Last Updated on 25/04/2024 by Dochlaggie. Post first published on June 14, 2022.
It’s disturbing to see when your pom vomiting after eating food. Sometimes Pomeranians throw white foam or slimy mucous or just a whole feeding ball. Pomeranian vomit or throwing needs medical assistance when its frequency increases 2-3 times a day.
This article will discuss why my Pomeranian is vomiting? Possible causes of vomiting in Pomeranian dogs and what you can do when your Pomeranian vomits.
What is Vomiting?
Vomiting is the forceful voluntary or involuntary emptying of the stomach and intestinal content from the mouth. Vomiting contains semi-digested food with fluid and stomach acids.
Vomiting in Pomeranian dogs is not a disease; however, vomiting may be a symptom of other conditions like stomach infection, poisoning, gastritis, etc.
Why is My Pomeranian Vomiting?
Pomeranians vomit due to various reasons. It may be due to fast food intake, Ingestion of poison, drugs, toxins, nonfood items, and various systemic diseases that cause vomiting in Pomeranians.
Vomiting in dogs is disturbing when your animal loses weight and faces other health issues. You need to know the cause, signs, and precautions to prevent vomiting in Pomeranians.
How Can I Tell If My Pom Is About to Vomit?
Your Pomeranian exhibits different signs before vomiting, such as
- Nausea
- Excessive drooling of saliva
- Feeling anxious
- Looking for attention
- Constriction of the abdomen for forceful ejection of contents via the mouth
Before discussing the causes of vomiting in Pomeranian dogs, we should be familiar with the difference between vomiting and regurgitation.
Regurgitation in Pomeranian Dogs
Regurgitation is a passive back movement of undigested food and fluids from the stomach towards the mouth. In regurgitation, the dog throws up the food right after food intake. In regurgitation, food doesn’t face any digestive process.
Signs of Regurgitation in Pomeranian Dogs
- Dyspnea((difficult breathing)
- Coughing
- Undigested contents expelled
- Tubular or cylindrical shape food contents
Regurgitation in Pomeranian occurs due to fast food intake., Regurgitation is usually nothing to worry about.
How Do I Know If My Pom Vomiting Is Serious?
Your pom will be fine if he vomits once without any other symptoms like fever, anemia, etc. Pomeranian vomiting is a cause of concern and needs veterinary assistance when your Pomeranian is
- Continuous large vomiting
- Anorexia(not eating food)
- Blood in vomit or stool
- Pale or white gums
- Change in frequency of urination
- Vomiting with other symptoms like weight loss, fever, lethargy
- Seizures
Pomeranians under sixteen weeks of age lose immunity from their mothers. They are more prone to vomiting due to parasitic and viral infections like parvo.
Vomiting in young dogs is always a concern. To avoid low blood sugar or any other potential complications due to vomiting, you need to consult with a veterinarian for proper medical aid.
Here is why your Pom is vomiting or throwing white foam and how to treat vomiting in Pomeranian dogs.
What Are The Causes of Vomiting in Pomeranians?
Vomiting in Pomeranian occurs due to multiple reasons. Vomiting may be acute or chronic, depending upon the causes. It may be the symptom of a disease, disorder, or any other complication such as:
- Worms
- Abrupt diet change
- Viral causes(mostly parvo)
- Bacterial infection
- Gastritis
- Foreign object
- Toxins or poison intake
- Pancreatitis
- Kidney and liver failure
- Bloat
- Heatstroke
- Drinking or eating too fast
- Ingestion of irritant substances like garbage, wild grass
- Stomach ulcers
- Enteritis
- Constipation
- Systemic illness and urinary infection
How Do I Know My Pomeranian Is Vomiting?
The best way to know your Pom is vomiting is from fluid or other undigested contents that you fed your dog appears on carpets or in other house parts.
Your dog will exhibit these symptoms when vomiting becomes frequent and chronic
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss
- Depression
- Dehydration
- Fever
- Weakness
- Weight loss
Why Does Color Matter in Pomeranian Vomiting?
The color of vomiting is a point from which a veterinarian can retrace the causative agent of vomiting. When the diagnosis is precise, there will be more chances of fast recovery with proper medication and minimal damage to your Pomeranian’s health.
Why Is My Pom Vomiting White Foam?
Pomeranians vomit white when the dog’s stomach is filled with excess air or gases. White foam mainly contains gastric juices and saliva. White foam develops due to acid build-up.
This acid cause irritation of the stomach and esophagus mucous membrane. Due to this irritation, the vomit mainly contains mucoid slimy fluid content with gas that look like white foam.
Pomeranians or any other dogs expel white foam when their stomach faces indigestibility and when nothing is left in their stomach. Your Pomeranian will start throwing pale, frothy liquid foam.
