When you are a caring and concerned pet parent, you do not want to ever see your dog suffer or feel ill. This includes instances where they have stomach upset and experience vomiting. However, you may find yourself in a situation in which your regular veterinarian's office is not open, either because it is a weekend, late at night, or a holiday.
As such, you are left trying to decide if the vomiting and other symptoms are severe enough or problematic enough to take them to the emergency vet clinic or if you can wait it out. Get to know some of the factors to consider when you are deciding whether or not to take your dog to the emergency vet for vomiting.
Are They Interested in Food?
One of the factors to consider when determining if you should bring your dog into the emergency vet for vomiting is whether or not the show any signs of an appetite. Generally speaking, dogs have more sensitive gastrointestinal systems than humans in that they are more quick to vomit than people are.
Vomiting can occur in dogs for a myriad of reasons. This can include something as simple as eating too fast, swallowing a hair that irritates their esophagus, or drinking water too quickly. Because of this, one of the ways you can tell if your dog's issue is serious is whether or not they have an appetite. If your dog still is interested in treats or food and will eat small pieces of treat or food, then they likely just had some kind of irritation that will pass and a trip to the emergency vet may be an unnecessary expense.
Can They Hold Down Water?
Another issue that goes along with vomiting is dehydration. If your dog is not drinking water or is not able to drink water without vomiting shortly thereafter, they may be at risk for severe dehydration. Dehydration can occur quickly in dogs and can cause numerous potentially lethal health complications.
Monitor their water intake closely. If they are not drinking water, try to use a baster or syringe with a few milliliters of water and try to squirt the water into their mouth. With any luck, your dog will rink the water you give them and hold it down. However, if they do not, a trip to the emergency vet may be necessary to give them anti-nausea medication and/or IV fluids to prevent and treat dehydration.
With these factors in mind, you can be sure that you are taking the best possible care of your dog when they are vomiting for an unknown reason. If you're still unsure, definitely call an emergency vet clinic to weigh your options.
Share27 March 2017
Hello, I’m Manuel. I would like to discuss the various services offered by veterinarians. Animals are creatures that do not always clearly convey when they are sick or in pain. Regular vet visits can ensure your pets are not quietly suffering from a medical condition without showing signs of a problem. Vets check the pet’s vitals and check for subtle signs of a problem to determine if additional diagnostic tests are required. I will explore the diagnostic process vets use for each health condition or injury. My site will also cover information about common treatments used for pets. Please visit again soon.
