Vomiting

Vomit! Usually an event that will gross most of us out. It comes in a variety of forms, from mild to severe, once off to continuous, foamy, mucousy, you name it! Vomit can come in any form and at any time, but what does it mean? 

Vomiting is the primary clinical sign associated with gastric dysfunction; it can be associated with the stomach, small intestine and colon. However, vomiting can also be a sign of disease in other abdominal organs, the central nervous system and can be a sign of poisoning or toxin ingestion. 

The primary goal when your animal is vomiting is to determine whether the vomit is acute or chronic and whether it is self-limiting (resolve on its own) or severe (requires further diagnostics and treatment as soon as possible). The list of diseases causing vomiting is far too great for one post to mention them all, so it is important to know when vomiting is causing a problem for your companion. 

Acute self-limiting vomiting can often be associated with dietary indiscretion and frequently improves with empirical therapies such as anti-emetics and fluid therapy along with a controlled diet. It often requires limited diagnostics and just reassessment of hydration status and an adequate physical can be enough to rule out serious problems. 

Acute and/or chronic severe (large volumes or repetitive occurrences) vomiting with signs of fever, dehydration and lethargy (not drinking, not eating) can often be a sign of a more serious problem. Animals with these clinical signs often need aggressive therapy and further diagnostics to find and treat the primary cause of the vomiting. Chronic vomiting cases can require extensive diagnostic plans from blood tests, to radiographs, ultrasonography and even surgery in some cases. 

At the end of the day vomiting in most cases is always caused by something, whether that cause is harmful to your pet or not, it’s always best to get a workup!