Causes of Gastrointestinal Upset in Pomeranians That Lead to Throwing Up White Foam?
- Eating grass
- Heatstroke
- Bacterial infection
- Eating spicy, sugary food
- Ingesting a toxin
Why is My Pomeranian Vomit Yellow?
When a Pomeranian vomits only yellow color liquid without food, it is called bilious vomiting syndrome(BVS). It contains stomach digestive liquid and bile .bile is a liquid produced from the liver for emulsification of fats. Bile neutralizes the acids in the intestine that help digest food.
Bile is not acidic, and Pomeranian vomiting bile or yellow vomit indicates an empty stomach .in. Empty stomach because of irritation of the stomach and intestinal mucous membrane leads to yellow vomiting.
Causes of Yellow Vomit in Pomeranians
There are different gastrointestinal issues in Pomeranian that causes yellow liquid vomit and yellow foam. These reasons are:
- Enteritis
- Stomach ulcer
- And illness of the gastric system
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Liver cancer
Feed your puppy regularly. If problems persist, then rethink the feeding schedule.
Why is My Dog’s Vomit Brown?
Brown vomiting in Pomeranians indicates excessive poop eating or Intestinal blockage(particularly when vomit smells too bad).vomiting in Pomeranians due to intestinal blockage will exhibit other signs like
- Abdominal pain
- Lack of appetite
- Difficulty in defecation
In intestinal blockage, Vomiting in Pomeranian occurs 10-24 hours after ingestion of food. However, if your Pom ingests a large object stuck in the esophagus or stomach pylorus, your dog will vomit earlier.
Why is My Pom Vomit Black?
If your Pomeranian’s vomit color is black, it could indicate that your Pomeranian may have ingested mud or dirt while playing. Black vomit does not occur right after feed intake, and the dog’s owner will see the blackish vomit contents in his house.
When you see blood in Pomeranian vomit, this condition indicates severe irritation or trauma in the gastrointestinal tract. Hematemesis is a nonspecific symptom, but it may occur for different reasons.
Fresh blood in Pomeranian vomiting indicates bleeding from the upper part of the digestive tract, mouth, esophagus, etc.
Black vomit in Pomeranian indicates old bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Digestion of blood changes its color from red to black. That’s why vomiting looks like black.
Causes of Black Vomiting in Pomeranians?
- Ulcers or erosion of the gastrointestinal tract
- Tumors, carcinoma, myoma, lymphoma
- Acute gastritis
- Hypoadrenocorticism
- Renal and liver disease
- Prolong use of steroids
- Poisoning
- Gastric polyps
- Coagulation factor deficiency
- Thrombocytopenia(low blood count) or dysfunction
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Helicobacter infection
Symptoms of Hematemesis in Pomeranians
- Anemia
- Lethargy
- Anorexia
- Abdominal pain
- Black stool
- Dehydration
Why is My Pomeranian Throwing Up Green Vomit?
Pomeranians sometimes vomit green. Green vomiting in Pomeranians occurs due to a large intake of grass.
Another reason for Pomeranian green vomit is bile. Green vomiting is not a cause of concern when it’s not continuous. The green vomit problem in Pomeranians usually goes away on its own in one day.
Contact your veterinarian if your Pomeranian is unwell after vomiting or if your pom is continuously vomiting.
Why is Observation Necessary During Pomeranian Vomiting?
You can help your veterinarian in determining the cause of vomiting in Pomeranians. Little clues will be a great help for your Pom and veterinarian towards the effective diagnosis and treatment of the stomach upset.
Observe Stool and Vomit
It’s strange to have to watch your puppy poop and vomit. But it’s essential for perfect diagnosis and treatment.
Vomit and stool color also give clues to the underlying cause. Pass this information to your vet when you take your dog to a veterinary clinic.
Examine Your Pomeranian’s Gums
Your dog may be anemic and dehydrated due to vomiting. That’s why it’s essential to observe the signs of dehydration and manage the situation by consulting your veterinarian. Dehydration in a young Pomeranian puppy can lead to death in a very short time.
Here is the checklist of things and information to observe and share with the veterinarian when visiting the veterinarian clinic.
- What is the color of vomit?
- Did the vomit contain a foreign object or anything unusual?
- When did your Pom start vomiting, and what was the frequency and intensity of vomiting?
- When did your Pom vomit last?
- Any changes in dog feed, environment, or activity?
- Any recent medication history?
Do Pomeranian Puppies Vomit a Lot?
It’s not uncommon for Pomeranian puppies to vomit often. Like adults, young pomeranian face vomiting due to a frequent fast and large dog food intake.
Puppies eating foreign non-food items ingestion, stress, anxiety, and toxins may cause vomiting in young Pomeranians.
