Australian Shepherd Throwing Up Mucus: Read Before You Panic

An Australian Shepherd throwing up mucus is unsettling. Vomiting itself is a sign that something else could be causing this reaction from your Australian Shepherd.

There are different reasons why an Australian Shepherd can throw up yellow form, white foam, bile, clear liquid, or throw up after having a meal.

The question is, why does an Australian Shepherd throw up mucus specifically? 

Let’s dive into the reasons why an Aussie throws up mucus, whether you should be worried and what you can do about it.

When your Australian Shepherd is throwing up mucus take note of the surrounding circumstances whether they also have other symptoms and if they’re throwing up the mucus after coughing or regurgitation.

If an Australian Shepherd is hacking up the mucus this means they were coughing up mucus not vomiting. An Aussie’s cough can be due to a respiratory infection (bacterial, viral, or fungal infection) or a medical condition.

Coughing can also be due to trying to get rid of something in their throat such as dust or a foreign object lodged in their throat.

Regurgitation on the other hand is different from vomiting. Unlike vomiting, regurgitation occurs suddenly without warning and an Australian Shepherd throws up undigested contents in the same form they were swallowed whereas vomiting produces partly digested stomach contents.

Regurgitation results in the expulsion of undigested food, fluids, or mucus from the throat.

By knowing this, you can relay this information to the veterinarian which will help to determine the underlying cause of the vomiting.

When to seek immediate medical attention

Increased vomiting

Immediately contact the veterinarian when the frequency of vomiting of mucus increases, that is, more than 2 times in 12 hours.

The appearance of other symptoms 

When an Australian Shepherd presents other symptoms in addition to throwing up mucus, this calls for medical attention.

Other symptoms such as loss of appetite, lethargy, restlessness, or inability to keep water or food down indicate they need medical attention.

An Australian Shepherd also produces vomit with different consistencies and colors. These vomit types can give you an idea of what could be the cause of the vomiting, however, this does not give a complete diagnosis.

To learn more about the different Australian Shepherd vomit types and the possible causes the below guides provide a comprehensive explanation of each:

• Australian Shepherd throwing up clear liquid: what it means and how to help

• Australian Shepherd throwing up blood: Why and what you need do 

• Australian Shepherd throwing up white foam: What you need to know
• Australian Shepherd diarrhea and vomiting: What you need to do

Treatment

The veterinarian will conduct a physical exam on your Australian Shepherd alongside other tests to determine the cause of the vomiting.

They will also ask you about the circumstances around your Australian Shepherd’s vomiting including whether they were coughing and the form of the vomit.

An Australian Shepherd’s medical history will also be considered.

Immediate treatment will include the provision of anti-nausea medication to stop the vomiting. Follow Up treatment will depend on the determined cause of the vomiting based on the test results.

How To Prevent Your Australian Shepherd From Throwing Up Mucus

You can prevent your Australian Shepherd from vomiting mucus by:

Routine health check-ups

It is important to have routine medical checkups for your Australian Shepherd to determine their health status and detect early signs of health issues. 

This minimizes and prevents the occurrence of conditions that may lead an Australian Shepherd to throw up through the administration of treatment and management measures. 

Up-to-date puppy vaccinations

Australian Shepherd puppies are vulnerable to infections and illnesses and to prevent this, they require vaccinations. 

Ensure to keep up with your puppy’s vaccination schedule so that they are not affected by illnesses that lead them to throw up mucus.

Prevent access to household toxins

Household products can be toxic to pets and ingestion can cause various reactions such as throwing up mucus.

To prevent this from happening, place household products such as cleaning products and gardening chemicals in an area that your Australian Shepherd cannot access.

Takeaway

An Australian Shepherd throwing up mucus is not a major medical concern because it is short-lived, however, it should not be ignored as well, especially if an Aussie shows other signs of illness and the frequency of vomiting increases.

Throwing up mucus can be because of a serious illness therefore if your Australian Shepherd shows other symptoms and does not stop vomiting, talk to your veterinarian. 

There are preventive measures you can put in place to prevent your Australian Shepherd from throwing up mucus. By following the methods, you will minimize the occurrence of vomiting.