DOGS · Symptom guide
Dog vomiting: what real veterinary case reports show
Vomiting in dogs ranges from "ate something gross outside, will be fine by tomorrow" to "this is the first sign of pancreatitis, Addison's, or a gastric foreign body". The distinguishing factors vets care about are: how long it's been going on, whether the dog can hold down water, whether there's blood involved, and whether other systems are affected (energy, appetite, abdominal pain).
Across published case series, the conditions that surface most often in dogs with chronic vomiting (>1 week) are: inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis (acute and chronic), gastric foreign body, dietary indiscretion / food-responsive enteropathy, Addison's disease (often missed), helicobacter gastritis, and — in older large-breed dogs — gastric carcinoma.
The cases below are real reports from veterinary clinics. They show the actual diagnostic path each team took and the treatment that worked.
When to see a vet now
- Repeated vomiting + retching with nothing coming up (could be GDV / bloat — emergency in large breeds).
- Blood in the vomit, or coffee-ground-looking material.
- A bloated, tense abdomen, or pain when you touch the belly.
- Lethargy or collapse alongside the vomiting.
- Vomiting that's gone on more than 48 hours, or any vomiting with refusal to drink.
Real cases from the veterinary literature
A teaser of peer-reviewed reports our semantic search surfaces for this complaint. Click into any case for the full abstract — or run a personalised search with your pet's exact details.
- Epidemiological, clinical and pathological features of canine parvovirus 2c infection in dogs from southern Brazil
Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira · BR
A group of dogs in southern Brazil showed signs of severe illness due to canine parvovirus type 2c (CPV-2c), which included symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and even convulsions. Some of these dogs were adults and had been vaccinated, which is unusual for this virus. Tests confirmed the presence of CPV-2c in all cases, highlighting the need for veterinarians to be aware of its
- <b>Clinicopathological profiling of diarrheic canine parvovirus–circovirus co-infections in Hanoi, Vietnam</b>
Open Veterinary Journal · 2026
A group of dogs in Vietnam with diarrhea, vomiting, and loss of appetite were found to have a serious infection caused by canine parvovirus (CPV), with some also infected by canine circovirus (CanineCV). The dogs with both viruses showed more severe symptoms, higher death rates, and longer recovery times compared to those with just CPV. Blood tests revealed significant drops in
- Canine parvovirus type 2 antigenic variants and in-hospital mortality in central Spain: Retrospective and prospective data (2003–2014)
Open Veterinary Journal · 2026
A young small-breed dog was hospitalized with severe gastrointestinal symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea, and showed signs of neurological distress. The study found that small dogs had a higher risk of dying in the hospital, especially if they exhibited both gastrointestinal and neurological or respiratory symptoms. The most common strain of the virus identified was CPV-
- Transmural gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the mixed subtype in a canine: case report
Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Pathology · 2026 · BR
A 7-year-old dog was brought in with symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and abdominal pain. After imaging tests, the vet discovered a tumor in the dog's cecum, which was confirmed through a biopsy. The tumor, a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), was about 7 cm in size and had specific cell characteristics that helped the vet identify it. Treatment options for GI
- Electronic cigarette or e-liquid (vape liquid) exposure in dogs: 321 cases (2011-2024).
The Journal of small animal practice · 2026 · United Kingdom
A dog was exposed to e-liquid from an electronic cigarette and showed symptoms like vomiting and excessive drooling. Out of 321 dogs studied, most either showed no symptoms or only mild signs after exposure. Treatments included giving activated charcoal to help decontaminate the stomach, and most dogs recovered within about three hours. Only a small number experienced severe re
- Prolonged survival in a dog with unresectable exocrine pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with toceranib phosphate: a case report
Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Pathology · 2026 · BR
A dog with exocrine pancreatic adenocarcinoma, an aggressive type of cancer, was brought in for diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and not eating. After imaging showed the tumor was in a difficult location for surgery, the vet performed a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Since there are no standard treatments for this cancer, the vet used a special test to guide therapy and st
Frequently asked questions
- When is dog vomiting an emergency?
- Suspected bloat (retching, distended belly, restlessness — especially in large deep-chested breeds) is a true emergency, go now. Blood, lethargy, collapse, or known toxin/foreign-body exposure also warrant the ER. Otherwise: more than 24-48 hours of vomiting, refusal to keep water down, or vomiting plus diarrhea need same-day vet attention.
- What's the most useful first test?
- Most workups start with CBC, chemistry, and a specific canine pancreatic lipase (cPL or SNAP cPL). Addison's disease — a notorious mimic of "chronic GI issues" — is screened with electrolytes and a baseline cortisol or ACTH-stim. Abdominal radiographs or ultrasound rule in foreign body and assess organs.
- Could it be food allergy?
- Yes — food-responsive enteropathy (sometimes called "chronic enteropathy") is the most common diagnosis in dogs with chronic intermittent vomiting and otherwise normal bloodwork. A strict 8-week hydrolyzed-protein or novel-protein diet trial is the test. Many cases below show this exact protocol working.