Dog drooling and vomiting

What can a drooling and vomiting dog mean? To answer this question, we will present in this post the main causes that can generate drooling and vomiting in dogs, and what should be done to prevent harm to the animal’s health.

Dog drooling and vomiting

Dogs drooling and vomiting are a sign that something is not right. These two symptoms together can indicate that the dog is going through challenges that can harm the animal’s health. But what would be the main reasons for dogs to have drooling and vomiting?

Dogs can have these symptoms for a variety of reasons, some of which are:

  • Stress;
  • Heat stress;
  • Infectious diseases;
  • Intoxication;
  • Poisoning;
  • Difficulties in swallowing;
  • Tumors / Cancer.

Stress

Stress causes a large hormonal variation in dogs which can result in vomiting and even excessive salivation. Some dogs may still show tremors and aggression in stressful situations.

To prevent, it is indicated to identify and reduce or even stop the stressor stimulus for dogs. Specialists in animal behavior can be consulted for better evaluation and dogs treatment.

Heat stress

Excessive heat can cause dogs to vomit due to the heat stress suffered by the dogs. In addition, in the heat, dogs pant more with this and the increase in salivation by these animals.

To prevent this from happening, dogs should be placed in cool environments where they do not receive direct sunlight. You can also use air conditioners to keep the room temperature pleasant for the dog.

Infectious diseases

One of the main infectious diseases that can cause dogs to salivate a lot is the disease caused by the rabies virus. Rabies is a disease that damages the dog’s nervous system, making it more aggressive. Care should be taken with dogs that have this disease, as rabies is a zoonosis and can affect humans.

If you suspect your dog has rabies, the animal should be taken to the veterinarian immediately. If you are bitten, you should see a doctor so that the necessary measures are taken.

To prevent the disease that leads to the death of dogs and can become a public health problem because they are zoonoses, it is important to vaccinate the dog and maintain the annual vaccination booster.

Intoxication

Several toxins can be found in plants and even in some foods consumed by humans. Dogs can be sensitive to various toxins. Dog poisoning can lead to kidney and liver damage that can stimulate vomiting in addition to salivation by dogs.

To prevent it, it is important that animals only feed on dog food, or on natural diets prescribed by a veterinarian. In addition, spoiled or moldy food should not be fed to dogs. It is also important that the dogs are separated from some plants that can be toxic to them.

Poisoning

Poisoning happens when the dog ingests drugs to exterminate other pests. It is common for dogs to get poisoned with medications used to kill mice, rats, and others.

Poisoning can lead to excessive salivation due to the bad taste of the medication and vomiting due to an irritating action to the dog’s gastrointestinal tract. The veterinarian must be consulted as a matter of urgency. Because without proper treatment, dogs can die.

Prevention should be done by preventing dogs from having contact with this type of medications. And when the detection of the house is carried out, the animals must spend a period outside the house, avoiding the contact of animals with these types of medicines.

Difficulties in swallowing

Various changes in the mouth and esophagus region can lead to swallowing problems, so dogs may salivate more, and some may even vomit.

Animals with tartar, without teeth, with tumors on the tongue and even on the gum can favor excess salivation by the dog, in severe cases of tartar, some dogs can present vomiting and even fever.

The esophagus can be affected by foreign bodies or some morphological changes such as megaesophagus. The act of dogs taking various objects to their mouths causes them to accidentally swallow these structures.

The main foreign bodies are objects, pieces of furniture and even trichobezoar. These foreign bodies can interfere with gastrointestinal movements resulting in vomiting and drooling in dogs.

Mega esophagus is the result of a neuromuscular alteration of the esophagus that results in esophageal dilation. Dogs with megaesophagus may present regurgitation, difficulty in feeding, salivation, vomiting and others. 

As a precaution, these dogs should be taken commonly to the veterinarian to clean the animal’s mouth. Brushing your dog’s teeth can also help reduce the amount of tartar.

As for foreign bodies, the dog should be prevented from playing with small objects and even destroying other furniture in the house. Dogs with megaesophagus should feed in ergonomic feeders, which are taller feeders that favor proper food swallowing by dogs.

Tumors / Cancer

Tumors and cancers in dogs are common in many animals. Therefore, the worsening of the animal’s health must be prevented with periodic consultations and check-ups with the veterinarian.

Gastrointestinal tumors or metastases from other tumors can disrupt gastrointestinal flow resulting in vomiting. Some chemotherapy treatments for tumors can also lead to vomiting in some dogs.

What to do when the animal is vomiting?

When a dog is drooling and vomiting something is wrong with the dog’s health, so a veterinarian should be consulted. Constant vomiting can lead to dehydration and even esophagitis, further deteriorating the dog’s health that can even die.

The veterinarian can do a series of tests to diagnose the main cause of these symptoms. Several diseases can lead to vomiting and drooling and when treated the animal tends to be normal. 

Some dogs may have some diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome and gastrointestinal allergies, requiring follow-up with a gastroenterologist veterinary doctor.

Conclusion

When an animal shows symptoms such as drooling and vomiting, it should be taken to a veterinarian immediately. Only then will some tests be done for the correct diagnosis and dogs’ treatment, thus preventing the animal from dying. Due to the various causes that can lead to these symptoms, it is important to take as much information as possible to the veterinarian to help in the quick diagnosis of the disease.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Dog drooling and vomiting

What is good for a dog to stop vomiting?

Dogs’ hydration and a proper diet can help. In cases of constant vomiting, the veterinarian should be consulted and only then can he diagnose and properly treat the dogs.

What are the main causes of vomiting in dogs?

Vomiting in dogs can happen for several reasons such as:

  • Forein body;
  • Megaesophagus;
  • Infectious diseases;
  • Food allergies;
  • Food poisoning;
  • Degenerative diseases
  • Tumors / Cancer.

What foods are toxic for dogs?

Common foods that are highly toxic to dogs are:

  • Grapes and Raisins;
  • Xylitol;
  • Chocolate;
  • Tea;
  • Coffee;
  • Onions;
  • Garlic;
  • Alcohol.

Reference

de Albuquerque, A. P. L., Sanches, F. J., Cruz, A. I., Suter, N. G., Taffarel, M. O., & Marcusso, P. F. (2017). VÔMITO CRÔNICO EM CÃO–RELATO DE CASO. Revista de Ciência Veterinária e Saúde Pública, 4, 047-047.

Parra, T. C., Berno, M. D., Guimarães, A., Andrade, l. C., Mosquini, A. F., & Montanha, F. P. (2012). Ingestão de corpo estranho em cães–Relato de Caso Foreign body ingestion in dogs–Case Report. Revista Científica Eletrônica de Medicina Veterinária, Garça, 18.  

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