Some dogs drool excessively, depending on their breed. This is because they cannot retain the saliva that formulates in the extra skin in their lips and muzzles. This causes the saliva to often drip out of their mouth. However, if your dog is throwing up and drooling at the same time, it is almost always a tell tale sign that your dog is sick.
What To Do if Your Dog is Throwing Up and Drooling?
If your dog is throwing up and drooling, you should restrict any food intake for 6 hours. If they don’t throw up again, you can feed them some bland food.
After your dog is able to hold down bland food, you can start giving them small amounts of low-fat dog food. If your dog continues to drool, you should wipe the mouth and lips with a clean towell.
You should make sure your dog has access to clean water the entire time. However, if your dog still can’t hold down food, don’t let them drink too much water as it can lead to more vomiting.
If your dog continues to throw up and drool for over 24 hours, you should take them to the vet.
Why do dogs vomit and drool at the same time?
Usually, when a dog vomits they release different liquids such as bile, partly digested food, and, worse, blood. Vomiting can be very painful and even scary for a dog. As a result, they begin to drool excessively due to the anxiety they are experiencing.
Some other common reasons for vomiting and drooling in dogs is digestion issues, food allergies, and bacterial infections.
Drooling and vomiting in dogs
Below we break down the main causes for both drooling and vomiting in dogs.
Drooling
Excessive drooling doesn’t necessarily require medical intervention because it is common in dogs. Dogs slobber for multiple reasons, such as excitement, anticipation, and hunger. Nevertheless, some underlying health conditions can lead to excessive saliva in a dog’s mouth.
One common condition is poor dental hygiene due to a significant build-up of tartar within their teeth. This build-up causes irritation and pain within the gums and, in worst-case scenarios, infections. Therefore, as responsible pet owners, we must ensure that the oral hygiene of our pet is up to date.
Other reasons for excessive saliva include digestive problems and overheating. A dog may salivate to cool itself down during a scorching day.
Vomiting in dogs
In some other cases, when dogs fall sick, they may vomit certain substances and instantly feel better the following day. However, it is vital to note that pet owners should be concerned if their dog is excessively vomiting and showcasing other symptoms such as drooling.
Vomiting occurs when animals forcefully release all the substances in their stomachs. It is a function that causes dogs to eject every content in their guts, including intestinal fluid. Their abdominal muscles are strenuously causing them to be in a hunched position.
Reasons as to why dogs constantly vomit:
- Overeating
- Bacterial infections (due to grass consumption)
- Food intolerances or eating something toxic
If your dog ate something toxic, you might need to induce vomiting in your dog.
It is also important to understand the difference between Vomiting and Regurgitation.
Regurgitation
Regurgitation does not involve any movement of the abdominal muscles. Instead, dogs are burping out undigested food and liquids from their mouths. Regurgitation occurs right after a dog has eaten and commonly happens when a dog ingests large materials.
This process occurs quietly, and sometimes, we may not even notice it happening. However, pay attention to the kind of food your dog is consuming as this indicates what kind of foods don’t do well in their stomachs or might cause them sickness in the long run.
It is also vital to note that recurring regurgitation is a cause for concern. You will most likely need to change their diet to dog food for sensitive stomachs. You might also want to give your dog grain free dog food and see if that helps.
What to do if a dog is constantly vomiting and regurgitating:
If your dog is constantly vomiting, you should:
- Abstain from giving dogs any kind of treats or food for 24 hours.
- Water in small quantities to avoid upsetting their stomach
- Once 24 hours have passed, start by giving them ¼ of a bland meal to ensure no more vomiting occurs. If the food has stayed down in their stomachs, you may slowly provide them with the rest of the feed within 30-50 minutes.
- Closely monitor your dog over the next 24 hours to make sure they don’t vomit again.
If regurgitating:
- Only feed them when it is the proper time for their next meal of the day.
- When it is time to eat again, lower the amount of food by ½
- Rest for 30 minutes and monitor their actions
Suppose the dogs begin to showcase healthy symptoms after carrying out the following tests. In that case, they may go back to their regular routines. However, it is essential to be wary and watch their behaviours to ensure nothing unusual persists.
