Vomiting in dogs is, like many other symptoms, common in various canine diseases. They can also appear as a consequence of processes that have nothing to do with any pathology. To find out why a dog vomits white foam we must analyze all the symptoms that the dog manifests, only in this way can we guide our veterinarian and, finally, know why what causes foamy vomiting in dogs and what treatment will you need to improve
In this article we will detail the common pathologies that cause this type of vomiting, such as gastritis, heart problems, kennel cough or tracheal collapse. However, remember that the only figure capable of making an accurate diagnosis and prescribing appropriate treatment is the veterinarian. For this reason, although this article can guide you when it comes to knowing what is happening to your dog, we strongly recommend that you visit your trusted veterinarian and carry out the tests that the specialist considers appropriate in order to reach a diagnosis. Also, remember that the sooner you start treatment, the better the prognosis for your dog. Read on to find out the most common causes that explain why a dog vomits white foam, also showing you the treatment that the vet will prescribe and, finally, some home remedies Basics that will help improve the symptoms and discomfort that dogs that vomit phlegm or foam may suffer.
Dog breeds with a tendency to vomit white foam
First of all, it is important to highlight that there are some breeds that, due to their morphological characteristics, show a greater tendency to foamy white vomit. These dog breeds are:
- Shih Tzu
- Yorkshire terrier
- Poodle or Poodle
- M altese
- Pug
- English bulldog
- French Bulldog
- Boxer
These dogs may have a trachea of reduced diameter (with or without collapse), as well as a more globular heart. In addition, the heart valves often degenerate causing heart disorders, which makes a perfect mix for these dogs to be candidates for vomiting white foam. The bulldog may take the gold medal in vomiting white foam.
The vet will suggest that we separate the water intake from the food, that the feeder be raised or that we not subject them to stress or anxiety after eating. But the sight of us coming home from the grocery store is often enough to trigger vomiting, either food or white foam if the stomach was empty.
Main causes of white vomit in dogs
There are several causes of vomiting in dogs that can lead to white foam, foamy vomit, and phlegm. However, the main ones are shown below:
Gastritis
True vomiting, that is, when the material accumulated in the stomach goes outside, occurs in various circumstances, but inflammation of the gastric mucosa, that is, gastritis, may be the most common If a dog suffers from gastritis due to a virus, the remains of the meals eaten during the day will appear in the first vomits. But just as it happens to us humans, over the hours, if there is still vomiting, a liquid with a bilious or whitish appearance will appear. There is no content in the stomach, but the vomiting does not stop and what we see is a mixture of churned gastric juices, this being the reason that explains why a dog vomits white foam due to gastritis. Likewise, due to the he alth condition that it is suffering from, loss of appetite and, consequently, of weight are also common signs, which is why it is common in these cases to perceive that the dog vomits foam white and not eating
It is important to note that, although the causes of irritation and inflammation of the gastric mucosa are multiple, we must investigate the cause that gives rise to vomiting. In general, the vet can indicate a temporary fast (depending on the breed and age), a stomach protectorto reduce heartburn and an antiemetic, that is, a drug that stops vomiting. Given that in this situation the oral route is not very effective, they will surely administer it by injection at first and they will ask us to continue the treatment by mouth afterwards, until the cause is found and the gastritis is treated.
Not only the typical gastroenteritis viruses cause vomiting of white foam in dogs, but also the accidental ingestion of irritant products (some plants toxic to dogs, for example), so a good prior examination and data collection as accurate as possible can greatly help guide the diagnosis.
Remember that continuous vomiting causes the dog to lose essential substances for the body's balance (electrolytes such as chlorine and potassium) and leads to rapid dehydrationin small dogs or puppies.
Regarding treatment, in the case of viral gastritis, we have no choice but to wait for the virus to disappearThey usually appear suddenly and disappear in a few hours, but in the meantime, we must ensure that our dog does not become dehydrated and administer the antiemetic products prescribed by our veterinarian (metoclopramide, maropitant…), as well as stomach protectors (omeprazole, ranitidine, famotidine…).
If it is irritated vomiting, such as when part of a slightly toxic plant is eaten, the solution goes throughidentify the person responsible and prevent our dog from accessing it. A stomach protector may be necessary to alleviate the production of gastric acids.
Kidney or liver failure
The gastritis that we have just mentioned, as we have seen, can occur for many reasons. If we understand that the liver and kidneys are part of the body's purification system in the dog, we will also understand that the accumulation of waste products that form when one of the two organs or both fail can irritate the gastric mucosa, among many others. stuff.
Kidney or liver failure very often show vomiting without food content, between whitish and yellowish. If our dog is a certain age or accompanies this vomiting with other types of symptoms (urinate more, drink more, lack of appetite in previous days, apathy, bad breath…), it is possible that the origin is in some alteration of the renal system or hepatic.
In the event that white vomit in dogs is due to a kidney or liver problem, there is not much we can do to prevent its appearance, we can only follow the treatment indicated by the veterinarian. But we can anticipate and detect the problem at its inception, when we have time to stop its progress, depending on the disease in question. Carrying out annual checkups on our dog from 7 or 8 years of age, depending on the breed, can reveal early cases of kidney failure (complete blood tests).
