Many dogs vomit now and then, and a single episode in a dog that is otherwise bright and normal often settles within a day.1 But vomiting is a sign, not a disease. It can come from something as simple as eating garbage or as serious as a swallowed toy blocking the intestine, parvovirus, pancreatitis or bloat.1,2,3 This guide explains the common causes, how to tell vomiting from regurgitation, what the color of the vomit can and can't tell you, when to go to the vet, and what you can safely do at home.
Go to your vet or an emergency vet now if your dog is vomiting and:
- Keeps vomiting, or can't keep even small sips of water down4,5
- Is retching without bringing anything up, especially with a swollen belly (possible bloat)6,5
- Has more than a small streak of blood, or coffee-ground material, in the vomit7,3,1
- Is lethargic, weak, in pain or feverish, or also has bloody or severe diarrhea1,8
- Is a puppy under 4 months old, or a toy-breed puppy that is weak, wobbly or listless9,10
- May have eaten a toxin, medicine, toy, bone or other object1,4
What the Research and Guidelines Say
- Stomach upsets are common. In a large UK study, about 1 in 12 dogs was seen by a vet for sudden diarrhea in a year, and 44% of those dogs were also vomiting.11
- Owners often don't see the swallowing. In one study of dogs with an intestinal blockage, cited in a 2020 veterinary case report, owners had seen the dog swallow the object in only about a quarter of cases.12
- Delays can make blockages more dangerous. In a study of 72 dogs that had swallowed objects, every dog survived when the object was removed from the stomach, and 94% survived when it was removed through a cut in the intestine. Only 1 of 3 dogs survived when part of the intestine had to be removed. Vomiting for more than 24 hours was linked to a higher risk of death.13
- Grass eating is usually not a sign of illness. In a survey of more than 1,500 owners, fewer than 1 in 10 plant-eating dogs seemed unwell beforehand, and only about 1 in 5 often vomited afterward.14
Why Is My Dog Throwing Up?
Common, usually minor causes
- Eating something they shouldn't: garbage, table scraps, spoiled food, plants or insects.1,2
- A sudden change of food. Changing foods gradually over about a week helps prevent this.15,11
- Eating too fast, which can bring food back up soon after a meal.16
- An empty stomach. Some dogs vomit yellow bile early in the morning. A small late-night snack helped 5 of 7 dogs that tried it in one small study. See dog throwing up yellow.17,18
- Stress.8
More serious causes
- A swallowed object such as a toy, sock, bone or corn cob. Young, large-breed dogs are more likely to swallow things. String and other linear objects are especially dangerous. Never pull string out of a dog's mouth.3,19,13 See bowel obstruction in dogs.
- Poisoning. Over-the-counter medicines and supplements are the most common cause of pet poisoning calls to the ASPCA.20
- Parvovirus in unvaccinated or partly vaccinated puppies, usually aged 6 weeks to 6 months. See parvo in dogs.21,22
- Pancreatitis, sometimes after eating rich, fatty scraps or garbage. See pancreatitis in dogs.23
- Kidney disease, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease and cancer.1 See kidney disease in dogs.
- Addison's disease, where vomiting, diarrhea and tiredness may come and go.24
- Medicines, including some anti-inflammatories, steroids and antibiotics.2
- Worms, especially roundworms in puppies, which are sometimes vomited up.25
Vomiting that keeps coming back for more than 1 to 2 weeks is called chronic vomiting, and it needs a vet workup to find the cause.2
Vomiting, Regurgitation or Coughing?
Vomiting is an active process. Dogs often drool, lick their lips or look uneasy first, then heave with strong belly contractions.1,26 Regurgitation is passive. Food or fluid comes up quickly with no heaving, often soon after eating. The food is usually undigested and is sometimes tube-shaped.26,27,28 Regurgitation is often caused by a problem with the esophagus, the tube that carries food to the stomach, such as megaesophagus.28 Dogs that regurgitate can inhale food and develop pneumonia, so tell your vet which one you are seeing.26,27
Coughing can also end with a dog bringing up a little white foam, which owners can mistake for vomiting.29 See dog throwing up white foam.
