You put the kibble down, your dog wolfs it and a few minutes later it's on the floor looking almost exactly as it did in the bag. If your dog is throwing up undigested food, the first thing to work out is whether it's true vomiting or regurgitation, because they don't mean the same thing and aren't handled the same way. In this guide we explain how to tell them apart, why your dog brings up whole kibble, what you can do at home and when you need to see the vet without waiting.
Vomiting or regurgitation? How to tell the difference
What looks like vomiting is often regurgitation: the food never got as far as being digested in the stomach and comes back up from the oesophagus without any effort. When a dog regurgitates after eating, the kibble usually comes out almost intact. Look out for these differences:
| Sign | Regurgitation | Vomiting |
|---|---|---|
| Effort | None: the food just comes out, sometimes when the dog lowers its head | Retching and abdominal contractions |
| Warning signs | Almost never | Nausea: drooling, lip-licking, swallowing, restlessness |
| Timing | Right after eating or within a few minutes | Can happen minutes or hours later |
| Appearance | Whole kibble, often tube-shaped and coated in mucus | More broken-down food, with liquid and sometimes yellow bile |
| Does the dog eat it again? | Often | Less common |
Being clear on this difference will help when you talk to your vet, as it's usually the first thing they ask. If you can, film it on your phone.
Why is my dog throwing up whole kibble?
These are the most common causes in an otherwise healthy dog:
- Eating too fast. The dog swallows the kibble without chewing, along with lots of air; the stomach fills up all at once and sends it back. This is the most common cause, especially in greedy eaters or dogs that live with other animals.
- Too big a portion in one go. A single meal a day means the stomach has to take in a large volume all at once.
- Exercise just before or after eating. Running, jumping or playing on a full stomach makes it more likely the food will come back up.
- A sudden change of food. Switching from one brand to another overnight can irritate the stomach.
- Nerves or competition. If it gulps its food because another dog is nearby, or at a stressful moment (visitors, loud noises), it's more likely to bring it back up.
- Intolerance to an ingredient. This usually comes with other signs, such as wind, soft stools or itching.
- Oesophagus or stomach problems. Megaoesophagus, a blockage caused by a foreign object or gastritis can also make a dog bring up its food. Here, changing habits isn't enough: you need a diagnosis.
What to do if your dog throws up undigested food
If it was a one-off and your dog is still lively, drinking and playing normally, follow these steps:
- Clear up what it brought up so it doesn't eat it again.
- Let the stomach rest for a few hours before the next meal, but don't take away the water. If it drinks greedily, offer small amounts more often. With puppies, very small dogs or older dogs, don't extend the fast: check with your vet first.
- Start feeding again with a small portion and see how it goes down.
- Write down what happened: the time, how long after eating and what it looked like. If it happens again, this information will be very useful at the vet's.
How to stop your dog bringing its food back up
If your dog vomits right after eating and your vet has ruled out other problems, changing the way it eats almost always solves it:
- Split the daily ration into two or three meals instead of one.
- Slow it down with a slow feeder bowl. The ridges make the dog search for the kibble with its tongue and eat more slowly. Our silicone slow feeder has five zones and a bowl, and works for both dogs and cats.
- Turn mealtimes into a sniffing game. Scattering the kibble on a snuffle mat or a large tray makes it eat more slowly and gives its brain a workout too.
- Allow around an hour of calm before and after meals, with no running or rough play.
- If you have several dogs, feed them separately so none of them rushes.
- Change food gradually, mixing the new food with the old for a week to ten days.
- Try soaking the kibble in a little lukewarm water a few minutes before serving; some dogs tolerate it better.
When to take your dog to the vet
Don't wait: go to the vet if any of the following happens:
- It vomits or regurgitates several times in one day, or the problem keeps coming back over several days.
- It's retching but can't bring anything up, and its belly looks swollen and hard. This could be gastric torsion (bloat), an emergency that can't wait, especially in large, deep-chested breeds.
- There's blood, dark bits that look like coffee grounds or a very strong smell.
- It's lethargic, won't drink, or has diarrhoea or a fever.
- It coughs after regurgitating or has trouble breathing: some of the food may have gone into its airways.
- It's a puppy, an older dog or has an existing health condition.
- You suspect it has swallowed a toy, a bone or any other object.
In short
If your dog throws up undigested food once, it's usually because it ate too quickly or moved around on a full stomach. Telling vomiting and regurgitation apart, splitting meals and helping it eat more slowly solves most cases. If it keeps happening or you notice any warning signs, your vet is the one who should assess it. And if you'd like to make things easier from the very next meal, take a look at our products for dogs and cats.