Home Remedies for Vomiting in Dogs

In cases where the dog has ingested toxic food or non-digestible elements, it's possible for it to recover with our help, although you'll need to go to see the veterinarian if it doesn't clear up.
Home Remedies for Vomiting in Dogs

Last update: 24 January, 2022

Has your dog started vomiting recently, or maybe they aren’t eating and everything is making them sick? They may have indigestion or gastroenteritis (the latter is more likely if they also have diarrhea). If it’s just a one-off occurrence and there’s no blood, you can treat it at home. Here are some home remedies for vomiting in dogs.

What caused vomiting in dogs?

Vomiting in dogs can be caused by viral or bacterial infections, parasitic infections (such as worms), food allergies and intolerances, toxic foods or non-digestible items. The first three will cause chronic vomiting and diarrhea, and you should take your dog to the vet as soon as possible.

The last two (toxic food and non-digestible elements) are due to your dog having eaten something they shouldn’t have, or something that has upset them. If this is the case, the problem can be treated at home.

A tired dog.

How do I treat vomiting in dogs without spending a lot of money?

There are several home remedies for dogs with vomiting dogs that can be used to cure gastroenteritis or indigestion:

  • If something has upset them, the best thing to do is to help them expel it and not to give them any more food to eat. Don’t give your dog anything to eat for 12 hours and then start giving them one-eighth of their usual food and, if they don’t reject it, then gradually increase the amount with each meal for two or three days until they’re back to the full amount again.
  • Plenty of water, but in a controlled manner every hour. With vomiting or diarrhea, a lot of liquid is lost and must be replaced. If they can’t swallow it well, one way to give them water is by means of ice cubes, with which they’ll also satisfy their desire to chew.
  • To replace liquids, you can also use isotonic or carbonated drinks, which also provide the sugars and isotopes necessary for the body and will help the animal to recover. It’s best to consult with your veterinarian regarding the doses to be ingested.
  • Yogurt. Dogs, like humans, have benign bacteria in the small intestine that help with digestion. With severe diarrhea and vomiting, those bacteria are washed away and lost. Yogurt helps replenish those bacteria.
  • Avoid human foods (except yogurt) at all costs. If your dog’s stomach is upset, they will have a harder time digesting these foods, even if they eat them easily when they’re well.
  • Infusions such as licorice, chamomile, ginger, rice, and mint. Three tablespoons of the mixture are administered twice a day. It’s important to observe their behavior, and if they vomit again you should stop using it.
  • Soft diet. After fasting, it is preferable for the dog to eat low-irritant foods such as white rice (without seasoning).

If, after applying these remedies, your dog doesn’t improve, or even gets worse, you should take your dog to the vet without delay, as it may be an infection, an allergy, or they may have swallowed something indigestible that has got stuck somewhere in their digestive system.

A dog lying down.

Warning signs

It’s crucial that you keep an eye on your canine’s health and progress during this whole process. As long as the vomiting is isolated and doesn’t recur frequently, it’s possible to administer any home remedy. However, you should go to the veterinarian if you observe any of the following points:

  • Poisoning: If you confirm that the symptoms are caused by the consumption of poison, you should go to see the vet immediately.
  • Presence of diarrhea: Vomiting will dehydrate the pet quite a lot, so together with diarrhea it could cause major health problems.
  • Other symptoms appear: It’s normal for stomach discomfort to cause some lethargy and apathy. However, if fever, spasms, or worsening of the main symptoms occur, you should seek professional help.
  • No improvement in the first 24 hours: Note that occasional vomiting usually has a rapid and progressive recovery. In case there’s no noticeable improvement, it’s best to visit the veterinarian for prevention. Time is of the essence, especially to avoid dehydration.
  • Blood in vomit: Blood is an indication that something serious is going on inside his body, so home remedies will not be enough to cure your pet.
  • Pallor in the mucosa: Pallor in the oral mucosa is an emergency clinical sign. Remember that the normal color of the internal regions of the mouth should be a strong pink.

How to prevent it from happening again

Although most of these problems have a cure, prevention is always better than cure. In this sense, if you want to prevent your dog from vomiting then it’s best to ensure that your dog has a proper diet with decent quality dog food. They shouldn’t eat grass from the park, as it can be toxic due to pesticides.

Also, be careful with any human food you give to the dog. This isn’t necessarily bad in itself, as dogs have been eating table scraps on farms for centuries without many problems. However, if they get used to eating something at home, and then find the same thing in the park or the garbage, then they’ll just eat it without worrying what condition it’s in.

On the other hand, if they have healthy living habits, are clean, go for frequent walks, exercise, play, eat well, and are vaccinated regularly, then it’s unlikely that vomiting caused by digestive problems will occur.


All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.


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This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.