Vomiting in Dachshunds: Possible Causes, Treatments, and Preventatives

While some breeds, such as the Pomeranian, are more prone to vomiting, the Dachshund generally does not vomit over the slightest environmental or diet change. The cause of vomiting is stomach inflammation also known as gastritis.

There are several different things that can cause your Dachshund to vomit and it is essential that you know when you should be concerned and when it might just be a slight tummy upset. Chronic Dachshund stomach problems are not generally common but sometimes they can occur.

Sometimes it is difficult to tell if your dog is truly vomiting, meaning they are emptying the contents of their stomach or regurgitating, meaning ingested food and/or water moves back out of the esophagus and never reaches the stomach. You will need to know the difference between regurgitation and vomiting. Not know which is occurring with your Dachshund can lead to a misdiagnosis.

Take Notes on Your Dachshund’s Vomiting

While this may sound a bit odd, anytime you see your Dachshund vomit stop and note the date, time, activity, and any other interesting facts that may be helpful if the vomiting persists. Make a special note if your Dachshund is vomiting food hours after eating. Things to note when your dog vomits:

• What activity your Dachshund was engaged in?
• Had your Dachshund just eaten?
• How long ago did your Dachshund eat?
• How long ago did your Dachshund drink?
• Was there a recent diet change?
• Did your Dachshund get any special treats?
• Did you notice if your Dachshund was trying to eat grass?
• What was in the contents of the vomit (food particles, mucus, bile)?
• What was the color of the vomit (photos may also help your veterinarian diagnose the problem)?
• Did you notice a fecal smell to the vomit or any fecal matter in the vomit?
• Does your Dachshund go back to normal activity after vomiting?
• Is your dog throwing up undigested food 8 hours after eating?
• Take your Dachshund’s temperature with a digital thermometer

While it might be a little gross to closely examine your dog’s vomit, there can be vital clues in determining the correct diagnosis and since you are the one seeing the vomit up-close-and-personal, your notes will be a vital part of your veterinarian’s assessment.

A pattern such as your Dachshund only vomits in the morning or they vomit after eating a specific treat will help solve the mystery as to what is causing their stomach to be upset. Chronic Dachshund vomiting should be brought to your vet’s attention.

Remember, there will be times when your Dachshund just has a slight tummy upset and will vomit and then go about their day and be perfectly fine. Uncomplicated gastritis occurs often and no fever is present and your Dachshund does not seem in distress.

If the vomiting continues for longer than 24 hours, you will want to contact your veterinarian and have them fully checked out. If your Dachshund also becomes listless or unresponsive after vomiting, get to your veterinarian as soon as possible, this could quickly become an emergency situation.

Treatments and Recovery from Extended Vomiting

If I have a Dachshund (actually any dog) vomit twice within an hour I will give them a dose of Pepto Bismol liquid. You will want to give 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight. They can have one dose every 6 to 8 hours while vomiting persists.

If after two doses, your Dachshund is still vomiting or they have a fever and/or listlessness or unconsciousness you will want to consult your veterinarian. I generally do not worry too much when my Dachshund is throwing up unless it becomes chronic, and then I make a trip to the vet.

• Withhold all food and water. You want to give your Dachshund’s digestive system time to rest and inflammation to decrease, therefore, no food or water for 6 hours after your dog last vomited. Consult your vet if vomiting has been going on for longer than 24 hours.
• When re-introducing water begin with very small amounts, usually 1 teaspoon of water every 15 minutes. The water needs to be fresh and at room temperature. Coldwater can cause your Doxie’s tummy to cramp and cause discomfort and possible vomiting again.If vomiting begins again, cease giving water and food again for another 6 hours. It is not uncommon for a dog to not eat or drink for up to 24 hours when they are experiencing stomach upset.Once your Dachshund is drinking well without signs of tummy upset, you can increase the amount of water and decrease the frequency until you feel they can freely drink without becoming sick.
• When re-introducing food, again, begin with very small amounts. Give them a bland diet, usually boiled ground beef and rice or chicken and rice. Baby food is also good for dogs that have been vomiting. The Stage 2 or 3 chicken dinner baby food is what I use. You can give clear liquids such as chicken broth instead of solid food for the first few feedings.Only offer 1 teaspoon of food or chicken broth at first and wait 15 minutes. If they are able to keep that down, you can give them an additional teaspoon of food. If vomiting starts again, stop all fluids and solid food again.You will hopefully notice your dog’s enthusiasm for food to resume and they will eat without getting sick. Slowly increase the amount of food you give them but do not over-feed and make them start vomiting again.Keep your Dachshund on a bland diet for a few days to ensure they are on the mend and then start to re-introduce their kibble. I like to do a 50/50 mix of chicken and rice or ground beef and rice with their regular kibble for a few days and then decrease the bland diet by 25% for the next few days.Make sure you are not overloading your Dachshund’s stomach, so if they are used to eating 2 large meals a day, you will want to break those up into 4 smaller meals throughout the day. This keeps their stomach from becoming irritated and eases them back into eating a healthy diet without illness.

