Beagle Vomiting Problems

Since there are so many reasons and types of vomiting problems, this section will cover just about any issue that your Beagle is having. In many cases, this can be treated at home.

If you happen to be reading this and your Beagle is not currently throwing up or experiencing any upset stomach issues, you may want to scan over the information since it can come on suddenly and quick action on your behalf may be needed.

It should be noted that yellow vs white liquid, foam or mucus are very different. When a Beagle vomits yellow foam, this is indicative of stomach bile. 

It will vary from watery to thick. It may be interlaced with foam or the foamy substance may form around the edges of the puddle.

Bile is a substance that works to neutralize acids in the stomach before it works its way to the dog's small intestines. In addition, it also works to counteract microbes that may be in any digested food.

1) The Beagle's stomach is too empty. This is the most common reason that a Beagle will vomit up yellow stomach bile with or without foam and mucus. If so, it typically occurs with dogs that are only fed one meal per day. But may even apply to those that eat 2 or 3.

The easy at-home treatment is to change your Beagle's feeding schedule to include smaller, more frequent meals. 

Many dogs do best with two meals per day: morning and evening. Some owners tend to avoid this if a morning meal means a bowel movement afterward when the owner has either already left for the day or is preparing to do so. In this instance, you may want to feed your Beagle as soon as the day begins. This can leave time a bit later - 20 to 30 minutes - for a visit outside to the designated bathroom area before you need to leave the house.

In addition, filling a Kong Wobbler Treat Dispensing Toy with a mixture of all-natural smooth peanut butter and your Beagle's dry kibble can offer a great way to offer food over the course of time, preventing the stomach from becoming so empty that there is an excessive buildup of bile that may be vomited out.

2) Gastritis- While having an empty stomach is by far the most common reason; there is also a small chance that this is due to a more serious issue of gastritis (inflammation of the stomach). With gastritis, the vomiting of yellow foam will be ongoing - it may come and go however if it lasts for more than 1 week, the veterinarian will run tests for this disease.

Other signs of this include black tarry stools, a green color in the vomit (which indicated bile that is produced from the Beagle's gallbladder), flecks of blood and/or bits of undigested food mixed throughout the yellow foam.

The stomach can become chronically inflamed due to:

• Repetitive ingestion of inappropriate foods

• Infection (often a parasite)

• Metabolic/endocrine disease

• Adverse reaction to medication

The veterinarian will narrow down the causes by doing a complete physical examination, blood work, a chemical profile, abdominal X-rays, ultrasound and a fecal floatation.

1) Blockage - When a dog swallows a non-food item of a chunk of food that is too large to safely pass, this can cause a partial or full blockage of the stomach and/or intestines. In some cases, the Beagle's first symptom may be vomiting of clear or white fluid - this can happen hours before any other clinical signs.  

This brings to mind a dog that swallowed a roll of medical tape - unbeknown to the owners- that was tucked into a lower bathroom cabinet. Hours afterward, he vomited a puddle of clear fluid and seemed fine afterward. It was not until about 7 hours later that he showed other signs of distress. 

Once taken to the vet, he needed emergency surgery to remove the tape, which had wound its way through the dog's intestines. It came very close to being a fatal situation.

Beagles have a high level of curiosity and are capable of mouthing and then swallowing all sorts of dangerous items. This includes Popsicle sticks, keys, rolls of floss, jewelry, shoe laces, pen caps, paper clips… If it can fit in his mouth, it can be swallowed. Keeping all of these sorts of object off the floor and from accessible places is prudent, not just for puppy care but for Beagles of all ages.

1- Search over the areas of the house that he had access to, looking for anything that was disturbed as a possible clue that he may have gotten into something that he should not have.

2- Closely watch him/her for any other developing signs or to see if he vomits a second time. Other red flags are: straining to eliminate a bowel movement, restlessness, acting panicked, whining, non-interest in eating or drinking, retreating, any signs of discomfort. In these cases, this warrants an immediate vet visit and this is considered an emergency.

