Veterinary Guide: Identifying 8 Symptoms of Dog Nausea and Treatment Methods

Dog Nausea: Understanding Signs, Causes, and Treatments

For dog owners, a loss of appetite or excessive drooling could signal nausea in their pets. While these symptoms might seem minuscule, they can be indicative of a variety of underlying issues, some of which are serious.

Recognizing the Signs of Canine Nausea

Since dogs cannot verbally express when they feel unwell, it's essential for pet owners to pay close attention to their dogs' body language and behaviors. Here are some signs of nausea in dogs:

Frequent lip-licking
Restlessness
Increased drooling
Whining
Vomiting
Abdominal pain when pressure is applied
Loss of appetite or disinterest in food
Licking the floor or other unusual objects

Identifying the Root Causes

The causes of nausea in dogs are numerous and can sometimes be challenging to pinpoint. Pet parents should consult their veterinarians if they observe any symptoms of nausea in their dogs. Possible causes include:

Dietary indiscretion
Obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract due to consuming foreign objects
Rapidly changing diets
Food intolerance or allergy
Motion sickness
Anxiety
Stomach ulcers
Viral, bacterial, or fungal diseases
Parasitic infections like roundworms
Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV)
Toxin consumption
Pancreatitis
Adverse reactions to drugs, vaccines, or chemotherapy medications
Kidney, liver, or gallbladder diseases
Abdominal tumors or intestinal tract tumors
Inflammatory bowel disease
Pyometra (pus-filled uterus)

At-Home Treatment and Medication Options

If your dog exhibits only mild symptoms of nausea, your veterinarian may recommend some at-home treatments. Always consult your veterinarian before attempting any home remedies. Potential at-home treatments include:

Withholding food for 12 hours but ensuring access to water
Feeding a bland diet for a few days (e.g., boiled chicken and rice)
Offering small meals every few hours instead of large meals
Not giving dogs any anti-nausea medications without a veterinarian's recommendation

Prescription anti-nausea medications for dogs may be necessary in certain cases. Some examples of these medications are Maropitant (Cerenia), Ondansetron (Zofran), Metoclopramide (Reglan), Omeprazole (Prilosec), Famotidine (Pepcid), Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), and meclizine.

Emergency Situations and Preventative Measures

In some instances, dog nausea can be a sign of an emergency. Symptoms such as unproductive retching, lethargy, severe abdominal pain, bloating, complete loss of appetite, inability to drink water, collapse, swelling of the face or limbs, and hives require immediate veterinary attention.

To prevent nausea in dogs, follow these recommendations:

Avoid feeding table scraps
Secure pet-proof garbage cans and cupboards
Keep medication, cleaning supplies, and other chemicals out of reach
Maintain up-to-date vaccinations and parasite preventatives
Establish consistent mealtimes
Gradually transition diets over the course of a week
Consider probiotics designed for gastrointestinal health
Schedule regular blood and urine testing at annual wellness visits to catch systemic health issues early
Provide supervision when your dog plays with toys
Consider using a basket muzzle for dogs who eat inedible objects when outside
Keep tempting objects like socks or underwear off the ground
Spay non-breeding female dogs to prevent certain medical conditions

Always consult your veterinarian before attempting any at-home management of nausea in dogs. In case of emergency, seek immediate veterinary attention.

Sources:[1] "Parvovirus." VCA Hospitals, https://vca-hospitals.com/our-services/internal-medicine/parvovirus.[2] "Salmonellosis in Dogs." PetMD, https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/digestive/c_multi_salmonellosis.[3] "Histoplasmosis." WebMD, https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/histoplasmosis.[4] "Roundworms in Dogs." VCA Hospitals, https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/roundworms-in-dogs.[5] "Gastritis in Dogs." WebMD, https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/gastritis.

Since nausea in dogs can be a symptom of various underlying issues, it's important for pet owners to consider their pet's mental health as well, as stress or anxiety can also cause nausea in dogs.

Moreover, promoting a dog's overall health and wellness can help prevent nausea by maintaining a balanced diet, taking proper care of their environment, and providing regular veterinary check-ups to ensure the early detection and treatment of potential health issues such as stomach ulcers or parasitic infections.