What the Color of Dog Vomit May Mean
Color is a clue, not a diagnosis. How often your dog vomits and what other signs he has matter just as much.4,16
- Yellow: bile, often from an empty stomach. An occasional episode in a healthy dog usually isn't urgent.4
- White foam: often reflux or an empty stomach, but repeated foam with a swollen belly can be a sign of bloat.4,29
- Clear liquid: often from drinking too fast.4
- Undigested food: eating too fast, slow stomach emptying, or regurgitation.16,28
- Brown: can be food, but also feces or digested blood. Call your vet.4
- Red, pink or coffee grounds: blood. See dog vomiting blood.4,3
- Pieces of toys, fabric or other objects: a warning sign of a blockage.16
When to Worry About Your Dog Throwing Up
Call your vet the same day if your dog vomits more than once or twice, or if a dog who otherwise seems well keeps vomiting for more than a day.1,5 Get help right away for any of the emergency signs in the box at the top of this page.
Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus) is a life-threatening emergency, most often in large, deep-chested breeds such as Great Danes, Weimaraners, Saint Bernards and setters. Signs include retching without producing anything, a swollen belly, drooling and restlessness. Even with treatment, about 15% of dogs die.6,7 See bloat in dogs.
Watch for signs of dehydration: sticky gums, sunken eyes and skin that is slow to fall back when gently lifted.5,9 Toy-breed puppies can also develop dangerously low blood sugar if they aren't eating enough.10
If your dog is vomiting and also has diarrhea, see dog vomiting and diarrhea. If your dog has stopped eating, see dog not eating.
What to Do if Your Dog Is Throwing Up
If your dog has vomited once or twice and otherwise seems normal, ask your vet whether home care is reasonable. Many vets now suggest:
- Water: offer small amounts often. Don't take water away unless your vet tells you to.4,5
- Food: a short break of a few hours at most, then small, bland, low-fat meals. Long fasts are not proven to help.4,5,30
- Back to normal food: mix the usual food back in gradually over a few days once the vomiting has stopped.4,5,2
- Rest: skip walks until he's better, which also helps avoid spreading any illness to other dogs.5
- No human medicines unless your vet prescribes them. Some are toxic to dogs or can hide important signs.20,31 See what to give a dog for an upset stomach.
Call your vet if the vomiting continues, gets worse, or your dog doesn't seem right after 24 hours.5
What Your Vet Will Do
For a dog who is otherwise well, your vet may only need an exam and a few basic tests, such as a stool test for parasites. A sicker dog may need blood and urine tests, X-rays, ultrasound, a camera exam of the stomach (endoscopy) or surgery.1 Vets look harder for a cause if there is blood in the vomit or black stool, or if vomiting hasn't settled within about 2 days.2 Treatment may include anti-nausea medicine, stomach protectants, and fluids under the skin or into a vein.1,2 If a blockage is found or strongly suspected, surgery is usually recommended. Some small objects can pass on their own while the dog is monitored in the hospital.32,19
How to Prevent Vomiting
- Keep garbage, table scraps, medicines and chewable toys out of reach.20,1
- Change foods gradually over about a week.15
- For fast eaters, try smaller meals or a slow-feeder bowl. Avoid raised bowls unless your vet recommends one (for example, for megaesophagus). In one large study, raised bowls were linked to a higher risk of bloat in large dogs.16,33,26
- For early-morning bile vomiting, ask your vet about a small bedtime snack, keeping total daily food the same.18
- Keep puppies up to date on vaccinations and deworming.22,25
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my dog throwing up but acting normal?
A single episode is often from something he ate. Call your vet if he vomits more than once or twice, it lasts more than a day, or other signs appear.
When should I worry about my dog vomiting?
If it keeps happening, he can't keep water down, there's blood, his belly is swollen, or he seems weak or in pain.
Why does my dog throw up undigested food?
Often from eating too fast, but it can also be regurgitation from an esophagus problem. Tell your vet if it keeps happening.
Should I feed my dog after he throws up?
Offer water in small amounts. After a short break, try a small, bland meal, unless your vet advises otherwise.
Why does my dog eat grass and throw up?
Most dogs that eat grass aren't sick beforehand, and most don't vomit afterward. Frequent grass eating with vomiting is worth a vet check.
Can a dog vomit from stress?
Car sickness and stress can cause vomiting, but rule out illness with your vet first.
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Sources and further reading
This article was written and fact-checked on October 18, 2026 against current veterinary references and specialist guidelines:
- Barnes C, Williams K, Ward E. Vomiting in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, updated August 14, 2026.
- Blois S (reviewed by Carnevale J). Gastritis in Small Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual (professional version), reviewed January 2025, updated August 2025.
- Defarges A, Blois S, Hall EJ, Gibson TWG, Mitchell KD. Disorders of the Stomach and Intestines in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), full review May 2018, last updated June 2026.
