Anyone that owns a Goldendoodle knows just how fun, playful, and loving they can be. Keeping your dog in good health by regularly exercising them and sticking to an approved diet is essential, but they can still get ill from time to time.
If your dog starts throwing up, you should always call your vet for expert advice. However, understanding what can cause your Goldendoodle to throw up can help with diagnosis and prevention.
This article will explore everything you need to know about dog vomiting in the Goldendoodle breed so you can be prepared.
Table of Contents
What is Dog Vomiting?
This question might seem obvious at first, but it can easily be confused with regurgitation. When speaking with your vet, you will have to give them as much accurate information about the condition as possible, so understanding the differences can help.
Dog vomiting is when the dog forcefully brings up food or liquid. Abdominal contractions can do this with such force it can lead to further issues. Vomit will typically contain bile as the entire stomach contents are expelled.
Regurgitation is a more passive process that expells food or liquid with no contractions. The food regurgitated typically won’t be digested.
Is Goldendoodles Vomiting Common?
All breeds can vomit on occasion, but regular vomiting should be a cause for concern and should be checked out as a matter of urgency.
Vomiting can be a sign of an underlying illness that needs to be treated. If your dog is regularly vomiting, speak with your vet so they can check your dog’s health.
What are the Most Common Causes of Goldendoodles Throwing Up?
Trying to determine the cause of your dog’s vomiting can be challenging in some cases, while in others, there will be a clear reason.
If your dog vomits and you find the cause, the chances are you will make the effort to minimize the risk of this happening again. Prevention will save a lot of distress, cleaning, and vet bills.
Here are the most common causes of Goldendoodle vomiting to help you cut out potentially dangerous risks from your dog’s life.
Diet
Overeating, eating raw food, and eating other things that they shouldn’t, like foreign objects and garbage, can cause your dog to vomit. You may notice some strange, undigested food in your dog’s vomit if this is the case.
Ensuring your dog is fed a healthy diet and other things that might tempt a dog are kept out of its reach will help to minimize the risk of this.
Food allergies can also be a cause of chronic vomiting. Try to keep a note of everything your dog ate recently so you can keep an eye on this.
Change in Diet
If you are planning to change your dog’s diet, it is advised to gradually complete the transition over the space of between one and two weeks.
This will minimize the risk of digestive upsets and let the dog get used to its new diet by gradually adding some of the new food to its regular food.
Gradually increasing the amount of new food as the old food decreases will help its digestive system grow accustomed to the new food.
Bloat
Bloat, or GDV (Gastric Dilation-Volvulus), is a result of your dog eating too much food too quickly, which can result in a twisted stomach.
As gas builds, it will have no way to escape and the dog. This is a potentially fatal condition for dogs, and you must contact your vet immediately if your dog’s abdomen is distended or swollen, the dog starts to retch without vomiting, or it appears restless, in pain, with rapid breathing and drooling.
Poisons or Toxins
Food poisoning or ingestion of other kinds of toxins or poisons can also cause your dog to vomit. The following examples are the most typically ingested toxins or poisons by dogs;
Human Food
There are many human foods that are toxic to dogs, including grapes, raisins, chocolate, avocado, and onion. There are many other foods that can also be harmful to dogs, and this is why feeding dogs table scraps should be avoided.
Plants
Dogs won’t typically try to eat flowers, but it is safer to avoid having them around to minimize the risk. Flowers like tulips, daffodils, azaleas, and more can cause your dog to vomit.
Cleaning Products
One of the leading causes of pet poisoning is the ingestion of cleaning products. Keeping them safely stored and ensuring the remaining residue is cleaned thoroughly can minimize the risk this poses.
Chemicals
Other chemicals found around the household, like oven cleaners, swimming pool chemicals, and antifreeze, are hazardous to dogs. Storing them safely is essential.
Garden Products
Products used in the garden to fertilize lawns and deal with pests can contain toxic substances that are harmful to dogs. If you have dogs, you should consider the products you use and when you use them.
Heavy Metals
You might not think this applies to you until you realize that investigative dogs can chew batteries or get into the paint. Other items can contain heavy metals, including linoleum.
Pest Control Poisons
Pest control poisons are designed to entice rodents to eat them. Inquisitive dogs might also be tempted, so exploring other methods of dealing with pests is advised.
Treatments or Medication
Overdosing on pet medications can cause vomiting. Carefully check the dosages for your pet or speak with your vet for advice.
Some medications intended for human consumption can cause issues for dogs as well, so keeping these out of reach is essential for households with dogs or children.
Intestinal Parasites
If your dog exhibits any of the following symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately as they may have intestinal parasites;
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Dull coat
- Sudden weight loss
- Distended stomach
Your vet will then be able to check your Goldendoodle for protozoan parasites, tapeworms, and roundworms.
Illness
Dog owners should also be aware of certain illnesses and conditions that can cause your Goldendoodle to have an upset stomach, these include;
Heat Stroke
Goldendoodles don’t have many sweat glands and are not efficient in dealing with heat. Excessive panting, vomiting, drooling, incoordination, and diarrhea are symptoms of heat stroke. This condition can be fatal in some cases.
