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What Diseases Can Cause A Dog to Vomit?

Because dogs are known to eat just about anything, it's difficult to tell whether a dog is vomiting because it ate his own feces or the squeaker in its chew toy, or because it has a disease. While there is no tried and true way to tell, aside from taking your dog to the veterinarian, checking the dog for other symptoms, such as lethargy or a loss of appetite, may help solve the puzzle. Checking the vomit may also help. If you find indigestible substances in the vomit, such as pieces of a shoelace, that may be a clue that it simply ate something it shouldn't have. If you find undigested food or blood, however, that could mean your dog has a disease.

  1. Parvovirus

    • The parvovirus strikes puppies and older dogs that have not been vaccinated against the disease. It can be easily spread like any other viruses, with most dogs contracting the virus when they come into contact with an infected animal or an infected animal's feces, saliva or urine, which all transmit the disease. In addition to vomiting, the parvovirus can also cause bloody diarrhea, fever, dehydration and a loss of appetite, according to DogGuide.net.

    Vascular Ring Anomaly

    • If your dog has Vascular Ring Anomaly, or VRA, then your dog has blood vessels surrounding its esophagus that are constricting erratically, trapping the trachea and causing regurgitation. This disease usually becomes evident when a puppy begins to eat solid food, as the larger masses may be harder for dogs with VRA to handle. Fortunately, this disease can be corrected with surgery.

    Myasthenia Gravis

    • Myasthenia Gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease that weakens the skeletal muscles of the body in both humans and dogs, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The institute notes that the most common muscles that are affected by Myasthenia Gravis are in the face and throat. Therefore, the disease can cause food to become trapped in the throat and eventually vomited back up if the dog is unsuccessful in swallowing it.

    Megaesophagus

    • Dogs with cases of megaesophagus have weakened movements and muscle contractions in the esophagus. This can cause food or water to become stuck in the esophagus or throat, or it can even become lodged in the lungs. When any of these situations happens the dog's natural coughing and gag reflexes will kick in, causing him to vomit up the food.

    Stomach Cancer

    • Though stomach cancer accounts for only a small percentage of all cancer diagnoses in dogs, vomiting is a prime symptom of this disease. In fact, it is often the first symptom of stomach cancer. Another sign that a dog's vomiting may be due to stomach cancer is if there is blood present. This blood may be minimal or it may be abundant. Symptoms accompanying vomiting may include fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.

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