Digestive problems
Vomiting and Diarrhoea: When to Worry
Distinguishing a self-limiting upset from something that needs urgent veterinary attention.
General information
Occasional vomiting or a single loose stool in an otherwise bright, well-hydrated adult animal is often self-limiting. The concerning cases are those with additional signs, particular patterns, or particular species.
Emergency warning signs
Seek immediate veterinary care for any of the following.
- Repeated unproductive retching with a distended abdomen
- Blood in vomit or black, tarry stool
- Puppies or kittens with vomiting and diarrhoea — dehydration develops within hours
- Any vomiting alongside known access to a toxin, string, bones or a foreign object
- Collapse, severe abdominal pain, or gums that are pale, grey or brick red
- Rabbits, guinea pigs or chinchillas: these species do not vomit, so drooling with appetite loss is an emergency
Possible causes
Dietary indiscretion, sudden diet change, parasites, infections, pancreatitis, foreign bodies, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney or liver disease, endocrine disease and toxins all present this way. Chronic intermittent vomiting in cats is not a normal hairball habit and deserves investigation.
Supportive care at home
For a mild single episode in a healthy adult: withhold food for a few hours (never in animals under six months, diabetics or small herbivores), offer small amounts of water frequently, then feed small bland meals. If there is no clear improvement within 24 hours, contact your vet.