What Can I Give My Pomeranian For An Upset Stomach?
Vomiting mainly occurs due to an upset stomach. Here is the list of points you need to follow for the best treatment and care for Pomeranians in vomiting.
1. Fast Your Pomeranian
You should limit your Pomeranian food for 12 hours for his speedy recovery from vomiting. Keep your pomeranian hydrated in fasting.
Fasting is necessary in case of vomiting because excess water and food intake after vomiting can aggravate the underlying cause of vomiting.
2. Keep Your Pom’s Sugar Level in Balance
When you stop food to your pom, he may suffer from low glucose levels (hypoglycemia). You can feed, honey, or rub sugar water on Pomeranian gums to maintain the blood sugar level.
Small dog breeds like Pomeranians are prone to low blood sugar levels when they don’t eat well or frequently vomit. Check blood sugar level after every 3 hours and repeat the sugar intake.
3. Monitor Pomeranian Hydration
Vomiting in the Pomeranian can lead to dehydration. So provide water frequently in smaller amounts because gulping large water intake can cause nausea or may aggravate vomiting again.
Once your Pom is not vomiting for 4 or more hours, you can give Pedialyte to your Pom. When your Pomeranian refuses to drink, you can use a syringe to keep him hydrated.
3. Blend Food
You can feed your Pomeranian boiled white rice (75%) and boiled white meat (25%) without bones. This blend diet will help your Pom to settle his stomach.
Regular dog food can aggravate vomiting in Pomeranians. Add homemade easily digestible food in small portions after 12 hours of fast.
Start this bland diet with a smaller amount and wait for the next 3-4 hours. If your Pom doesn’t vomit, you can gradually increase this new meal to your Pom dog.
Once your Pom shows the signs of improvement, gradually return to his regular food from the bland diet until he is eating a 100% normal diet again.
4. Canned Pumpkin
You can feed canned pumpkin to your pom facing vomiting and gastric upset. Pumpkin is not havier for the stomach. Pumpkin contains low glucose and good fiber content.
Pumpkin promotes healthy digestion. Do not add any other spices to the pumpkin.
Start with a half teaspoon for younger Pomeranian puppies and one tablespoon for adult Poms. If your dog doesn’t vomit after eating pumpkin, you can slowly increase the amount fed.
5. Probiotics
When your Pomeranian stops vomiting and feeling better, you can add probiotics to his feed.
Probiotics contain living gut flora that helps in the digestion of food. You can add plain yogurt to your Pomeranian feed as a probiotic. This yogurt will prevent your pom from gastric issues, and it will boost the immune system.
6. Bone Broth
When your Pomeranian throws up, he may quickly become hypoglycemic and dehydrated. Your pom may experience a marked decrease in appetite during vomiting and any stomach upset. Bone broth is nutritious and delicious and is a good feeding option to encourage your Pomeranian’s normal appetite.
7. OTC Medication
Some over-the-counter medication may help a Pomeranian suffering from vomiting and gastric upsets. Please do some research before their use and only use OTC medicine when you are unable to contact a veterinarian. It’s better to consult with a veterinarian because self-medication can often cause more harm than good.
Final Thoughts
Vomiting in Pomeranians or any other dog is not a disease. It may be a symptom of other diseases. Vomiting is mainly associated with gastric upset. So, it’s essential to find the reason when your Pomeranian is repeatedly vomiting.
Take your Pomeranian to the vet to diagnose the causative agent and treatment. When your vet prescribes medicine and treatment protocol, follow the guidelines for fast recovery of Pomeranian from vomiting.
Please note: while I do discuss health, care, and behavioral issues, you should never use this information as a replacement for advice from qualified veterinarians, diagnoses, or recommended treatment regimes. If you have any worries about the health of your Pomeranian, your first contact should be your regular vet or, if you don’t yet have one, a vet that works locally. Never ignore or avoid treatment and advice from your vet because of a piece of information you have read on any website.
N.B. This article regarding Pomeranian health issues was written in consultation with our resident veterinarian.
Dr. Muqeet Mushtaq
DVM, University of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 2019
MSc. (Hons.) (Animal Breeding & Genetics), University of Agriculture Faisalabad, 2021
References and Further Reading:
[1] Official Standard of the Pomeranian (AKC). American Kennel Club, 2011.
[2] English Kennel Club Pomeranian Breed Standard, 2017.
[3] Denise Leo, The Pomeranian Handbook.
[4] Milo G. Denlinger “The Complete Pomeranian.”
[5] Kimbering Pomeranians “1891-1991”.
[6] William Taplin’s “The Sportsman’s Cabinet.”
[7] E. Parker “The Popular Pomeranian.”
[8] Lilla Ives “Show Pomeranians.”