Top 9 Common Possible Causes for Dog Vomiting

1. Dietary

Vomiting due to diet can encompass a variety of causes ranging from too many table scraps to a more problematic food allergy. It is important to not give your Dachshunds too many table scraps; it can cause them to become picky eaters and can cause garbage gut if they eat too much.

• People Food

While we know that we are not supposed to give our pets food from our own plates, it can be difficult. I am guilty of slipping my dogs small treats from the table and I am sure most people will own up to that as well.

The problem occurs when your Dachshund gets too much people’s food or the wrong food. I will give a small cube of cheese, plain yogurt, blueberries, bananas, or baked chicken. I avoid giving potato chips, and pork, or candy and sugar.

Spoiled food can also cause problems and make your Dachshund sick so keep a close watch on expiration dates, especially if you give yogurt or cottage cheese as a small treat as those foods spoil easily.

Many people believe that dogs eating grass causes them to become sick, but when your Dachshund starts nibbling grass this is a sign that they are already experiencing stomach upset. Eating grass is their way of inducing vomiting to hopefully help their tummy troubles.

• Eating Too Fast
  
  When a dog eats too fast, it will draw in an excessive amount of air into its stomach and can cause stomach upset and vomiting. If you notice your dog is gulping their food quickly and then vomiting you need to slow them down.

There are special food bowls that make your dog slow their eating and take the time to chew and swallow without having too much air being drawn into their stomach.

• Food Sensitivity

Food sensitivity is different than an actual food allergy. Most dogs with food sensitivity will become listless and not really enjoy eating. They will feel ill and not have much energy.

Many times with food sensitivity they will not necessarily vomit but will regurgitate the food they have eaten. They may also develop diarrhea and skin problems such as itching and hair loss.

• Food Allergies

Food allergies can be difficult to pinpoint and most veterinarians will begin with an elimination diet and slowly add foods back in until the offending food or foods have been found.

Dachshunds with food allergies will develop vomiting, diarrhea, ear infections, skin infections, hair loss, licking, and even distended abdomens. Once the allergen has been diagnosed, putting your Doxie on a diet free of that allergen will eliminate the vomiting and other symptoms.

2. Internal Parasites

Intestinal parasites, or internal parasites, can wreak havoc on your Dachshund’s gastrointestinal tract and can cause vomiting. If you notice your dog coughing or choking between vomiting, you will want your veterinarian to check for internal parasites.

3. Intestinal Worms, Giardia, and Coccidia

All dogs are born with intestinal worms and if they are not properly de-wormed and routine fecal exams performed, intestinal worms can make your Dachshund very sick including increased vomiting.

Giardia is a parasite that is passed from animals and people through contaminated water and food. Without proper treatment, your Doxie will become very ill and may require hospitalization if not treated quickly.

Coccidia in dogs is an infection in the intestinal tract that is caused by a single-celled organism. Your Dachshund will become very lethargic; have watery diarrhea, and severe vomiting. It is life-threatening without proper treatment.

Diamataceous Earth is an excellent natural de-wormer for dogs when you use the food-grade quality and feed a small amount each day with their food for 30 days. It is also great for external parasites as well.

Feeding instructions for food-grade Diamataceous Earth is ½ teaspoon for puppies, 1 teaspoon for dogs under 50 pounds and 1 tablespoon for dogs over 50 pounds. Dachshunds will need at most 1 teaspoon mixed in their food daily.

4. Physaloptera

Caused by adult Physaloptera worms, an infection will occur that will quickly debilitate your Dachshund. Chronic vomiting is a major symptom and is most common in dogs that tend to eat insects and vertebrate animals. Your veterinarian can diagnose Physaloptera by doing a fecal smear.

Your veterinarian will set up a treatment plan that could last for six weeks and need to be retreated again after four weeks depending on the resistance of the worms present in the GI tract.

