before he vomits.
•That Look - sometimes your dog will come to you right before he vomits and give you that "look" that something bad is about to happen.
How to Deduce if Your Dog Has Eaten Something Poisonous or an Object
The first thing to do is to check your dog's vomit. You shpuld look for any bits of foreign objects. Keeping an eye on your dog, look for food or products he might have eaten in the immediate area and the area he has just come from. Signs of things eaten include wrappers, crumbs, pieces of an object (such as a plastic bag) and things that used to be there that aren't now.
List of Some Common Dangerous Things Swallowed
Food•Chocolate
•Avocado
•Any fruit pits
•Raisins or grapes
•Mushrooms
•Potato peelings
Household Products
•Cleaning products - any cleaning product is dangerous to dogs, though the natural ones are far less toxic.
•Anti-freeze
•Auto oil
•Cocoa mulch
•Gardening chemicals
•Some household plants.
Things We Forget About
•Bones that splinter
•Toys with removable parts
•String, rubber bands and even dental floss
•Sugarless chewing gum
How to Induce Vomiting
Try to always call your vet or emergency clinic before inducing vomiting. Induce vomiting only when it's necessary and you've talked to a professional unless you suspect he's eaten something dangerous (especially anti-freeze), has lost consciousness, or has trouble breathing.
To induce vomiting, open your dog's mouth gently and, using a syringe, squirt the emetic down her throat. Wait ten minutes and retry. If she doesn't vomit after the thrid try, get her to a vet immediately.
Some Emetics to Keep on Hand•Peroxide - use 3 cc's for every 20 pounds.
•Activated Charcoal - use one activated charcoal tablet.
•Salt - place about 1 tsp. at the back of the mouth.
What to Do After Your Dog has Vomited
•Make Certain There is No Obstruction - gently place your hand in his mouth and at the top of his throat. If he is wheezing or has trouble breathing, there could be an obstruction further down so get him to the vet immediately.
•Give Him Fluids - including electrolytes.
•Keep Him Warm - a blanket and hugs work well.
•Reassure Him - make sure he doesn't think he's done something wrong.
•Feed Bland Food - feed your dog a diet of cooked chicken and white rice for a few days.
How to Know When to Go to the Emergency Vet
Safe is always best so if you have any reason to be worried, call your vet or the emergency clinic immediately and go there. Also, look for signs of poisoning or obstruction. These include chills, shaking, breathing difficulty, seizure, drooling or staggering. And when you check your dog's vomit, if you see any more than a few drops of blood or any amount of yellow bile, it's an emergency.
Different Ends of the Spectrum - Puppies and Senior Dogs and Vomiting
Puppies and senior dogs vomit more than those in between. Follow these guidelines to look for danger signs but, if after your vet checks him over, don't worry too much if they throw up almost daily, unless it is accompanied by other signs of illness. They both have less ability to keep food down than adult dogs.
With a bit of preparation you can be a Super-Vomitocious Dog Owner and be certain that your dog will be healthy and safe.