You see all those videos of golden retrievers being goofy and funny, helping their owners with everything their paws can reach and generally being a good and slightly naughty boy and all you can think about is getting a fur ball of your own. You imagine yourself cuddling with them on the couch, going on long walks and possibly snagging a date in the dog park, getting married and living happily ever after. If you ask us, dogs have the power to make this happen because all they do is give you unconditional love.
So, does living this life with your dog sound good? Everyone is quick enough to jump on the dog adoption train but have no idea the problems they will face afterwards. One day, you are happily frolicking in the pool with your golden retriever and the next minute, they are vomiting on the grass. You panic, pick up the dog and take them to a vet. While this is the right move, you can’t exactly run to the vet every time something happens to your dog. We don’t do that with human beings either. In fact, we drink soup, have a few salt crackers to settle our upset stomach, take medicine and go to bed. Your dog needs this kind of attention, along with a self-diagnosis to get to the root of the problem.
Here’s what to do if your golden retriever is vomiting:
Before we begin, let’s take a look at the list of all possible reasons that might be causing your dog to vomit.
Dietary Indiscretion
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Change in thirst
- Frequency of urination has changed
- Blood in vomit
- Diarrhea
- Severe or unusual lethargy
- Collapse
- White or pale gums
- Abdominal pain
Symptoms of Chronic Vomiting
- Infection in the gastrointestinal tract
- Infectious diseases (tick borne diseases)
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Cancer
- Dietary allergies
- Metabolic disease (Like liver or kidney failure, pancreatitis, Addison’s disease, diabetes, etc.)
Symptoms of Acute Vomiting
- Intestinal parasites
- Intestinal obstruction
- Parvovirus
- Bloat
- Ingesting a toxic substance
Now that you have your pick of reasons why your golden retriever might be vomiting, let’s discuss the most common ones:
They Ate Something in the Backyard
Dogs are notorious for eating anything and everything they might come across, and golden retrievers are no different. Termites, moths, flies and grasshoppers are plenty in your backyard and golden retrievers love chowing on them. While they don’t affect your dog that much and are more like protein, you never know if the insect food went down the wrong pipe.
Bad Diet
We all know how important it is to feed a dog right. A change in your golden retriever’s diet, too many treats or foods that they are allergic to might have caused the vomiting episode. If your golden retriever vomited once then change their diet and then monitor their health. If you are lucky, another episode won’t happen. If it does, then don’t panic. There are a few other reasons why this may be happening.
Heatstroke
Golden retrievers have a thick coat, which is why they get pretty warm in the summer. The combination of food and heat is not exactly good for their disposition. So, make sure that your dog has a shaded area in the backyard where they can sit and enjoy the outdoors.
Dehydration
If your golden retriever has been playing out in the sun for too long and then vomits the moment they step inside the house then dehydration might be the cause. Make sure you keep your dog’s water bowl filled and keep it in multiple places so if they are thirsty, they have water right in front of them.
Eating Too Quickly
It’s not just us humans who get excited at the sight of food. Dogs are the same and if your golden retriever ate too quickly, that’s what might be causing the vomit. If this is the case, put down smaller bites on their plate and break the treats in half.
Motion Sickness
If your golden retriever vomits right after getting out of car then it’s probably because of motion sickness. To prevent this from happening, feed them after you get to your destination.
Playing and Exercising Right After Eating
Golden retrievers become highly active right after they eat. If they get a case of the zoomies then they will end up vomiting. Moreover, don’t take your dog out for a walk after a meal because all that motion could cause sickness.
Stress
We need to talk about how dogs can get stressed and depressed too. They might have a trigger that can cause them to vomit. For example, the owner leaving for work or being in the company of a person they don’t like. Look for signs such as your dog facing the wall, shaking, ears down, drooling or panting. Give them positive attention to reassure them that you are there for them.
Spotting the Signs
The first thing you need to do when you see your golden retriever vomiting is give them a thorough checkup. Make sure they are not having an allergic reaction like white foam coming out of their mouth or swollen body parts.
Then feel around your dog’s stomach gently and notice their reaction. If they wince and whine then they probably ate something bad. If this doesn’t reveal anything and your dog vomits again then take them to a vet. This is a sign that they are having gastrointestinal problems.
Our Final Thoughts
After you have cleaned up your Golden Retriever’s mess, give them half the amount of water they usually drink to settle their stomach. If the vomiting continues then keep up with the water for at least 12 hours. However, if the vomiting progresses and diarrhea joins the party then it means that your dog has some kind of serious illness.
To answer the question, “What to do if your golden retriever is vomiting” ― 90% of the time it is because of overeating, eating something wrong, or stress. If the above-mentioned tips don’t stop them from throwing up then get your golden retriever to the vet ASAP.
