A Cavapoo will throw up at some point in its life. One episode is not cause for concern especially if they go on about their day as normal after the episode.
However, if vomiting happens frequently and for a prolonged period, it is an indication that something is wrong with your dog.
Throwing up is also distressing to a Cavapoo.
So in this article, we will dive in-depth into the reasons why your Cavapoo is throwing up, the complications, what to do and when to see a veterinarian.
Table of Contents
Why Is My Cavapoo Throwing Up?
A Cavapoo throwing up occurs due to food intolerance, gastrointestinal infection, intestinal parasites, diet change, illness, bloat, head trauma, ingestion of toxins or foreign objects, drinking of contaminated water, eating too fast, exercise after eating, heatstroke, motion sickness and reaction to certain medication.
Vomiting or throwing up is not a disease but rather a symptom of many different conditions.
Throwing up can improve on its own within 24 hours without medical attention but if it is prolonged, it can be a sign of an underlying health issue.
It can occur due to either regurgitation or vomiting.
How do I know if my Cavapoo is vomiting or regurgitating?
There is a difference between vomiting and regurgitation. By being aware of the difference, you can provide this information to your veterinarian, which will be helpful in the diagnosis.
Regurgitation and vomiting are also caused by different factors and have different treatment options.
Vomiting is an active process that involves forceful expulsion of the stomach and the upper intestine’s contents through the mouth while regurgitation involves the expulsion of swallowed contents from the throat, esophagus, and mouth.
Just before vomiting, a dog experiences symptoms including nausea, repeated swallowing, restlessness, salivation, and licking of lips.
This is followed by abdominal contractions and forceful removal of food or liquid from the mouth.
Vomiting can occur immediately after eating or hours after that and lasts for several minutes.
The expelled contents can come out as undigested, partly digested, or digested.
Regurgitation is a passive process that happens quickly and without warning. Compared to vomiting, there are no symptoms just before regurgitation.
A Cavapoo will usually be fine one moment then suddenly they spit out contents from their mouth.
The regurgitated contents come out undigested which means the contents never make it to the stomach and are immediately expelled.
This means regurgitation does not involve the contraction of the stomach muscles to expel contents.
A Cavapoo simply leans its head forward and the contents from its throat or esophagus just roll out from its mouth with the help of gravity and the esophagus muscles.
A dog does not have control over this and it is sudden.
Regurgitation also usually occurs immediately after eating, and drinking, but can also occur hours after eating.
Regurgitation is caused by either a congenital esophageal disorder or an acquired disorder.
Congenital esophageal disorders are simply birth defects that cause a dog to be more susceptible to regurgitation while acquired disorders are due to the throat, esophageal or systemic diseases.
Congenital esophageal disorders include cancer, Addison disease, gastric reflux, and an enlarged esophagus which makes swallowing food to be difficult.
Some dog breeds are more prone to regurgitation due to congenital esophageal disorders than other dog breeds.
These dogs include Great Danes, Labrador Retriever, Newfoundland, German Shepherd, Irish Setter, Fox terrier, Chinese Shar-Pei, and the Miniature Schnauzer.
On the other hand, acquired disorders that lead to regurgitation occur in all dog breeds and at any age.
Acquired disorders that lead to regurgitation include ingestion of foreign objects that cause esophageal obstruction, poisoning, gastric reflux, cancer, and rabies.
The common signs to look out for to know whether your Cavapoo is regurgitating include:
- Coughing
- Increased breathing noises
- Weakness
- Fever
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Swelling in the throat
- Increased appetite
- Runny nose
- Bad breath
- Throwing up of undigested food, water, or mucus.
What Does Your Cavapoo’s Vomit Look Like?
A Cavapoo can throw up vomit with different consistency and color. These vomit types can give an insight into what could be the cause of the vomiting however this does not give a complete diagnosis.
An accurate diagnosis is through your veterinarian’s assessment of your dog and the diagnostic test results that are performed to investigate the cause of the vomiting.
The different Cavapoo vomit types and the possible causes include:
Clear liquid
Clear liquid vomit can be caused by the expulsion of saliva or water when your dog vomits on an empty stomach or after drinking water when nauseous.
