Why Is Your Dog Throwing Up White Foam?

Being a pet parent can be a wonderful experience but it also comes with some scary moments. You can’t go running to the vet for every little thing. After all, who could afford to? Although there are a number of conditions that do require a veterinary clinic visit, many do not. That’s why it’s so important for you to bone up on symptoms and cures for certain common everyday conditions so you have a general idea of what to do to help your pet when he or she needs you to.

What Causes it?

One of those occasions is when you have a dog throwing up white foam. Some of the first questions that pop into your mind can include:

  1. What causes it?
  2. What can you do to help your dog feel better?
  3. Is it life-threatening?
  4. Do you need to take your dog to the vet?
  5. Can you treat it yourself?

Some Answers & Suggestions

These are all good questions, so here are a few helpful answers and suggestions. When your dog just vomits one time and then returns to normal, he probably just ate something he shouldn’t. On the other hand, if he has thrown up a number of times in one day or it has lasted for two or more for more days in succession, it could be more serious. Some of the most common causes of a dog throwing up white foam can include:

  • A digestive inflammation like Pancreatitis
  • An infection
  • Bloat (gastric torsion)
  • Ingestion of a foreign object
  • Ingestion of poison or some other toxin
  • Internal injuries
  • Kennel cough
  • Parvovirus
  • Poor eating habits
  • Rabies

If it’s an infection, your veterinarian could prescribe antibiotics to clear it up. If it’s an eating habit issue, try revising your dog’s eating plan, ensuring that what he’s eating is easily digestible and healthy. If you suspect that it’s just gas, (but not bloat) try serving him smaller meals to alleviate the symptoms. Bloat aka stomach dilation can be very serious and even deadly. So if you think that it could be bloat or any of the other conditions, you should get your beloved pet to the vet for treatment asap. After all, there are some conditions that are much too serious to deal with yourself and some can even turn out to be life-threatening.

Is it A Common Ailment Called Bilious Vomiting Syndrome?

This is quite similar to when we get acid reflux (GERD). When your dog has an empty stomach, it can result in irritation, which could be leading your normally healthy hungry pooch to start ignoring his meals. In some dogs, it can also lead to vomiting in extreme cases. That vomit could be white and foamy or tinged with other colors, like brown, green, orange, yellow, or a combination of colors plus some slimy mucus. The good news is that, just like we control GERD, you can help your dog to do the same with just a few lifestyle changes.

Frequent Smaller Meals

Start your dog’s day off with a small snack and then feed him small meals all day at regular intervals. Be sure to feed him another snack, like you did in the a.m., just before bedtime. This could be the method that is not only the most effective but also the easiest for addressing a condition that really could end up becoming a serious problem. In fact, when excess stomach acid is causing your dog’s white foamy vomiting, he could produce enough of it, during his lifetime to damage his stomach or his intestinal lining, or both. As he gets older, this could easily lead to serious digestive issues. This eating regimen can help with other stomach issues as well.

Antacids

It’s safe to give your dog an antacid like Tums for acid reflux. They increase the digestive tract’s pH to a more tolerable level. This may be a better method for your situation, especially if you work all day and nobody will be home to feed your pup the frequent small meals. On the other hand, if your dog is suffering from an extreme case of acid reflux and you can manage the meal regimen, both options together could be the optimum treatment and he could be back to his old self in no time at all. Just be sure to help him to keep his wag on by sticking with the schedule.

On the other hand, if you’re not sure about antacids or any other OTC medications meant for humans, ask your vet. He or she can give you a better idea of what’s best in this situation, as well as the dose you should give your dog.

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