2) Bloat - This exceedingly serious condition involves the stomach rotating or twisting in response to eating and exercising too closely together or eating too fast. However, if you see the warning signs of bloat, always seek help even if you do not believe that your Beagle did either of those two things.

Other symptoms include: Bloated abdomen, heavy panting, dry heaving, restlessness, pacing, not able to sit or lie comfortably, retreating, anxiousness and/or hunched over positioning.

This is considered an extreme emergency and a dog with bloat needs to be treated ASAP.

3) Other possible causes - There are many other possible causes that vary greatly. This includes kennel cough, diabetes, kidney disease, infection of the digestive tract, food allergies, hepatitis and even rabies.

Treatment - Since vomiting white foam can be a quick, acute case that is easily treated or it can point to a very serious issue that needs prompt professional intervention, it is important to keep a close eye on your Beagle. 

If treatment at home is not working or if there are any other signs, you'll want to bring your dog to be examined right away. *** Jump to at-home treatment

Reason for blood in vomit can include:

Fortunately, the most common reason for this can easily be resolved at home. It typically happens if a dog eats too fast or too much.

1) Serve smaller but more frequent meals. If you normally give your Beagle one meal per day, switch to two. Those who already eat twice may do better with 3 smaller feedings.

2) Use a slow-feeder bowl like DuraPet's Premium Slow Feed Stainless Steel Dog Bowl or if your Beagle already has a favorite dish that is not a slow-feeder, you can place a stainless steel portion pacer like the Omega Paw's Stainless Steel Portion Pacer Ball in the existing dish. 

3) Beagles can tend to eat with too much enthusiasm if food is presented while the dog is in a state of excitement. Avoid giving your Beagle a meal when he is revved up. If he is very hyper and dinner is overdue, it can help to offer a small snack and work to calm him down before his full meal is offered.

Canines have a much more sensitive gag reflex than humans, therefore allowing a good 20 minutes to pass before heading out for a walk or taking your dog out for a game of fetch can often prevent this sort of vomiting event from happening.

Here is what you can do from home, as long as there are no red flag symptoms that call for a visit to the vet:

1) Withhold the next meal unless your Beagle has appeared to bounce back to his normal self and is eager to eat. Be sure to offer plenty of cool, clean water.

2) Feed your Beagle light meals for up to 24 hours. This would be home cooked food of plain oatmeal, small banana slices and sweet potato. If he does well with that, you can also offer white breast chicken meat without skin and without any seasoning, mixed with plain sweet potato or plain white rice. These are easily digestible foods that can offer sustenance while allowing the stomach and digestive system to rest.

3) Prevent dehydration. If your Beagle has vomited a lot or has had both vomiting and diarrhea, you'll want to take steps to restore hydration. Mixing plain, unflavored Pedialyte with water (a 50/50 ratio) can help a restore a dog's electrolyte balance and help a weakened dog recover from loss of fluids.

4) Limit exercise and walks. While some dogs are able to shake off an episode of vomiting and bounce back to normal within just minutes, many will need a good 24 hours to fully recover.

 

5) Pepto Bismal - There is some debate over this treatment, even among veterinarians. Some say that it is best to allow a dog to vomit and have diarrhea so that the bacteria or other triggers can be flushed from the system. If OTC medicine is given to prevent this expulsion, it may prolong the condition. However, for others, giving a dog Pepto is normal protocol for minor episodes of acute vomiting and vomiting along with diarrhea. So, should you give a Beagle a dose of Pepto? 

The main ingredient in Pepto is bismuth subsalicylate, which coats the stomach and intestines to help combat nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, indigestion and upset stomach. It is considered to be safe for canines, when correct dosing instructions are followed. This can be part of an at-home treatment plan for acute cases.

It is best to call your veterinarian's office first; in most cases he/she will give you the 'okay'.

The correct dosing is based on the Beagle's weight. Unless otherwise directed by the vet, you will want to give your Beagle 1 teaspoons for each 5 lbs. (.45 kg) of body weight. It is given every 5 to 6 hours. If there is no improvement after 4 doses (20 to 24 hours), this is your signal to bring your beagle for an examination.