5. Prescription and OTC Medications

Just like with humans, dogs can experience side effects from certain medications. When your veterinarian prescribes medication for your Dachshund be sure to ask about potential side effects so you can keep a close watch.

Over-the-counter medications can also cause side effects such as chronic vomiting. One of the most common medications to cause stomach upset and vomiting are NSAIDs. Antibiotics can also cause severe stomach upset and should not be taken on an empty stomach.

Heart, seizure, and chemotherapeutic medications can also commonly cause vomiting. When your Doxie begins new medications take notes of any changes you see in their behavior and health so you can relay exact information to your veterinarian in case of an emergency or severe reaction to the meds.

6. Metabolic Disorders

• Renal DiseaseDogs can experience acute or chronic kidney disease which can cause vomiting due to the toxins not being flushed from their body. Acute kidney failure usually occurs over several days whereas chronic kidney failure occurs over time and is usually harder to diagnose.
• Liver DiseaseThe liver is a vital organ that helps remove toxins from the body and also aids in digestion and blood clotting. When the liver begins to malfunction, several symptoms can occur including chronic vomiting. Thankfully, liver disease is manageable with medications.
• DehydrationSometimes, your Dachshund’s body will develop an electrolyte imbalance, usually when their fluid intake wanes and oxygen is not properly disbursed to the organs. This results in dehydration from the loss of electrolytes and vomiting will occur. IV fluids will rehydrate your Doxie and they will be good as new.

 7. Obstructions

Sometimes Dachshunds, especially mischievous puppies, will put anything and everything in their mouth. It is not uncommon for a Dachshund to swallow a foreign object and it gets stuck in their gastrointestinal tract. Your dog will keep throwing up and not be able to hold anything down.

When this occurs, they will vomit chronically and not be able to eat or drink. You will need immediate vet care and in many instances, your Doxie will require surgery to remove the foreign body.

Recovery from surgery is generally quick, especially in younger canines. Once you know your Doxie is prone to eating things they should not, you will want to keep items such as socks, children’s toys, gloves, and even undergarments out of reach.

8. Poisonous Plants

While we may love our house plants and ornamental plants and grasses that have been incorporated into our landscaping, many plants are toxic to dogs. Regular grass is not toxic and you may notice your dog munching on grass from time to time.

Do not become alarmed when you see them eating regular grass, when your Dachshund has an upset stomach, they will eat grass to induce vomiting in hopes of making their tummy feel better.

However, keep a close watch on the plants growing in your yard and in your home and keep the toxic ones out of reach from your Dachshund to avoid accidental ingesting. Here is a list of plants that are poisonous to dogs:

• Sago Palm
• Tomato plant
• Aloe Vera
• Ivy
• Amaryllis
• Gladiola
• American Holly
• Daffodil
• Baby’s Breath
• Milkweed
• Castor Bean
• Azalea
• Tulip
• Chrysanthemum
• Begonia
• Oleander

9. Megaesophagus

Dachshunds that are diagnosed with megaesophagus will regurgitate water and food, many people mistake it as vomiting but it will occur immediately after your Dachshund drinks or eats. Several dogs that suffer from this condition will make a gurgling sound when they swallow and you will notice an extreme amount of saliva.

Most of their food does not make it into their stomach and therefore, dogs suffering from megaesophagus will not grow and thrive like normal dog. While it will be difficult to care for a dog diagnosed with megaesophagus, it is not an immediate death sentence for your Dachshund.

When your Doxie eats and drinks, you will have to make sure they are kept in an upright position so the food and water can move down the esophagus and into the stomach. There are even special chairs that you can purchase, or if you are handy you can make one, that keeps your dog safely and comfortably in an upright position while they eat.

You will want to leave them in their special chair or hold them in an upright position for 20 to 30 minutes to give the food and water time to move fully into the stomach and begin being processed.

Conclusion

The main thing to remember when your Dachshund vomits is to not panic. Watch your Dachshund closely after they vomit and take note of the time and what they were doing before they vomited.

Dogs will pick up little stomach bugs here and there that really do not need much intervention except to withhold food and then give a bland diet when they begin to feel better. Sometimes dogs even eat something they were not supposed to and they will vomit from it and then bounce back and do great.

You will need to contact your veterinarian if your Dachshund begins to vomit regularly or there is a specific time each day they vomit. Chronic vomiting will cause your Doxie to feel horrible and they can quickly become dehydrated. Your vet will examine your Dachshund and set up a treatment plan that is best for your dog.