Vomiting is very normal in dogs. They are not very picky eaters, so they need a way to reject the food and material that are not good for his system. It is a way to protect the digestive tract of the dog. On the other hand, diarrhea is also very normal. However, when the onset of vomiting and diarrhea are sudden and severe, there might be a problem. It could be gastroenteritis.
Gastroenteritis is caused by the inflammation of both the intestinal linings and the stomach; the symptoms of this disease are severe vomiting and diarrhea.
This causes your dog to lose a lot of fluids, leading to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Furthermore, because of the frequent vomiting, your dog could suffer from shock. It is best to treat gastroenteritis in its early stage before it gets worse. Frequent and severe vomiting and diarrhea should be consulted to a veterinarian immediately. It is normal for a dog to vomit periodically for two to three days. If it goes on for three or more and gets worse, it should be a cause of worry. Some dogs with gastroenteritis will have blood on their fecal matter and vomit. This is a sure way to tell if your dog suffers from the disease. While it is not contagious to humans, it can affect any dog of any age. It can be most physically damaging to small puppies.
Gastroenteritis has a lot of causes; the main cause would be having the improper diet. Dogs tend to eat inappropriate food, sometimes as they even ingest foreign objects that they are not able to digest. Also, dogs cannot digest some types of food. All dogs are allergic to chocolate, dairy products, and caffeine. It is best to check what your dog has been ingesting for the past hours. Poison and chemicals could be the cause of the disease. Furthermore, certain medications (such as those for cancer) are not applicable for dogs.
In some cases, gastroenteritis can be caused simply by stress. However, in other cases, it is a symptom of a more serious disease. Any metabolic disorders that concern the liver or kidney can cause this. Diabetes and hypoadrenocorticism are also a few causes though ulcers and stomach cancer might also be the cause. This is why it is best to take your dog to a vet, so they can check if your dog has any of these other diseases.
It is best to prevent your dog from getting gastroenteritis in the first place. To do this, all you have to do is make a few lifestyle changes. Make sure that your dog does not get to any garbage cans or trash bins. Keep all hazardous materials and foods out of reach. Furthermore, it would be best to change your dog抯 diet; limit the intake of fatty food and do not let your dog chew bones. These could cause lacerations in the digestive tract. It could also obstruct the digestive tract, or irritate the gastrointestinal tract.
