My Dog Is Constipated & Throwing Up, What’s Wrong? Our Vet Answers
When your dog has two major health signs occurring simultaneously, they should see the vet. Constipation and vomiting together can be due to several potentially serious causes, with the main one being an intestinal obstruction. Visit your veterinarian if your dog isn’t having regular bowel movements or if they seem to be pained or strained when they do so. You should also go straight to the vet if your dog has vomited more than once or is showing any other clinical signs.
What Does Vomiting With Constipation Mean in Dogs?
There are many causes of constipation and of vomiting in dogs. Here are a few possibilities for each.
Constipation in Dogs
A constipated dog has difficulty passing feces or isn’t passing it as regularly as usual. They may strain or cry out when they try to do so. Constipation can be brought on by multiple factors, including dehydration, certain medications, inadequate exercise, parasites, or various things related to the colon, such as inflammation, nerve dysfunction, or masses that block passage. Constipation can also happen when a pup eats something that they shouldn’t have and develops an obstruction that partially or completely blocks feces from moving through.
Vomiting in Dogs
Vomiting is the stomach’s way of getting rid of something that’s unpleasant. Dogs may vomit when they eat something that they shouldn’t have and that is irritating, such as table scraps or spoiled food. Dogs can also vomit when they have a digestive illness that creates nausea or an upset stomach or when they’re experiencing something outside of the digestive system, such as liver or kidney disease.
Vomiting may also occur when a dog has an intestinal obstruction due to the irritation and backup of ingesta that has no place else to go.
If you are concerned about your pet’s well-being, we recommend you contact a veterinarian.
The 4 Causes of Vomiting and Constipation in Dogs
There are a few commonalities between the two side effects that should be examined in further detail.
1. Intestinal Obstruction
If your pup is vomiting and constipated, you might suspect an intestinal obstruction, which means you should get them to a vet. Intestinal obstructions are emergencies and should be seen as soon as possible. They occur when an indigestible object is eaten and it can’t move through the digestive tract. Obstructions don’t always have to be caused by something big; linear objects like string or even a collar can also get lodged in the intestines.
When such things get stuck, they partially or completely block the ingesta coming up behind it from getting out. This can lead to straining to defecate and smaller than normal or infrequent bowel movements—signs common with constipation.
As things attempt to move along, vomiting can also start, possibly due to the irritation that the digestive system is going through and the backup of the digestion. Dogs may also have stomach pain, a decreased appetite, and dehydration if it’s been happening for a while.
See your vet immediately, as some obstructions can be resolved with medications, but others require surgery.
2. Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is the medical term for an upset digestive system. It typically means both the stomach and the intestines are going through something. Gastroenteritis has many causes, including infections, parasites, medications, or a change in diet—including eating something that they shouldn’t have.
With most cases of gastroenteritis, you will see vomiting and diarrhea, but some dogs may appear constipated after a severe bout of diarrhea. They may strain because they are still feeling the urge to defecate, but they may not pass any feces or only pass a small amount infrequently because the digestive tract has already emptied out.
You may also notice a fever, stomach pain, inappetence, and dehydration with gastroenteritis. See your vet as soon as possible to get the irritation under control.
3. Parasites
Parasites like heavy worm burdens not only harvest nutrition and blood from dogs, but they can also lead to constipation and vomiting. Puppies are especially prone to this issue due to their small size and the ability for adult worm bodies to form a ball that blocks the intestines.
4. Severe Constipation
Severe cases of constipation, of whatever cause, can lead to vomiting because the body can’t get rid of feces, potentially increasing toxins in the system and backing up digestion. If your dog is constipated, with or without vomiting, see a veterinarian to get the issue treated as soon as possible.
What Should I Do If My Dog Is Constipated and Vomiting?
The short answer is to see your veterinarian as soon as possible. Both issues can lead to major complications if they aren’t treated, and they can be caused by severe health problems that you want to get under control quickly. Make a note of any other signs that your dog may be showing, such as not eating, stomach pain, or a previous episode of diarrhea.
Your vet may need to do bloodwork, a fecal analysis, a urinalysis, or imaging, especially if they suspect that a foreign object is the culprit. Depending on the cause, your pup might need medications to help settle an angry digestive system or surgery to resolve an intestinal blockage. Some dogs may even require hospitalization to fix dehydration or to get severe vomiting under control.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Long Is It Okay for a Dog to Be Constipated?
Most vets will let a dog go 48 hours without a bowel movement before they request to see them. However, if your pup is showing other signs, such as vomiting, a fever, dehydration, or stomach pain, bring them in right away.
How Can I Relieve My Dog’s Constipation Fast?
Mild cases of constipation may be treated at home by increasing a dog’s water intake and possibly giving them fiber. Plain canned pumpkin, canned food, exercising, or encouraging water drinking can all help. However, if your dog has constipation with other signs or if the constipation isn’t relieved in 48 hours, see your vet.
Conclusion
Vomiting and constipation often warrant a veterinary visit when they present by themselves. When they show up together, especially when accompanied by not eating, a fever, or stomach pain, visit your veterinarian immediately. You will want to get these issues corrected before they become severe and cause other potentially serious issues.
Sources
Featured Image Credit: Enrico Spetrino, Shutterstock
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Dr. Chyrle Bonk DVM (Veterinarian)
On top of caring for animals and writing for veterinary publications, Dr. Chyrle Bonk owns a small cattle herd! When she’s not busy with those things, she can be found somewhere enjoying the Idaho outdoors with her husband and two kids. Dr. Chyrle Bonk received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Oregon State University in 2010.
Chyrle has practiced in a mixed animal clinic for over a decade. She also writes for various veterinary websites and magazines, like Dogster!
