What to Do When Your Dog Throws Up

Okay, let’s talk about that sound. You know the one. That gagging, heaving, unmistakable sound that sends a cold dread shooting straight through your stomach. Your dog is throwing up. On the rug. Or maybe, if you’re lucky, on the tile. But location isn’t the first panic, is it? The first panic is: Why? And What do I do?

Let’s be honest, seeing your furry best friend distressed, expelling whatever was in their tummy, is awful. Your first instinct might be to scoop them up, rush them somewhere, anything. Stop. Deep breath. As much as your heart is pounding, you need to stay as calm as humanly possible. Because your reaction, and what you do next, can make a huge difference.

First things first: look at the puke. Yeah, gross, I know. But seriously, get past the immediate urge to clean it up and examine it. What color is it? Is it just undigested kibble, looking suspiciously like it went down about five seconds too fast? Is it foamy white? Is it that bright, alarming yellow bile? Is there anything else in it? Chunks of something… unidentifiable? Grass? Bits of toy? Plastic? Blood? (And yes, ‘blood’ can look like bright red streaks, or sometimes, disturbingly, like coffee grounds). The visual is your first clue. It tells you a story.

While you’re doing your gross CSI work on the floor, look at your dog. What are they doing now? Did they just do it once and now they’re looking sheepish, maybe trying to eat it back up (ugh, dogs!)? Or are they still heaving? Are they pacing? Licking their lips repeatedly? Are they hunched over, looking like their tummy hurts? Are they bright and responsive, just having a little moment? Or are they listless, quiet, not themselves? This is crucial. A dog who throws up once and then immediately wants to play fetch might just have a sensitive tummy or ate too fast. A dog who throws up, then continues to look miserable, won’t settle, perhaps tries to throw up again but nothing comes out (that’s the dry heaving, folks, and potentially very serious)… that’s a different ballgame entirely.

So, let’s break it down based on that initial assessment.

Scenario 1: The One-Off Puke, Dog Seems Otherwise FINE.

Okay, this is the least panic-inducing. They threw up once, maybe a pile of food because they inhaled their dinner like a vacuum cleaner, or perhaps a little foamy bile because they had an empty stomach before breakfast. They are not acting lethargic, they don’t seem to be in pain, they aren’t trying to throw up again every five minutes.

What to do: This is the scenario where you might manage things at home, but proceed with caution. First, gently withhold food and water for a few hours. Think 6-12 hours. This gives their irritated stomach lining a chance to rest and recover. Don’t just leave the bowl down. Pick it up. It feels mean, I know, but it’s necessary.

After the fasting period, offer a small amount of water. Like, really small. Just a few sips. See if they keep that down for an hour or two. If they do, great. You can offer slightly more. If they immediately puke up the water… okay, pause again. This might not be a simple one-off after all.

If they can hold water down, after the initial fast (and assuming no more vomiting), you can introduce a bland diet. This is key. Absolutely no regular kibble, no treats, no human scraps. We’re talking boiled, plain white rice and plain, boiled chicken (skinless, boneless, absolutely no seasoning). Cook them separately. Shred the chicken. Mix it maybe 50/50 or 70/30 rice to chicken.

Give a tiny portion. Imagine about a tablespoon or two for a small dog, a quarter cup for a medium dog, maybe half a cup for a large dog. Give it. Wait a couple of hours. See if they keep it down. If yes, give another small portion. If no, you’ve probably moved into a more concerning scenario.

Gradually increase the amount and frequency of the bland food over the next 24-48 hours, slowly transitioning back to their normal food by mixing small amounts of kibble into the bland diet over another couple of days.

Monitor, monitor, monitor! Just because they seemed fine initially doesn’t mean they’ll stay fine. Watch for any change in energy levels, appetite, or any more vomiting. If it happens again, even if it’s just one more time within those first 24 hours, or if they develop diarrhea, it’s time to call the vet.

Scenario 2: The Worrying Puke.

This is where your stomach drops further. This is not a simple “ate too fast.” This is RED FLAG territory.

Repeated vomiting: They don’t just puke once. They do it again within a short timeframe. Or they dry heave repeatedly.

Lethargy/Weakness: They are listless, don’t want to move, seem weak or unresponsive. This is a huge sign something more serious is going on.

Pain/Discomfort: They are hunched over, whining, reluctant to be touched, their belly feels hard or distended.

Blood: Any sign of blood, whether bright red or coffee-ground like. Period. Stop reading, call the vet.

