Why Do Puppies Throw Up?

As adorable as your new puppy is, even the cutest ones have accidents, roll around in stinky things, and throw up on your meticulously cleaned carpets. (If this is your first puppy, go ahead and say RIP to your favorite area rug.) Puppy throwup can be distressing, but it’s not always a cause for concern. 

In this guide, we’ll tell you when you should worry — and how to spot warning signs of common puppy illnesses and accidents. 

Is my puppy regurgitating food or vomiting? 

When your puppy vomits, they forcefully expel whatever is in their stomach, and sometimes their upper intestines. But there’s a key difference between regurgitating food and true vomiting. If your puppy is regurgitating food, you’ll likely notice:

• It happens soon after they eat.
• Undigested food or blades of grass will come up.
• Your puppy may try to gobble their regurgitated food up again.

Your puppy may regurgitate food if they’ve eaten too quickly or eaten too much. If it happens frequently, have your dog checked out by a veterinarian.

Vomiting will look a little different. You’ll typically notice:

• Your puppy will act sick and heave
• They’ll eject food or other stomach contents that contain bile
• Their vomit will look slimy and partially or fully digested

If your vomiting puppy is showing signs of distress, including whining, lethargy, or experiencing loss of appetite for more than a few hours, call your vet. The same goes for if they vomit or poop blood (which can look like coffee grounds), have vomit and diarrhea at the same time, or eat a foreign body. 

Why is my puppy vomiting?

The reasons why puppies throw up range from mild to serious, and they include:

• Regular stomach upset (such as from spoiled food, motion sickness, or even overexcitement)
• Intestinal parasites
• Eating human foods
• Eating garbage
• Food intolerances
• Bacterial infection
• Eating foreign objects
• Cancer

With such a broad range, it’s important to note the symptoms your puppy is experiencing so that you can tell your vet, who can help figure out what’s wrong. If asked, bring a sample bag of the vomit to your vet.

Does my puppy have a sensitive stomach?

It’s possible! Just like us, dogs can have food sensitivities or food allergies. On the other hand, they may just be eating too many table scraps that are causing them to vomit.

Vomiting, flatulence, and a loose stool are all potential signs that your puppy has a sensitive stomach. If you’re not sure, take them to the vet to make sure they don’t have a more serious condition. Once this is ruled out, you can talk to your vet about different options for adjusting their diet.

Why is my puppy’s vomit yellow, white, red, or brown?

Just like puppy poo, which comes in a variety of colors, the color of your puppy’s vomit can tell you a lot about their health. Yellow vomit means the food or material they’re throwing up has been in their digestive tract long enough to secrete bile. But if it’s white or foamy, that can be the result of intense coughing or irritation.

Dark brown or black vomit can mean that your puppy simply ate dirt and needs to throw it up. However, these colors can also represent blood, which looks like coffee grounds in dog vomit and poop.

If you ever notice fresh, reddish blood in your puppy’s vomit, it might be due to a cut or an irritation in their mouth or throat. Do a visual inspection to see if you can find a culprit — and regardless of the vomit color, follow up with your vet. 

Treatment and care for puppy vomiting

Most of the time, puppy vomiting clears up quickly on its own. In fact, your pup should feel better after they vomit, just like you.

When the vomiting doesn’t stop, worsens, or affects your puppy’s appetite, then it’s time to tap in a professional. Your vet will likely want to monitor your puppy for further episodes. They may also recommend short-term fasting, switching temporarily to a very bland diet for an upset stomach, or giving your puppy anti-nausea medication.

Other interventions for frequent vomiting include:

• Probiotics or prebiotics to balance their gut bacteria
• A bland diet to avoid trigger foods or ingredients
• Surgery to remove a foreign object
• Medication to treat intestinal parasites

Always be sure to provide your puppy with plenty of fresh water. If they’re reluctant to drink, adding unsalted chicken broth or bone broth to their dish might entice them. Pedialyte can also be given to puppies, but it may cause diarrhea, and it is recommended to always consult with a veterinarian beforehand.

The bottom line

Welcome to puppy parenthood. (We promise it’s a lot more fun than it is gross.) With the right attention and knowledge, you’ll be able to help your puppy if they have problems with vomiting — and they probably will at some point. 

Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting time for you and your family. Be sure to protect your new companion with the best vet care. Pumpkin puppy insurance plans can help cover eligible vet bills for future accidents and illnesses, so you can focus on caring for your pup instead of worrying about unexpected costs.

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