Liver Disease
Poodles and Golden Retrievers (the parent breeds of Goldendoodles) are predisposed to liver conditions, so regular checkups and keeping an eye out for weight loss, loss of appetite, and increased urination and thirst can help to detect any problems.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis in Goldendoodles is typically caused by high-fat diets. This causes an inflamed pancreas and can result in a loss of appetite, lethargy, pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. This is a potentially fatal condition for dogs, so if you have a fat Goldendoodle, try switching your dog to a higher-quality food to get their weight down to a healthy level.
Motion Sickness
Motion sickness is more common in young dogs as their ears are still developing and can help to control balance.
Older Goldendoodles can also suffer from motion sickness if they are overwhelmed and anxious.
Kidney Failure
Kidneys filter toxins, viral and bacterial infections, heatstroke, dehydration, bee stings, snake bites, and eating foods toxic to dogs can cause kidney failure.
Viral and Bacterial Infections
Vomiting can be a sign that your Goldendoodle is sick with a viral or bacterial infection. E.coli, Salmonella, and Rotavirus are all common among dogs.
Intestinal Inflammation or Obstruction
Inflamed intestines can cause dogs to vomit undigested food, bile, blood, and froth.
Intestinal obstruction can affect the flow of food and fluids. Symptoms include excessive drooling and inability to defecate, straining, and vomiting. This can be fatal and must be treated promptly.
Pyometra
Pyometra is a uterine infection that can affect female Goldendoodles. It causes dogs to become listless and depressed and can cause vomiting.
Cancer
Goldendoodles suffering from stomach cancer will suffer from frequent vomiting. The vomit may contain blood, and as the condition progresses, it can lead to weight loss, lethargy, salivation, and decreased appetite.
How do I Treat My Dog if it is Vomiting?
One of the most important things to learn, if you are a dog owner, is how to deal with your dog if it has been vomiting.
After vomiting, your Goldendoodle may have a sensitive stomach, so stick with a bland diet. Instead of regular dog food, rice and boiled chicken can help. Scrambled eggs can also be a good option.
Ensure your dog stays hydrated and try to minimize stimulation and play so your dog can recuperate.
When Should I Contact my Vet About my Dog’s Vomiting?
Dog owners will understand their own dog’s personalities and should know the difference between when their dog regurgitates and if there could be an underlying health issue.
Goldendoodles that remain active and in good spirits may have vomited, and there are no reasons to be concerned, but you should always monitor its progress.
If your Goldendoodle vomits and displays any of the following symptoms, the team at Barks in the Park advice you seek medical attention or advice for the dog.
- Loss of appetite
- Blood in vomit
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Thirst
- Abdominal pain
- Pale gums
- Fever
FAQs
Do puppy Goldendoodles vomit more than adults?
Goldendoodle puppy vomiting should always be taken seriously as the dog’s immune system is still developing, and conditions can develop or worsen if they aren’t dealt with.
Vomiting in puppies is relatively normal as they can get in among things they shouldn’t. More often than not, there won’t be any serious issues, but it is always better to be safe than sorry.
How much should my Goldendoodle drink per day?
Ensuring your Goldendoodle is hydrated after vomiting is essential, as they will lose essential fluids.
Dogs will typically drink around an ounce of water per day for every pound of body weight.
Dogs tend to be good at self-regulating their water intake, so leaving a bowl of water for them can help them to make sure they don’t become dehydrated.
If you find your dog is drinking excessively, this should be monitored as it may be a symptom of an underlying health issue.
Why is my dog vomiting yellow fluid?
If your dog’s vomit is yellow, this is bile, and it could be a symptom of a serious health condition.
Ulcers, infections, and cancer can all cause your dog to vomit bile. You must speak with your vet and ensure you monitor any other symptoms so they can carry out the necessary tests.
What should I do after my dog throws up?
After your dog throws up, it will have an empty stomach and may start showing signs of hunger. You should take some time to ensure the dog is not showing any other symptoms of illness.
Your dog’s stomach may still be sensitive, so you should ensure your dog eats relatively bland foods, including chicken and rice, shredded chicken, bone broth, pumpkin, and in some cases, baby food.
You should always ensure the baby food does not contain any ingredients that are toxic to dogs, including onion powder or garlic.
Final Thoughts
Dog vomit is never something people want to discuss when getting a new puppy. Introducing a Goldendoodle to your family can be a fun and exciting time, but you should be prepared for the not-so-fun aspects of owning a dog, including cleaning up its pee and poop and dealing with dog vomit.
There is an excellent chance that your dog’s vomiting is not a symptom of something worse. However, understanding the symptoms of illnesses can help you to diagnose and seek treatment for conditions that can cause discomfort or even kill dogs.
Finding a good vet is essential to your dog’s health. Regular checkups and a good line of communication will allow you to seek advice on any issues your dog may be facing.
If your Goldendoodle has started vomiting, take the time to monitor them and ensure they don’t show other symptoms. Further vomiting or other symptoms will warrant a call to your vet, who may request you bring the dog in to be checked.