Suspected Foreign Body: You saw them eat something they shouldn’t have (a toy piece, part of a blanket, something off the street), and now they’re vomiting. Or the vomit contains something that clearly isn’t food. This is a potential obstruction, which is an emergency. Call the vet.

Known Toxin Ingestion: Did they get into the garbage? Did they chew on a toxic plant? Did they lick up antifreeze (god forbid!)? Did they eat chocolate or grapes or human medication? Even if they haven’t vomited yet, if you suspect they ate something poisonous, call the vet or animal poison control IMMEDIATELY. Vomiting might be a symptom, or they might induce vomiting at the vet depending on the substance and time.

Fever: If your dog feels hot to the touch, or you happen to take their temperature and it’s elevated.

Ineffective Vomiting (Dry Heaving): This is terrifying. The dog is trying desperately to throw up, their body is spasming, heaving, but nothing, or just a little foamy saliva, comes out. This can be a sign of bloat (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus or GDV), especially in large, deep-chested breeds. Bloat is a life-threatening emergency where the stomach fills with gas and can twist. GET TO AN EMERGENCY VET IMMEDIATELY. Like, right now. Don’t delay. Seriously.

What to do: In any of these worrying scenarios, the answer is simple, immediate, and non-negotiable: CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Do not wait to see if it gets better. Describe the situation, the vomit characteristics, and especially your dog’s overall behavior and symptoms. They will tell you if you need to come in right away (likely if it’s any of the Red Flags) or if they advise monitoring or different steps. Trying to manage a truly sick dog at home based on internet advice is dangerous.

I’ve lived through both scenarios. The minor, “oops, ate too fast” puke, which is stressful but ultimately fine after a bland diet. And I’ve lived through the “something is really wrong” puking, the kind that involves late-night trips to the emergency clinic, diagnostic tests, IV fluids, and sometimes, terrifying news. It’s the worst feeling of helplessness.

One time, my dog started just… acting off. Not exactly puking yet, but licking the air, swallowing repeatedly, looking uneasy. Then came the retching. It wasn’t just once. Over and over, nothing much coming up. And he wouldn’t lie down, just paced, looking increasingly uncomfortable. My gut screamed bloat. He’s a large breed, deep-chested. That awful dry heaving. We were in the car, lights flashing, within minutes. Thank God, it wasn’t a full torsion, just a serious case of gastric distress and discomfort, likely triggered by something he ate (or didn’t eat, causing excess gas). But that panic, that rush, the sheer fear that you might lose them if you don’t act fast enough? It’s burned into my memory. You have to know the signs of the truly urgent stuff.

Another time, it was just bile. Yellow, foamy, on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. He did it a couple of days in a row. Called the vet. They suggested feeding a small snack right before bed, something easily digestible, to keep his stomach from being totally empty all night. Problem solved. Simple fix for a simple cause, but I didn’t just guess. I asked.

And then there’s the classic dietary indiscretion. Oh, the things dogs eat. Socks, cat poop (a particular favourite of my current dog, sigh), random bits of plastic… If they puke up something you recognize as “not food,” and they seem okay otherwise, sometimes that’s the end of it. They got it out. Phew. But if they keep trying to puke, or start acting sick after puking up the offending item, that object might have done damage on the way up, or there might be more inside, or it could be just one symptom of a bigger issue. Again, vet call.

Don’t forget the simple stuff too. Sometimes a sudden change in diet can cause vomiting. Introducing a new food too quickly is a classic trigger. Stress or excitement can even cause it in some sensitive dogs. Car sickness is another common one, usually pretty obvious! If you recently changed foods and they start puking, that’s a likely culprit, but still worth consulting your vet on how to transition back or find a better option.

Cleaning up the mess? Enzyme cleaner is your friend. Seriously. It gets rid of the smell so they’re less likely to revisit the scene of the crime. But that’s secondary to the dog’s well-being, always.

Look, the bottom line is this: you know your dog better than anyone. You know their normal. If they throw up and seem completely normal a few minutes later, and it’s just a pile of undigested food, maybe you can try the fasting and bland diet route. But if there’s any doubt, any other symptom that looks off, any hint of blood, repeated attempts, or suspicion of something serious like a foreign body or toxin or bloat… don’t hesitate. Call the vet. Immediately. They are the professionals. They can assess, diagnose, and treat things you can’t. It might cost a bit, yeah, but their peace of mind, and your dog’s health, is absolutely worth it. Trust your gut feeling that something is wrong, and then trust your vet to figure out what is wrong. It’s the best thing you can do when you hear that terrible, awful sound.