Foamy vomiting is the result of a reaction of air with mucus enveloping the walls of the stomach and saliva. Emerging foam bubbles are not dangerous, but may be an indicator of internal pathology. If your dog is vomiting white foam, check with your veterinarian about what to do in this situation. Self-help is not always effective, as it only eliminates the symptoms and not the source of the problem.
Causes of foamy vomiting
A dog vomits white foam for two reasons: physiological and pathological. The first includes the body’s defensive reaction to an irritant, and the second includes internal disorders that threaten the health of the pet.
The body's defense mechanism
In a natural reaction to a stimulus, the animal vomits once. After the attacks stop, the condition returns to normal. This may be explained by:
- changing your diet;
- motion sickness in transport;
- recent vaccination;
- ingestion of a foreign body;
- a long break between feedings (accompanied by belching);
- severe fear;
- cleansing the body after eating grass.
Possible causes include overeating. In this case, the dog regurgitates the excess to reduce the load on the stomach.
Diseases of a viral-infectious nature
The most dangerous viral infections include rabies and canine distemper (distemper). If your dog constantly vomits white foam with mucus, check the reaction to light and water. Rabid animals are sensitive to sunlight and avoid liquids due to possible laryngeal spasm. To avoid infection, isolate your pet in a separate room.
The intestinal form of plague is manifested by diarrhea, a sharp increase in temperature and conjunctivitis. Due to gastrointestinal disorders, rapid dehydration occurs. Without timely help, your pet may die from exhaustion.
Poisoning
Food poisoning from spoiled foods is accompanied by loss of appetite and increased water consumption. Associated symptoms include muscle weakness and diarrhea.
In a more serious form of intoxication (poisoning with rat poison), symptoms are accompanied by loss of coordination, convulsions, increased or decreased temperature, and the release of bloody vomit. Only 2 hours are allotted to save the animal. If you notice any of the above symptoms, call your veterinary clinic to find out further course of action. You will have to administer the antidote yourself.
Gastrointestinal diseases
The vomit is yellow and tinged with bile. It accumulates in cholecystitis, hepatitis, gastritis and ulcerative-erosive formations on the walls of the stomach or intestines.
The appearance of blood indicates the presence of internal bleeding. Due to the lack of reaction with air, the blood cannot clot, so it continues to leave the affected organ. Poor circulation, depriving internal organs of oxygen, is fraught with necrosis.
White vomit is characteristic of flatulence. When there is excessive accumulation of gases, the animal's stomach becomes enlarged and hurts. Gases migrate from the intestines to the stomach, causing a gag reflex.
Infection with worms
With helminthiasis, the sick dog retains its appetite, but constantly loses weight. In addition to nausea, a cough develops. Mucus and blood clots appear in the feces. When the infection is severe, the parasites begin to come out along with the discharge.
Epilepsy
During an attack, the dog loses consciousness, convulses and cannot control urination and bowel movements. Foamy liquid continuously flows from her mouth. The condition returns to normal after the seizure ends.
Why does vomiting with foam appear in children and adults?
Causes of foamy vomiting in an adult? Quite often, gag reflexes with foam indicate a central nervous system disorder, as well as other neurological diseases. At the time of infection of the brain, a person feels not only the urge to vomit, but also a very severe headache, confusion and physiological distress. During the process of vomiting, a person does not experience a feeling of nausea. With neoplasms in the brain, cerebral hydrocephalus (hydrocephalus) and other diseases that provoke expansion of the ventricles of the brain, intracranial pressure increases, and as a result, extreme pressure begins on the walls of the skull, brain tissue is gradually compressed, they lack air, the person at this time suffers from dizziness. It happens that during such periods, vomiting with foam appears unexpectedly.
The most dangerous condition is when isolated attacks of vomiting suddenly appear. At this moment, the person becomes ill and dizzy, there is a loss of consciousness or balance, and partial loss of vision is also possible. The above symptoms are characteristic of cancer. Nausea sometimes occurs if a person has heart disease. And the urge to vomit and foamy vomiting may appear in the event of myocardial infarction. Also, nausea and vomiting are typical for people who have been diagnosed with diabetes or meningitis. To eliminate the above-described unpleasant state of the body, you must first establish the source of the gag reflex and eliminate it, preferably forever.
First aid
An urgent call to a veterinarian is not always possible, so first aid is the responsibility of the owner. By understanding what to do if your dog starts vomiting white foam, you can minimize possible complications.
Host actions
Independent actions are permissible in the absence of accompanying symptoms and in case of emergency assistance. Observe your dog and try to determine the cause of the nausea.
:
- Eating problems
. If your pet does not eat enough, shorten the breaks between feedings or increase the volume of portions.
- Intoxication
. Go on a temporary fast and give a sorbent to remove toxins. Stay hydrated. If your dog vomits after drinking water, give him an ice cube to lick.
- Foreign object
. Carefully remove the stuck item if it is close and does not have sharp edges.
- epileptic
attack, you will have to wait until it ends. Carefully place the pet on either side and hold its head, avoiding choking on vomit. Don't scold your dog for damaging the floor or furniture. This is happening out of control. Excessive stress will only worsen the patient’s condition.
