Vomiting
See also: Homeopathy
Dogs vomit for a variety of reasons, including:
§ Eating or drinking bad food or water
§ Ingesting pesticides or insecticides
§ Swallowing a foreign object such as a sock
§ Food allergies
§ Parasites such as worms
§ Fungal infections
§ Addison’s disease
§ Pancreatitis
§ Bacterial infection, such as salmonella
§ Kidney disease
§ Parvovirus
§ Ulcers
See also: Homeopathy
Dogs vomit for a variety of reasons, including:
§ Eating or drinking bad food or water
§ Ingesting pesticides or insecticides
§ Swallowing a foreign object such as a sock
§ Food allergies
§ Parasites such as worms
§ Fungal infections
§ Addison’s disease
§ Pancreatitis
§ Bacterial infection, such as salmonella
§ Kidney disease
§ Parvovirus
§ Ulcers
When dogs feed their young, they digest food and then vomit it up for their puppies. Vomiting is one thing that dogs are very good at. Experience will tell you whether your dog is just vomiting on a casual basis, or whether the condition is serious and needs immediate veterinary attention.
If the vomiting lasts less than 24 hours and is not accompanied by other symptoms, you can try to treat your friend at home. If the vomiting is excessive, then you should consult your vet.
Warning signs that indicate a serious problem include projectile vomiting, vomiting blood, a distended, tender abdomen, pale gums, an inability to hold down fluids, or repeated vomiting with no improvement within 18-24 hours. In these instances, you should contact your vet immediately.
If your dog’s vomiting appears to be mild, the first step is to allow him to rest his stomach. Fast your dog for twelve hours (withdraw food). During this time, blood sugar levels can drop, causing shivering, weakness and lethargy. To avoid this, allow your dog to drink small amounts of water mixed with honey. Alternatively, if your dog is gulping the water down (which can lead to further vomiting), rub honey on your dog’s gums periodically, and allow him to chew on ice cubes. Dehydration can also be a problem for the vomiting dog, so moderate amounts of water are necessary. If he’s gone for more than four hours without being sick, he can have small amounts of honey water.
After twelve hours, you can introduce small amounts (a bite or two) of bland food such as cooked chicken or white fish with mashed potato or brown rice. If he’s managed four hours with no further vomiting after that, more can be offered. Then give him small meals several times a day. Gradually, over the course of three or four days if there’s no further vomiting, reintroduce his normal food.
Homeopathic remedies for vomiting include:
Ipecac, when the vomiting is accompanied by diarrhoea (seek your vet’s advice in this circumstance)
Merc. Sol. when the dog is very thirsty
Phosphorous if the vomiting immediately follows eating
Cuprum Met. after coughing
Nux vom for general nausea and over-indulgence
Activated charcoal can help to settle the stomach in mild cases of vomiting. Peppermint, honey, cinnamon and ginger all help to settle digestive upsets.
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