If your dog is not eating and throwing up water, it’s natural to feel worried. These symptoms often indicate distress in your dog’s digestive system and could be a sign of an underlying health problem.
While some causes may be minor and temporary, others require urgent veterinary care.
We break down the reasons why your dog is not eating and vomiting water, explain what these symptoms might mean, and guide you on what to do next.
Table of Contents
Why Is My Dog Not Eating and Throwing Up Water?
When a dog is not eating and throwing up water, it usually means their stomach or digestive tract is irritated or compromised. Vomiting water is common when the stomach is empty or upset, as the dog expels clear fluids instead of food. However, when combined with loss of appetite, it often signals that your dog feels too nauseous or unwell to eat.
Dogs typically refuse food when they feel sick, and vomiting is the body’s way of trying to clear irritants.
Common Causes of Dog Not Eating and Throwing Up Water
1. Gastrointestinal Infections and Inflammation
One of the top causes for a dog not eating and throwing up water is infection or inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Bacteria like Salmonella, viruses like parvovirus, or parasites like roundworms irritate the stomach and intestines, causing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.
When the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed, your dog may feel nauseous and vomit clear fluid because the stomach is empty or trying to clear irritants.
These infections can vary in severity, from mild upset to severe dehydration if left untreated.
Related: Dog not eating and weak (Here’s why)
2. Empty Stomach and Acid Reflux
If your dog has not eaten for a while, stomach acid can build up and cause irritation known as acid reflux.
This leads to a burning sensation in the stomach, causing your dog to vomit clear or foamy liquid.
This is often seen in the early morning or after long fasting periods.
Dogs may also show signs such as excessive lip licking, swallowing, or even gagging.
Feeding smaller, more frequent meals can help reduce acid reflux and prevent vomiting.
3. Intestinal Obstruction or Foreign Body
Dogs are notorious for swallowing non-food items like toys, bones, or sticks, which can cause a blockage in the digestive tract.
This obstruction prevents food and fluids from moving through, causing repeated vomiting (sometimes of water) because the stomach cannot empty.
Obstructions are very serious and can cause your dog to stop eating, become lethargic, and experience abdominal pain or swelling.
This condition requires immediate veterinary care, often surgery, to remove the blockage and prevent complications like tissue death or perforation.
4. Kidney or Liver Disease
Kidneys and liver are vital organs responsible for filtering toxins from the blood.
When these organs are failing, toxins build up, making your dog feel sick, nauseous, and lethargic.
This can cause loss of appetite and vomiting of clear fluid or bile.
Signs that kidney or liver disease may be the cause include increased thirst, increased urination, jaundice (yellowing of gums or eyes), and weight loss.
Chronic diseases in these organs require ongoing management but early detection can improve your dog’s quality of life.
5. Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and is a painful condition that causes severe vomiting, often including bile or water.
Affected dogs lose interest in food and may appear weak or distressed.
This condition can be triggered by fatty meals, trauma, or infections.
Pancreatitis is a medical emergency and requires prompt veterinary intervention with fluids, pain management, and special diets.
Related: Dog eating grass and not eating (Here’s why)
6. Stress and Anxiety
Dogs, like humans, can experience stress and anxiety that affects their digestive health.
Situations such as moving to a new home, loud noises like thunderstorms, or changes in family dynamics can cause your dog to lose appetite and vomit water or bile.
Stress-induced vomiting occurs because anxiety affects gut motility and increases acid production.
Your dog may also lick lips excessively, pace, or hide. Reducing stress through comfort, routines, and behavioral support is key.
7. Medication Side Effects
Some medications irritate the stomach lining or cause nausea as side effects.
If your dog recently started a new medication and is now not eating and throwing up water, it’s possible the medicine is the culprit.
Diuretics, chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, and NSAIDs are common offenders.
If you suspect medication side effects, contact your vet to discuss alternatives or supportive treatments like anti-nausea drugs.
Signs to Watch For
It’s critical to watch for other symptoms that may accompany your dog not eating and throwing up water, which can help indicate severity:
How often your dog vomits: Multiple times daily vomiting is more serious than a single episode.
What the vomit looks like: Clear fluid, foam, bile (yellow-green), or blood requires veterinary attention.
Behavior changes: Lethargy, restlessness, whining, or pain indicate distress.
Signs of dehydration: Dry gums, sunken eyes, weak pulse, or excessive panting.
Other symptoms: Diarrhea, coughing, difficulty breathing, or abdominal swelling may point to specific diseases.
If any of these signs appear alongside vomiting and loss of appetite, seek veterinary care immediately.
Why Is It Important to Address Dog Not Eating and Throwing Up Water?
These symptoms can lead to dehydration, which is dangerous for dogs of all ages but especially puppies and seniors.
Vomiting fluid without replacing it causes rapid fluid loss, electrolyte imbalance, and weakness.
Ignoring your dog not eating and throwing up water could allow a serious underlying problem to worsen, sometimes rapidly.
Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications such as kidney failure, shock, or death.
What Should You Do
1. Monitor Closely
Keep track of how often your dog vomits and whether they can keep down small amounts of water.
Note any new symptoms or changes in behavior.
2. Temporarily Withhold Food
If vomiting is frequent, withhold food for 6 to 12 hours to let the stomach rest.
Ensure your dog has access to small sips of water to prevent dehydration but avoid large gulps.
3. Reintroduce Bland Food Gradually
After fasting, feed small portions of bland food such as boiled chicken and rice.
If your dog tolerates this for 24 hours without vomiting, slowly return to normal food.
4. Keep Hydrated
Offer water frequently but in small amounts.
You can also give ice cubes or electrolyte solutions approved by your vet to help hydration.
5. Reduce Stress
Create a calm, quiet environment.
Avoid loud noises or stressful stimuli that can worsen your dog’s symptoms.
When to See a Veterinarian
Seek immediate veterinary help if your dog:
Vomits water repeatedly for more than 24 hours
Shows signs of dehydration or weakness
Has abdominal swelling or pain
Vomits blood or has unusual colored vomit
Has difficulty breathing or becomes unresponsive
Is very young, elderly, or has pre-existing illnesses
Refuses all water or food completely
Possibly ingested toxins or foreign objects
Your vet may run diagnostic tests such as blood work, x-rays, or ultrasounds to determine the cause and recommend treatment ranging from medication and fluids to surgery.
Key Takeaway
If your dog is not eating and throwing up water, don’t ignore these signs.
They often point to an underlying health problem, from mild digestive upset to serious infections, organ disease, or blockages.
By carefully observing your dog, providing supportive care at home, and seeking veterinary assistance when needed, you give your dog the best chance at recovery and well-being.
Prompt action is crucial because dehydration and worsening illness can rapidly become life-threatening.
If you notice your dog refusing food and vomiting water, contact your veterinarian for guidance immediately.