Vomiting is not a specific disease; it usually is a sign of any of a number of different diseases. In general, the doctors at the Animal Clinic at Thorndale must to decide whether the cause of vomiting is more likely to fall into a particular category of causes. These are:
- Vomiting caused by a disorder outside the gastrointestinal tract (systemic disease). Examples of systemic diseases include liver failure, kidney failure, and diabetes mellitus.
- Vomiting caused by a disorder within the gastrointestinal tract or abdomen. Examples of these disorders include intestinal parasites, dietary indiscretion, bowel obstruction, pancreatitis, inflammatory diseases of the stomach and/or intestinal tract, and cancer.
Clinical Signs
Initially, it must be determined how ill the dog has become as a consequence of the vomiting. When the vomiting has led to more serious problems, any of the following might be noted:
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal distention
- Non-productive retching
- High fever
- Depression
- Bloody vomiting
- Seizures
- Collapse
Causes
As noted above, the veterinarian must determine the source of the vomiting (systemic cause vs. gastrointestinal tract).
Many cases of vomiting are self-limiting after a few days, and the cause may never be determined. Less commonly, vomiting may result from a serious illness. Even when vomiting is caused by mild illnesses, it may lead to death of the animal if treatment is not begun early enough to prevent severe fluid and electrolyte losses.
Diagnosis
If vomiting is associated with several of the above signs, a series of tests may be performed in the hope that a diagnosis will be made.
Diagnostic tests may include a complete blood count and blood chemistry panel, a urinalysis, stool sample analysis, radiography (x-rays) with or without barium, an abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, biopsies of the stomach and intestinal tract, and exploratory abdominal surgery. Once the diagnosis is known, treatment may include special medications, diets, and/or surgery.
Treatment
In some cases, such as a sudden onset of vomiting, the cause is self-limiting and only supportive care is needed. In this instance, treatment might involve fluid and electrolyte supplementation, medications for nausea, and limiting oral intake of food and water, a bland diet during recovery.
In more serious or protracted cases of vomiting, the animal may need to be admitted to the hospital for intravenous administration of fluids, antibiotics, medications for nausea, and observation. It is important to prevent dehydration from developing while additional diagnostics or treatments are underway.
Treatments for systemic illness vary according to the disorder diagnosed. Similarly, treatments for problems limited to the digestive system can also vary greatly. Many are non-surgical and some are immediate surgical emergencies.
Prognosis
The prognosis is dependent upon identification and treatment of the underlying cause for the vomiting. In some instances, the problem will be self-limiting or caused by a treatable disease. In other cases, vomiting is a sign of a more serious underlying disorder.
For the less serious cases, we expect improvement within 2-4 days. If improvement is not seen or the dog continues to deteriorate, please contact the Animal Clinic at Thorndale immediately for additional information.