Uh-oh—your pet’s tummy is upset. Occasional vomiting or diarrhea happens to every pet, but how do you know when it’s serious? Here’s a guide on how to assess the situation, home care you can try first—and when to call the vet.
Just like humans, pets can have “off” days due to:
🔹 Dietary indiscretion (e.g., scavenging garbage or eating unfamiliar food)
🔹 Sudden food changes (Pro tip: Always transition diets slowly!)
🔹 Stress or anxiety (from travel, new pets, or routine changes)
🔹 Infections or parasites (Learn more about intestinal parasites in dogs)
🔹 More serious conditions (e.g., obstructions, toxins, or chronic illnesses)
We’ve all been there – you turn around for one second and suddenly your dog is scarfing down grass like it’s a gourmet meal or your cat’s gotten into something questionable. Thankfully, most vomiting episodes are caused by harmless things like eating too fast, trying new foods or treats, or even good ol’ fashioned grass munching.
These vomiting episodes are usually nothing to worry about if:
🔹 It happens once a month or less
🔹Your pet acts normal afterward (still playful, and eating/drinking)
🚨 Red Flags for Vomiting
Call the vet if:
🔹 Your pet vomits repeatedly in a short period of time
🔹 You notice lethargy or abdominal pain
🔹 You see blood in their vomit
🔹 Lethargy, belly pain, or refusing food (especially with belly pain, we’ll be worried about bloat, aka GDV)
🔹 The vomiting lasts more than 24 hours (with no decrease in frequency)
Like vomiting, diarrhea can have multiple triggers like food changes, the development of food allergies, stress, parasites (especially in puppies and kittens!), or underlying medical conditions.
Diarrhea is often harmless if:
🔹 The diarrhea is mild and lasts under 48 hours
🔹 Your pet is still energetic, and shows a good appetite
🚨 Red Flags for Diarrhea
Call your vet if:
🔹 Your pet experiences frequenct or chronic diarrhea
🔹 You notice bloody or black stools
🔹 You notice signs of dehydration (sunken eyes, dry gums, excessive thirst, reduced appetite, lethargy)
🔹 Your pet appears to be in pain
Puppies, kittens, and small pets can become dangerously dehydrated within hours of vomiting/diarrhea due to their small size.
If you notice any sign of dehydration (sunken eyes, dry gums, excessive thirst, reduced appetite, lethargy), call your vet right away.
1. Pause food for 6–12 hours
→ Always keep water available, but in small amounts, and refill as needed
2. Restart food slowly: feed small amounts of food every 1-2 hours to see if they can keep it down, over the next 24-28 hours. You can feed either:
→ A bland diet, like boiled/steamed chicken (or a low fat meat with no oil!) and white rice, or
→ A Vet-prescribed food for GI supportive Care (Royal Canin GI, Hill’s i/d, or Hills Biome)
3. Gradually increase portions if no more vomiting
1. Feed them a bland diet or vet-prescribed food for GI supportive Care (Royal Canin GI, Hill’s i/d, or Hills Biome)
2. Supplement their meal with a probiotic (like Fortiflora). Follow the probiotic instructions for daily frequency, and ideally keep them on it for 7 days after the resolution of their symptoms.
→ If your pet was prescribed antibiotics for their diarrhea, please give the probiotic at least 2 hours after they’ve had their antibiotic, or as otherwise instructed by your veterinarian.
Pets can lose fluids fast with GI upset like vomiting and diarrhea. The risk of dehydration is especially dangerous for puppies, kittens and smaller pets (their smaller bodies can dehydrate quickly!)
If you suspect dehydration or your pet shows signs of weakness, sunken eyes, dry gums, or reduced urine output, it is essential to seek veterinary care immediately.
Ensure your pet always has access to clean drinking water, and monitor their water intake.
Most mild tummy troubles pass in a day or two. But if your gut says “this isn’t normal,” trust it! When in doubt, give us a call. We’ll help you decide if it’s a “wait-and-see” or an “ER now” situation.
– The Yonge Sheppard Animal Hospital Team 🐾
If your pet’s tummy troubles have you worried, dive deeper into our related posts:
Chronic diarrhea in dogs can be a challenging condition for pet owners to navigate. This guide aims to explain the big-picture approach to diagnosing and managing chronic diarrhea, helping you understand the steps your veterinarian may take to identify and treat the underlying cause.
Vomiting is a common symptom in dogs and cats that can leave pet parents worried. Just like in humans, vomiting can be a symptom arising from a large number underlying causes.
