My dog has an upset tummy. What do I do?

Uh oh.

Your dog just tossed cookies. Did they eat something they shouldn’t have? Scarf down their food too fast? Or is there something more serious going on?

Dogs throw up for a variety of reasons. And we don’t always know why or whether they need to go to the vet.

Here are a few things to think about to help you assess your pup’s health situation.

Let’s start at the beginning. You’re probably wondering, “why is my dog sick?” The cause can range from simple to complex:

• Eating too much or too quickly
• Eating new or unusual food
• Motion sickness
• Food poisoning
• Ear or balance problems
• Swallowing something toxic
• Parasites
• Kidney, liver, or pancreatic disease

Depending on how well you know your dog, you might be able to figure out what’s going on. Do they get into things they shouldn’t? Have a tendency to eat too fast? Knowing these behaviors is a good place to start before taking action.

Has your dog thrown up a few times, but everything else seem normal?

If your dog appears to be acting business as usual — eating, drinking, energetic, normal bathroom activity — there’s no cause to worry just yet. In their article, “Vomiting in Dogs,” The Spruce Pets recommends giving these steps a try:

• Withhold food for a few hours, offering small amounts of water
• If your dog’s vomiting has stopped, reintroduce small meals (1-3 tablespoons) of a bland low-fat cooked food such as boiled chicken and rice
• If the vomiting doesn’t recur and your dog’s appetite is good, you can start to gradually add back your dog’s normal food to the bland diet mixture

Has your dog thrown up, and things don’t seem normal?

If you notice your dog experiencing any of the following symptoms, call your vet right away:

• Throwing up frequently or projectile vomiting
• Can’t keep water down
• Vomiting bile
• Has blood or unusual material in the vomit
• Lethargy and/or depression
• Visible discomfort or bloating
• Decreased urination
• Combination of severe vomiting and diarrhea
• Abdominal pain (your dog shows signs of pain when touched on the abdomen)

You know your dog’s behavior better than anyone else. And you can probably tell when something’s not right. Remember, when in doubt, reach out to your vet for advice.