- Gillette L. Dog Vomiting: Causes, Treatment, and When To Worry. PetMD, April 7, 2026.
- PDSA vets and vet nurses. Vomiting in dogs. PDSA Pet Health Hub, October 2024.
- American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus. ACVS animal owner resource, last modified October 30, 2023.
- Webvet Editorial Team (reviewed by Elliott P). Dog Vomiting Blood. Webvet, June 29, 2026.
- Morrison BJ (reviewed by Kleszynski B). Upset Stomach in Dogs: Signs and What To Do. PetMD, updated March 31, 2025.
- Case J. Vomiting and Diarrhea in Puppies. PetMD, March 29, 2023.
- Mar Vista Animal Medical Center. Toy Breed Hypoglycemia. Mar Vista Animal Medical Center, updated August 2021, reviewed July 2023.
- O'Neill DG, Prisk LJ, Brodbelt DC, Church DB, Allerton F. Epidemiology and clinical management of acute diarrhoea in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. PLoS ONE 20(6):e0324203, 2025. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0324203.
- McCagherty J, Yool D, Earley NF, Woods S. Grass as a linear gastrointestinal foreign body obstruction in four dogs. Veterinary Record Case Reports 8(2):e001116, 2020.
- Di Palma C, Pasolini MP, Navas L, Campanile A, Lamagna F, Fatone G, et al. Endoscopic and surgical removal of gastrointestinal foreign bodies in dogs: an analysis of 72 cases. Animals 12(11):1376, 2022. doi:10.3390/ani12111376.
- Sueda KLC, Hart BL, Cliff KD. Characterisation of plant eating in dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 111:120-132, 2008. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2007.05.018.
- Your Dog (Cummings School, Tufts) with Heinze C. Chicken and Rice for an Upset Tummy? Tufts Your Dog newsletter, undated.
- Dodd C (veterinary input: Greenstein R). Dog Vomiting: Why Dogs Throw Up and What to Do. American Kennel Club, updated August 14, 2026.
- Ferguson L, Wennogle SA, Webb CB. Bilious vomiting syndrome in dogs: retrospective study of 20 cases (2002-2012). Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 52(3):157-161, 2016. doi:10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6300.
- Linder DE, Hanford R. Stomaching the Problem: Could Your Pet Have Bilious Vomiting Syndrome? Petfoodology, Tufts Cummings School, June 17, 2021.
- Winkler KP (reviewed by Carnevale J). Gastrointestinal Obstruction in Small Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual (professional version), reviewed August 2025.
- ASPCA. The Top 10 Toxins of 2025. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, March 15, 2026.
- Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center. Parvovirus: Transmission to treatment. Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, updated April 2024.
- Gallagher A (reviewed by Carnevale J). Canine Parvovirus. Merck Veterinary Manual (professional version), reviewed June 2025.
- Steiner JM. Pancreatitis and Other Disorders of the Pancreas in Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), full review May 2018, last updated December 2024.
- Hunter T, Williams K, Ward E, Downing R. Addison's Disease in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, updated March 6, 2023.
- Peregrine AS. Gastrointestinal Parasites of Dogs. MSD/Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version), full review May 2018, last updated May 2026.
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- Coates J (reviewed by Morrison BJ). Dog Regurgitation: Why Is My Dog Throwing Up Undigested Food? PetMD, updated August 6, 2025.
- Johnstone G (veterinary input: Collins B, Gonzalez R, Klein J). Dog Throwing Up White Foam. American Kennel Club, updated October 28, 2025.
- McKenzie B. Tummy troubles: Empirical treatment of acute vomiting. Veterinary Practice News, September 20, 2021.
- Dodd C (veterinary input: Smith A, Klein J). Is Pepto-Bismol Safe for Dogs? American Kennel Club, updated October 8, 2026.
- Llera R, Hunter T, Ward E. Ingestion of Foreign Bodies in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals, updated August 14, 2024.
- Buckley L. Are dogs that are fed from a raised bowl at an increased risk of gastric dilation volvulus compared with floor-fed dogs? Veterinary Evidence 2(1), 2017. doi:10.18849/ve.v2i1.57.
About this article
Last updated : new page, written using Merck Veterinary Manual, VCA, PetMD, ACVS, Cornell and PDSA guidance and published research on vomiting, swallowed objects and stomach upsets in dogs.
This page is for general information and is not a substitute for an exam by your veterinarian.