If the condition worsens, make an appointment with a veterinarian for an examination. Remember that vomiting white foam in a puppy is dangerous even for minor reasons. The child's body is more vulnerable, so diagnosis is necessary for prevention purposes.
What is prohibited to do
Avoid any violence against animals. Stress can cause a dog to become aggressive or lose trust in its beloved owner. Stained items can always be cleaned or replaced with new ones. It will be much more difficult to win the love of an offended pet.
If you have coughing attacks, do not try to relieve them by tapping your back or sides. Due to the different structure of the body, this will not bring results. If you do not calculate the force, you can damage your pet's ribs.
If you experience an attack of nausea while walking, remove the muzzle. Its presence interferes with normal breathing, so the dog can choke in its vomit.
Treating the root cause
After passing all the necessary tests and conducting research, the veterinarian determines the root cause. Further treatment for vomiting with white foam in a dog depends on the diagnosis:
- Foreign bodies
. If manual removal is not possible, an operation is performed.
- Viral infections.
Most infectious diseases are treated with antiviral drugs and antibiotics. Damaged immunity is restored with vitamin complexes and immunomodulators. Only rabies is considered incurable. If it is detected, euthanasia is carried out.
- Poisoning
. The effect of rat or other dangerous poison is suppressed by an antidote.
- Gastrointestinal
diseases
. It is suggested to correct the diet and take medications that reduce the acidity of gastric juice. - Helminthiasis
. The animal is prescribed sorbents and anthelmintics aimed at removing toxins and destroying parasites.
- Epilepsy
. New seizures are suppressed with anticonvulsant therapy. If there is no response to this type of treatment, surgical intervention is possible.
In case of severe exhaustion of the body, the use of IVs is recommended. The animal remains in hospital until the nausea stops and the condition returns to normal. After this, the dog is given to the owner along with recommendations for temporary care and feeding.
What problems can happen if a child vomits foam?
A symptom such as foamy vomiting in infants is often confused by inexperienced parents with thick regurgitation. If such vomiting with foam appears in a child over the age of one year, the child should be examined for abnormalities in the digestive system. By vomiting foam, the body of a small child may respond to the effects of certain medications, stress and emotional disorders. Foamy vomiting in children is often caused by worms and other parasites. Their appearance can be understood by the child’s sudden weight loss with the same or increased appetite. Foam in vomit may appear due to pathological abnormalities in the functioning of internal organs or their systems.
Care and feeding
To restore strength, the pet will need a temporary diet and care from the owner. Innovations in care are followed until recovery.
Gentle diet
After poisoning, it is recommended to avoid feeding for 1 day. This is necessary for complete cleansing of the body. The next day, you can give the dog his first complementary food of pureed chicken or turkey. Add some chopped zucchini or fresh herbs to the meat. In the first days, the diet should consist of puree and chicken broth. If you feel stable for more than two days, add slimy porridge with small pieces of well-cooked lean meat.
During treatment, exclude bones and dog treats. Stick to fractional meals. Reduce the usual portions and increase the number of feedings to 5-6 times a day. Use only freshly prepared food at room temperature.
More detailed recommendations depend on the diagnosis. In case of gastrointestinal diseases, the animal is transferred to veterinary food designed for animals with sensitive digestion and other features.
Drinking regime
With frequent vomiting attacks, the amount of fluid is limited. Drinking sweetened water through a syringe or licking ice cubes can help avoid dehydration. The liquid offered must be bottled, filtered or boiled. Change the bowl of water regularly to prevent bacteria from building up.
Conditions for recovery
The patient is prohibited from long walks outside and intense exercise. Walking time is reduced to 10 minutes. For small dogs, a home tray will be enough. If kept in an enclosure, temporarily move your pet home. To recover, he needs to be warm and comfortable. Prepare soft bedding for him in a quiet and comfortable place.
When the first improvements appear, do not stop taking your medications. The disappearance of symptoms does not guarantee a complete recovery, so follow your veterinarian's instructions.
How to avoid belching
Here are six steps to prevent belching:
- Try drinking 30 minutes before meals to help your stomach digest the food.
- Eat and drink slowly. When you swallow food quickly, you can also swallow a lot of air. And this causes gas formation.
- If you eat a large diet, use digestive enzyme supplements.
- Try activated charcoal. It reduces gas and treats bloating. Unlike regular carbon, activated carbon undergoes special processing, which makes it safe for human consumption.
- The habit of chewing gum and drinking through a straw can cause excess gas in the stomach.
- Avoid artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol. They can make belching worse.
How dangerous is the condition and who is at risk?
Repeated vomiting attacks dehydrate and exhaust the body. If an animal refuses food and water, it may die from water-electrolyte imbalance. Small breeds and puppies are especially vulnerable.
Frequent drooling is typical for boxers and bulldogs, who are unable to retain drool inside the mouth due to the specific structure of the muzzle. Yorkies are also at risk. This breed has sensitive digestion, so their body often rejects new foods. The number of attacks can reach 1-2 times per week.
Spaniels, Great Danes, Labradors and Poodles are breeds prone to epileptic seizures. These animals require constant control from the owner.
