One truth of pet ownership: you’re going to have to deal with barf. And poop. And sometimes both. There’s nothing quite like waking up to the sound of a hairball in progress, or a beloved pet yakking up her latest meal.
Most times, vomiting or diarrhea isn’t an emergency. Sometimes pets just eat something that doesn’t sit right, or eat too fast, or just get too excited or nervous. Moose tends to get diarrhea after spending an afternoon running around with the energetic puppy Casey. All that play is just too much for his system to handle! Lally will sometimes have a bout of barfing if she has too many rawhide chews in too short a time.
If your pet isn’t showing other signs of illness, you don’t necessarily have to rush to the vet. Wait twelve hours or so, and see if the problem clears up. Don’t offer large meals; rice is good for upset stomachs. A bit of chicken or hamburger mixed with the rice is bland enough to not upset things further. Don’t let your pet drink a large amount of water; just offer a little bit at a time or she might drink herself sick again.
Watch your pet’s behavior. If she is otherwise acting normal, you probably don’t have an emergency on your hands. It doesn’t hurt to collect samples of stool or vomit if you suspect you may need a vet visit.
However, there are certain signs that the issue may not be so simple or innocent. Watch for the following:
- Blood in the vomit or the stool
- Vomiting and diarrhea together
- Suspected ingestion of poison
- Vomiting or diarrhea that persists for more than a day or two
- Pet appears listless
- Pet loses weight rapidly
- Fever
- Labored breathing
- Pet appears to be in pain
If you see any of these other symptoms, call your veterinarian and describe the situation.