Why Does My Dog Keep Throwing Up?

Short answer: a single episode of vomiting in a dog that's otherwise bright, drinking, and eating is usually dietary — they ate something they shouldn't have, ate too fast, or you switched foods too quickly. It typically clears on its own. But vomiting that repeats over hours, comes with blood, lethargy, diarrhea, a distended belly, or repeated unproductive retching is a veterinary emergency. When in doubt, call your vet.

I'm Preston Smith, co-founder of Bully Sticks Central. I've spent years around dogs and around dog owners who email us at 11pm because their dog just threw up on the rug. Here's the plain version of what's going on and what to do.

What causes vomiting in dogs?

Most cases fall into a handful of buckets:

• Dietary indiscretion. The catch-all term for eating garbage, table scraps, grass, a sock, or half a stick of butter. By far the most common cause.
• Eating too fast. Food that comes back up undigested within minutes is often regurgitation, not true vomiting — a distinction your vet will care about.
• An abrupt food switch. Changing kibble overnight is a reliable way to upset a dog's gut. Transition over 7-10 days instead.
• Food sensitivities. Additives, flavorings, and mystery protein blends in processed treats are common culprits.
• Parasites. Roundworms, hookworms, and giardia all cause GI upset, especially in puppies.
• Infections. Parvovirus, bacterial infections, and other illnesses. Parvo in an unvaccinated puppy is life-threatening.
• Serious underlying disease. Pancreatitis, kidney or liver disease, intestinal obstruction, bloat (GDV), Addison's disease, and some cancers.
• Toxins. Xylitol, grapes, raisins, onions, chocolate, antifreeze, and many houseplants. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is the number to call if you suspect poisoning.

When should I take my dog to the vet for vomiting?

Call your veterinarian right away if you see any of the following, per guidance from VCA Animal Hospitals and the American Kennel Club:

• Vomiting more than once or twice in a day, or vomiting that continues past 24 hours
• Blood in the vomit, or material that looks like coffee grounds
• Repeated retching that produces nothing, especially with a swollen, hard abdomen — this can be bloat, which kills within hours
• Lethargy, weakness, collapse, pale gums, or a fever
• Vomiting plus diarrhea, which dehydrates a dog fast
• Any suspicion your dog swallowed a foreign object or a toxin
• Your dog is a puppy, a senior, or has a known health condition — these dogs have far less reserve

I'm not a veterinarian and this article isn't a diagnosis. If your gut says something is wrong, make the call.

What can I do at home for mild vomiting?

If your dog threw up once, is otherwise acting normal, and your vet has told you it's fine to monitor:

1. Withhold food briefly. Many vets suggest resting the stomach for a few hours in an adult dog. Don't fast puppies or small breeds — ask your vet first.
2. Keep water available, in small amounts. A big drink on an irritated stomach often comes right back up. Offer small sips frequently.
3. Reintroduce food bland and slow. Plain boiled chicken and white rice in small portions, then transition back to their normal diet over a couple of days.
4. Never give human medication. Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and Pepto-Bismol can seriously harm dogs. Nothing from your medicine cabinet without a vet's direction.
5. Write down what you saw. Time, frequency, what the vomit looked like, what your dog ate in the last 24 hours. Your vet will ask.

Do treats and chews cause an upset stomach?

They can. Two things do the most damage: ingredient lists loaded with additives, dyes, and preservatives, and rawhide, which isn't readily digestible and can swell in the gut or cause an obstruction.

This is the whole reason we started Bully Sticks Central. Our chews are 100% natural, single-ingredient, 100% real meat, and fully digestible — no rawhide, no fillers, no chemicals, nothing you need a chemistry degree to pronounce. Everything is ethically sourced from grass-fed American and Argentinean farms and 100% high-quality guaranteed. If your dog has a touchy stomach, a short ingredient list is the easiest variable to control.

A few things worth reading if you're rethinking what you hand your dog:

• Single-ingredient dog chews: why the ingredient list matters
• The complete guide to bully sticks
• Are trachea dog treats safe?

Even with a clean chew, moderation matters. Treats should stay a small share of daily calories, and a dog recovering from an upset stomach should go back to chews slowly, not all at once. Always supervise chew time and take away any piece small enough to swallow whole.

The bottom line

One episode of vomiting in a dog who otherwise seems himself usually resolves on its own. Repeated vomiting, blood, lethargy, a hard belly, or a dog who just seems off is your cue to stop guessing and call your veterinarian. In between vet visits, the highest-leverage thing you control is what goes in the bowl — simple food, simple chews, and no rawhide.

This post was last updated at July 22, 2026 22:09