When your dog isn’t pooping and is also throwing up, it’s a clear sign something’s wrong. Vomiting combined with constipation or a lack of bowel movement often means the digestive system is backed up or inflamed.
This can range from simple dietary upset to a dangerous blockage that needs urgent veterinary care.
We outline the common reasons why a dog may stop pooping and start throwing up, what you can do at home, and when to seek veterinary help.
Table of Contents
Dog Not Pooping and Throwing Up — Why It Happens
When a dog can’t pass stool and starts vomiting, it often points to a gastrointestinal blockage or irritation. This may occur due to swallowed objects, severe constipation, intestinal inflammation, dehydration, or even underlying conditions like pancreatitis.
The stomach and intestines stop moving food properly, causing nausea and vomiting. In many cases, the vomiting is the body’s way of trying to relieve pressure in the digestive tract.
Dog Not Pooping and Throwing Up: Common Causes
1. Intestinal Blockage (Foreign Body Obstruction)
One of the most serious causes of vomiting and lack of bowel movement is an intestinal blockage. Dogs often swallow toys, bones, fabric, or plastic that can lodge in their intestines.
As the blockage prevents stool from passing, food and liquid start backing up, triggering vomiting—often containing bile or foam. You may notice your dog pacing, whining, or showing signs of abdominal pain.
If untreated, an obstruction can cut off blood flow to the intestines, leading to tissue death or rupture. This is a life-threatening emergency, and immediate surgery is often required.
Read more: Dog Not Pooping and Not Eating (Why it happens and what to do)
2. Severe Constipation or Fecal Impaction
Sometimes the cause is less dramatic but still serious — chronic constipation. If stool becomes hard and dry, it can accumulate in the colon and cause fecal impaction.
Your dog may strain without producing stool or pass only small, dry pieces. Vomiting occurs as waste builds up and toxins begin to circulate in the bloodstream.
Older dogs, dehydrated pets, and those with limited exercise are especially prone to constipation. Long-term impaction can damage the colon, so prompt veterinary treatment is key.
3. Gastroenteritis (Stomach and Intestinal Inflammation)
Gastroenteritis — inflammation of the stomach and intestines — can cause vomiting, loss of appetite, and delayed bowel movements.
It’s often triggered by spoiled food, sudden diet changes, or ingesting something irritating like grass, garbage, or toxins. When inflammation is severe, intestinal movement slows, leading to temporary constipation.
Most mild cases resolve with rest, hydration, and a bland diet, but persistent vomiting or dehydration requires vet care to prevent complications.
4. Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis, the inflammation of the pancreas, disrupts normal digestion and causes intense nausea and vomiting.
Dogs with pancreatitis often stop eating and may not poop due to lack of food intake and slowed digestion. The vomit may contain foam, bile, or partially digested food, and your dog might hunch in pain or appear lethargic.
Fatty meals are a common trigger, but certain breeds (like Miniature Schnauzers) are genetically prone. Pancreatitis can be mild or life-threatening — early veterinary treatment is essential for recovery.
5. Dehydration or Electrolyte Imbalance
When a dog becomes dehydrated — from heat, illness, or repeated vomiting — the colon absorbs more water to conserve fluid, resulting in dry stool or no bowel movement at all.
The lack of hydration also slows intestinal motility, while the stomach becomes more prone to irritation, causing vomiting.
This combination can spiral quickly: dehydration worsens vomiting, and vomiting worsens dehydration. Restoring fluid balance through vet-administered IV fluids is often the only solution in severe cases.
6. Intestinal Parasites or Infections
Worms, bacteria, or viral infections like parvovirus can cause vomiting and disrupt normal digestion. When the intestines are inflamed or irritated, stool may stop passing altogether.
Puppies are particularly vulnerable, and the combination of vomiting, no bowel movement, and lethargy can become life-threatening very fast.
Routine deworming, clean water, and safe food practices help prevent these infections — but once symptoms appear, your dog needs professional care and medication.
Read more: Dog suddenly vomiting white foam (Serious or not?)
What to Do If Your Dog Is Not Pooping and Throwing Up
If your dog hasn’t pooped for more than 24 hours and is vomiting, treat it as a red flag.
First, withhold food for 8–12 hours to allow the stomach to settle. Offer small sips of water frequently to prevent dehydration, but don’t force drinking if your dog keeps vomiting.
Avoid giving human medications, laxatives, or oils unless instructed by a vet — these can worsen an obstruction or inflamed stomach.
After vomiting subsides, you can offer a bland meal like boiled chicken and plain white rice in small portions. This helps soothe the digestive tract and restores mild motility if no blockage is present.
If your dog still hasn’t pooped or continues vomiting after 12–24 hours, contact your vet. Persistent vomiting or abdominal swelling can indicate a serious condition that requires imaging or IV fluids.
When to Call Your Vet
Contact your veterinarian immediately if your dog:
Hasn’t pooped for more than 24–36 hours and is vomiting
Shows signs of pain, bloating, or straining with no stool output
Is lethargic, drooling excessively, or refusing to eat or drink
Vomits repeatedly or produces vomit with blood or coffee-ground material
Has a hard, distended abdomen or cries when touched
Is a puppy, small breed, or senior dog, as dehydration develops quickly
Your vet may perform an X-ray, ultrasound, or blood tests to rule out an intestinal blockage, pancreatitis, or infection. In some cases, an enema or surgery may be necessary to remove the cause and restore normal bowel function.
Quick intervention can make all the difference between a treatable issue and a life-threatening emergency.
Read more: Dog Pooping Mucus and Blood (When to worry)
Key Takeaway
When your dog is not pooping and throwing up, it’s not something to wait out. These symptoms together often signal a blockage, severe constipation, or inflammation that needs urgent care.
If your dog vomits once but later poops and acts normal, continue monitoring closely. However, persistent vomiting, abdominal swelling, or no stool for more than a day requires veterinary evaluation immediately.
Keeping your dog hydrated, feeding a balanced diet, and preventing access to unsafe items can help avoid digestive emergencies in the future.
Your vet’s early diagnosis and treatment can relieve your dog’s discomfort — and protect them from potentially life-threatening complications.