White foam
A Cavapoo throwing up white foam can be caused by a buildup of stomach acid in the stomach which becomes foamy when exposed to the air when vomited.
Blood
Throwing up of blood can occur due to conditions that corrode a Cavapoo’s stomach lining or upper small intestines exposing the blood vessels.
Yellow foam
A Cavapoo vomiting yellow foam occurs due to throwing up on an empty stomach or vomiting of partly digested food that has bile secretions. The bile secretion appears yellow or green.
This often happens in the middle of the night or early in the morning. It also happens when a dog has not eaten for a while, has eaten a lot of fatty foods, or grass, or drank a lot of water.
Mucus
Vomiting of mucus occurs when a Cavapoo drools excessively and swallows the drool which pools in the stomach. This is then vomited out as mucus due to nausea.
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Do Cavapoos have stomach problems? : Cavapoo tummy problems
Stomach problems are disorders of the stomach, intestines, or other parts of the digestive system.
All dog breeds have stomach issues, however, some more than others. Cavapoo digestive problems are also present.
Cavapoos in particular are notoriously picky eaters and have sensitive stomachs. This means that they choose food that is best for their personal taste and also many foods can make them have an upset stomach.
In addition to sensitive stomachs, common Cavapoo tummy problems include gastroenteritis which is inflammation of the stomach or small intestines, ulcers, parasitic infections, upset stomach or obstruction due to dietary indiscretion, and diseases that cause digestive problems.
These stomach issues lead to several symptoms including vomiting, regurgitation, diarrhea bloating, constipation, bleeding, dehydration, and abdominal pain.
So, do Cavapoos throw up a lot?
Yes, Cavapoos throw up a lot, especially as puppies, and it is usually nothing to worry about. All Cavapoos Vomit once in a while however, when they vomit more than once in a day or have recurring bouts of vomiting, this is not normal and it is a sign of a serious underlying health issue.
Occasional Cavapoo puppy vomiting is normal and a common occurrence.
It is usually harmless and occurs when they have an upset stomach from eating something they should not have eaten. It is also sometimes a sign of a serious illness.
Complications
The most common complication of a Cavapoo throwing up is severe dehydration and loss of electrolytes. This is life-threatening to a Cavapoo if treatment is not provided in time.
Continuous vomiting causes severe dehydration because of lost fluids through vomiting.
Vomiting is also a symptom of certain serious health conditions which includes infection, poisoning, or disease.
An underlying health condition could quickly lead to the deterioration of a Cavapoo’s health or even death.
What To Do When Your Cavapoo Throws Up
When your Cavapoo throws up occasionally or vomiting incidences are isolated and they continue their normal activities, this is not a cause for concern.
In most cases, your dog will vomit and continue to be active as usual.
When your dog vomits, the first thing to do is to observe them and see whether the vomiting continues or if symptoms of illness appear.
If your Cavapoo does not have other signs of illness, there is no cause for concern.
Secondly, do not feed them for 6 – 12 hours but provide plenty of drinking water. This allows their stomach to calm down and self-repair.
If the vomiting does not continue, feed them their regular diet.
When To Seek Help
Vomiting is common in dogs as well as a Cavapoo, however, if vomiting is frequent and also with additional symptoms, this is a sign that something is wrong with your dog.
In this case, medical attention is needed. The appearance of other signs of illness shows that an underlying health problem could be the cause of the vomiting.
Seek medical care when your Cavapoo:
- Continues to vomit
- Vomits blood
- Has a fever
- Lethargic
- Vomits and also has diarrhea
- Vomiting with shaking
- Has abdominal pain
- Is dehydrated (weakness, panting, dry nose, thick saliva, and dry sticky gums)
- Seizures
- Ingested a foreign object or toxin
- Tries to vomit but nothing comes out (dry heaving)
- Vomits a large quantity of food
- Refuses to eat
Contact the veterinarian or seek medical care within 8 -12 hours if the throwing up is continuous, that is, when your Cavapoo vomits more than two times in this period.
