The sections in this article are:
Defining Vomiting-related Terms: The difference between nausea, dry heaving, vomiting, regurgitation and expectorating.
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To effectively care for your Shih Tzu, it helps to recognize what's happening when they show signs of gastrointestinal distress. Here's a concise overview of five terms often linked to vomiting:
If a Shih Tzu occasionally vomits or seems to have a short-lasting stomach bug that manifests as vomiting, this often can be managed with attentive at-home care. Vet treatment is usually needed if things grow more severe or do not improve within a few days. The underlying causes are not always straightforward, but nevertheless can be treated. Let’s take a look at what happens and how to address this.
Common Causes for a Shih Tzu Throwing Up:
So, as you can see, the causes of throwing up are many. It's important to try to pinpoint what caused the episode and to proceed with vigilance for red flags that veterinary treatment may be needed (and sometimes as an emergency response).
Treatment, Step #1, Addressing the Trigger:
While you may not always know the trigger, these are a few issues that may be easy to suspect and address:
For car sickness: Place your Shih Tzu in an elevated booster seat during car rides, avoid feeding them a full meal before traveling, and consider offering a light, dry snack or a small amount of sugar or ginger to ease their stomach. Maintain a comfortable, cool temperature inside the vehicle, slightly open the windows for air circulation, and make regular stops to prevent motion sickness from developing.
For suspected bacterial or viral infection: Monitor your Shih Tzu closely. Many dogs can successfully recuperate at home with appropriate care (refer to Treatment, Step 2, At-Home Care and Remedies), as symptoms may resolve naturally within a few days. However, if your Shih Tzu continues to vomit for more than three days or exhibits any concerning signs (refer to Red Flags below), it's important to seek veterinary assistance.
For managing food intolerance: Dogs with food allergies often show skin problems like itching or rashes, whereas intolerances usually cause gastrointestinal issues, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Additives, including chemical preservatives and artificial flavors, along with high grain contents, soy, corn, and by-products, are common irritants. Additionally, generic meats may pose risks due to dubious sources.
If you're concerned your Shih Tzu's diet may be causing issues, consider switching to a higher-quality option. For example, Wellness Complete for Toy Breeds is an excellent choice, offering all-natural ingredients without harmful additives, perfectly suited for small breeds with a stomach-friendly chicken and rice base.
For a grain-free diet, Wellness CORE for Small Breeds is ideal, formulated without grains, soy, wheat, corn, or by-products, and featuring chicken, turkey, potatoes, and peas. And if chicken allergies are a concern, options like lamb, beef, bison, rabbit, or fish are available; Merrick Lil Plates Grain Free Small Breed Recipe provides a salmon and sweet potato formula that's all-natural and free from grains, corn, soy, or wheat.
Treatment, Step #2, At-home Care and Remedies
There are several things you can to treat an upset stomach and associated vomiting:
Note: If transitioning back to a normal diet triggers more vomiting, this is warrants a vet visit (Also see also Red Flags below).
Witnessing your Shih Tzu vomiting right after eating can be surprising and concerning, whether it's food or water that's being expelled. This behavior, often a result of regurgitation, indicates the food hasn't reached the stomach. Causes range from eating too quickly, overeating, to food intolerance, and less commonly, serious health conditions like esophageal issues or poisoning.
Immediate Actions and Preventative Measures:
In Summary: While occasional post-meal vomiting with Shih Tzu puppies and dogs can often be managed at home through careful observation and adjustments to feeding practices, persistent issues warrant a check up with the veterinarian.
Vomiting yellow liquid and/or white foam is a condition not uncommon in with the Shih Tzu breed, affecting puppies and dogs of any age. This issue usually arises hours before or after a meal. The yellow liquid, typically bile (a digestive fluid comprising water, salts, fats, and mucus) may vary in consistency and is usually not accompanied by food particles. White foam can appear alongside or independently from the yellow liquid.
The primary cause for a Shih Tzu vomiting bile is an overly empty stomach. Bile accumulates when there's no food to digest, leading to discomfort and eventual vomiting. While less common, serious health issues like gastritis or other stomach and intestinal inflammations could also be culprits, and usually have additional symptoms such as decreased appetite, unusual thirst, lethargy, acute diarrhea, or blood in vomit or stools.
What to Do:
In Summary: Addressing vomiting of yellow liquid and white foam in Shih Tzu dogs often involves increasing the frequency of meals and snacks to manage bile accumulation. For cases not resolved by dietary adjustments, or if accompanied by symptoms of more severe health issues, prompt veterinary consultation is essential.
It's not uncommon for a Shih Tzu to vomit during or shortly after a period of exercise, such as a session of cardio or going for a brisk walk, especially if this activity follows eating a meal or substantial snack within the hour. Typically, there are no prior signs of discomfort like nausea, and most dogs recover quickly post-incident. This issue often arises from the stomach not having sufficient time to settle before engaging in strenuous activities.
What to Do:
In Summary:
By adjusting the timing of meals relative to exercise, most issues of exercise-induced vomiting in Shih Tzus can be mitigated. However, persistent problems may require further investigation to identify underlying causes.
Dry heaving in Shih Tzu puppies and dogs, is characterized by hacking, lurching, and stomach muscle contractions without expelling anything. This behavior, which may appear to be an attempt to vomit without producing anything, can be painful and distressing for both a dog and their human. Some causes of dry heaving are serious, so this should not be overlooked.
Common Causes:
Less Common, but Possible Serious Causes:
What to Do:
In Summary: Dry heaving warrants careful observation and sometimes immediate veterinary intervention. Understanding the potential causes and knowing when to seek help are key to ensuring your little guy or gal's health and well-being.
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