Heart diseases
Many times, the first symptom of heart disease in dogs is the appearance of a dry, hoarse cough. At the end of this episode of violent coughing, vomit of white foam appears, like "whipped egg white". For all these reasons, we can observe that the dog coughs, vomits white phlegm and does not eat Sometimes we confuse these symptoms with those of kennel cough if we already know the process, others of us think that something has been choked…, but it may be the result of a sick heart that has begun to increase in size due to the impossibility of fulfilling its function (it accumulates blood in its chambers without being able to pump it and dilations arise), it is then that we appreciate that "the dog vomits phlegm".
This increase in size can compress the trachea, irritating it and leading to this cough followed by vomiting white foam in dogs, although the mechanism by which cardiac problems cause coughing and, consequently, vomiting, is more complex. Thus, we also observe that the dog vomits white foam and finds it difficult to breathe.
Although not exclusively, we usually find this type of vomiting in elderly dogs or in dogs that are not elderly but presentgenetic tendency to heart problems, such as: shih tzu, yorkshire terrier, m altese bichon, king charles cavalier, boxer… Many times, although we don't realize it at the time, our dog has been suffering a bit for a while and we observe that at the end of the usual walk he "laughs", which is the way we refer to excessive panting with his mouth almost in a smile, and when lying down that cough may appear followed by vomiting white foam. All these data can help the veterinarian a lot, together with the appropriate tests (thorough auscultation, plates, echocardiography…) to make the correct diagnosis.
Treatment is as varied as possible heart failure. There are insufficiencies, valve stenosis (they close or open poorly), thickening of the heart muscle… The same organ, a common symptom, but many possible diseases. In general, the associated cough and vomiting subside within a few days after starting a treatment common to almost all cardiac conditions, such as an antihypertensive (enalapril, benacepril) and a mild diuretic so as not to overload a weak heart (spironolactone, chlorothiazide…), sometimes accompanied by a special diet for heart patients.
Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is another type of irritation of the trachea that causes dry cough and foamy vomit at the end. It's known as " choking bone disease", so that gives us a clue as to why excessive coughing ends with vomiting of white foam.
It is important to collect data to differentiate this type of vomiting from that caused by heart failure and help our veterinarian to rule out that something could have really been swallowed. Are we missing a piece of something at home? A scan will tell us, but sometimes it's really small things that we didn't even know were in our kitchen or bedroom.
In the article on kennel cough you will find guidelines on vaccination and precautions in times of increased incidence of this infectious disease. The treatment, and therefore the disappearance of white foam vomiting in dogs, depends on the case (age, previous illnesses), and our veterinarian can prescribe a anti-inflammatory together with a antitussive, or in cases in which a development to something worse is feared, an antibiotic. If your dog has a cough and vomits white foam, do not hesitate to go quickly to the clinic.
Tracheal collapse
Tracheal collapse also produces vomiting of white foam, often causing labored breathing, coughing and the reason of our concern in the end. If we have a breed susceptible to it or our dog is a certain age and all possible causes have been ruled out as the origin of the white foam vomiting, it is possible that this tracheal alteration is the culprit.
Tracheal collapse is a matter of each race, of the quality of the cartilaginous rings of the trachea and other things that are beyond our control. However, by using a harness instead of a collar, keeping our dog at the ideal weight and not subjecting him to intense exercise, we can control his symptoms
Our veterinarian may find it necessary, in severe cases, to administer bronchodilators so that the scarce air that passes through the trachea reaches the lungs more easily.
Why is my dog vomiting white foam and trembling?
Although the above are the main causes that explain the appearance of white vomit in dogs, the truth is that occasional or sudden vomiting of foam can also occur for other reasons, even more so if they go accompanied by other signs such as tremors or seizures.
Tremors are a symptom of multiple diseases and conditions in the dog. The cold, stress, fear and even canine distemper are causes that can cause tremors in the dog Even so, the tremors can indicate abdominal pain, which could be caused by a intoxication or poisoning If we observe that they do not subside, we will urgently go to the veterinarian, especially if we are talking about a puppy.
Why is my dog vomiting white foam and having diarrhea?
There are a few causes that can cause foamy white vomit and diarrhea that are not serious, such as indigestion from overeating or stress. However, a intoxication, obstruction or an infection can also be the cause of these clinical signs. Without a doubt, vomiting accompanied by diarrhea is a reason for veterinary consultation.
But also, if we observe that the dog vomits white foam and has bloody diarrhea, we will go to the vet urgently. Some diseases that can cause such symptoms are life-threatening, such as canine parvovirus, common in unvaccinated or immunocompromised puppies and adult dogs.
Why is my dog vomiting white and yellow foam?
Yellow vomit in dogs tells us that the dog has vomited several times and, therefore, his stomach is emptyThus, we are faced with vomiting bile, a substance secreted through the gallbladder. Green or brown vomit can also be bile. The causes are diverse, but it can be especially serious in puppies, and can be caused by stress, illness, food intolerances or the intake of indigestible substances.
My dog vomits white foam, what can I give him?
It is essential to point out that Under no circumstances should we self-medicate our dog The only figure capable of prescribing a treatment is a registered veterinarian. Offering our dog any drug, even more human medications prohibited for dogs, can seriously worsen the he alth of our dog and even lead to death. However, there are some home remedies for dogs with vomiting that can help our best friend relieve symptoms naturally, such as:
- Perform a 24-hour fast.
- Establish a soft and easily digestible diet.
As you can see, something as general as vomiting foam in dogs can have multiple origins. As always, from our site we encourage you to collect all the data of your dog to attend the consultation and that the veterinarian can determine the cause as soon as possible.