Immediate medical attention is needed because continuous throwing up can quickly lead to dehydration.
Also, take a sample of your Cavappo’s vomit in a small container. The sample will be used to determine whether your dog vomited or regurgitated.
The vomit sample can also be used to test for toxins. You can also take a video of your dog while vomiting which is also helpful in showing what your dog vomited.
Treatment approaches for regurgitation and vomiting are different therefore this information also helps in the diagnostic process.
Also, if your Cavapoo had other signs of illness, inform the veterinarian.
Treatment for Cavapoo Throwing Up
A diagnosis is determined based on the diagnostic tests conducted by the veterinarian. Treatment varies and depends on the underlying cause of the vomiting.
The treatment includes:
- Administration of anti-nausea medication
- Administration of anti-inflammatory medication
- Treatment of disease
- Fluid therapy to treat dehydration and loss of electrolytes
- Probiotics to treat bowel and intestinal inflammation
- A bland diet consisting of boiled rice and chicken
- Diet change for a dog with a sensitive stomach. This includes limited ingredients or prescription diet, moderate-fat or protein, or high-quality dog food.
In most cases, home care will be recommended by the veterinarian after initial treatment has been provided. In severe cases of dehydration, your Cavapoo may be hospitalized to be treated for dehydration.
Home care involves feeding your Cavapoo a bland diet for 24 hours, which allows its digestive system to repair itself.
How To Prevent Cavapoo Vomiting
Although occasional throwing up for a Cavapoo is common, you can take preventive measures to minimize it from occurring. This includes:
Gradual introduction of a new diet
If you need to change your Cavapoo diet, do it gradually to prevent throwing up. An abrupt change of diet leads to throwing up because your dog’s stomach has not yet adjusted to the diet.
Cavapoos are also picky eaters and have sensitive stomachs therefore it is important to carefully select their diet with the guidance of your veterinarian before introducing any new diet.
Keep potential toxins locked up
Cavapoo vomiting due to ingestion of toxins happens when your dog has access to potential toxins that may be around the home.
This includes household cleaning products or gardening chemicals such as pesticides.
Prevent this from happening by locking up products that may lead to accidental ingestion and poisoning.
Don’t miss routine medical examinations
Routine medical examinations help to evaluate your dog’s health and identify early diseases early.
Early detection of disease facilitates early treatment which prevents throwing up as a symptom of some diseases.
Control motion sickness
Some dogs experience motion sickness when in motion a moving vehicle or train, which causes them to vomit and also have other symptoms.
You can control motion sickness in your Cavapoo by withholding meals before traveling, providing prescribed anti-nausea medication, keeping a quiet and calm car environment when traveling, and also taking shorter trips to allow them to adjust to trips.
Prevent dietary indiscretion
Cavapoos will eat anything that is interesting when they smell and taste it. This includes potentially poisonous frogs, harmful plants, tablescapes, or garbage.
Dietary indiscretion is simply the consumption of non-food items and items that are not meant to be eaten. These items cause stomach upset, may injure the gut, or cause obstruction in the throat or in the digestive system.
This causes a Cavapoo to vomit.
Therefore limit access to potential items that they should not eat.
Prevent your Cavapoo from chewing on foreign objects
Finally, prevent your Cavapoo from chewing on foreign items such as broken toys, sticks, or pieces of bone which are potential hazards of esophageal obstruction and vomiting due to an upset stomach.
Therefore if you spot your Cavapoo eyeing items that they should not chew on them, stop them before they start.
Summary: Cavapoo Throwing up
Isolated episodes of vomiting are not a cause for concern however when Cavapoo throwing up is very frequent or when they vomit several times within an 8 -12 hour period, this is an indication that your dog is unwell.
A Cavapoo throwing up is distressing. Vomiting can be due to an illness, which requires medical attention.
Observe your Cavapoo when they vomit and take note of how frequent it is, how long it lasts, and if other symptoms of illness show up.
Seek medical care if your Cavapoo continuously vomits and has additional symptoms. The underlying cause will be determined and treated to bring your dog back to health.