Vomiting & Diarrhea

Vomiting and diarrhea are among the most common reasons dogs and cats need urgent veterinary care. Sometimes the cause is a minor digestive upset, but these symptoms can also be associated with dehydration, infection, pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, toxin exposure, organ disease, and other conditions that require prompt treatment.

At Mainely Veterinary Dentistry & Urgent Care, we provide weekend veterinary urgent care for dogs and cats experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, appetite loss, abdominal discomfort, and other gastrointestinal concerns throughout Southern Maine.

When Should Vomiting or Diarrhea Be Checked by a Veterinarian?

An isolated episode of vomiting or loose stool does not always indicate a serious problem. However, veterinary care becomes more important when symptoms continue, occur repeatedly, or are accompanied by other changes in your pet.

Consider an urgent care visit if your dog or cat is experiencing:

• Repeated vomiting or diarrhea
• Vomiting and diarrhea occurring together
• Decreased appetite or refusal to eat
• Lethargy or acting unusually tired
• Blood in the vomit or stool
• Abdominal discomfort
• Difficulty keeping food or water down
• Symptoms that are getting worse instead of improving

Puppies, kittens, senior pets, and animals with existing health conditions may also become dehydrated or seriously ill more quickly.

What Causes Vomiting and Diarrhea in Dogs and Cats?

There are many possible causes of gastrointestinal symptoms, which is why determining what is wrong often requires more than simply treating the vomiting or diarrhea itself.

Possible causes can include:

• Eating something unusual or a sudden diet change
• Food intolerance
• Parasites
• Bacterial or viral infections
• Pancreatitis
• Foreign objects or intestinal obstruction
• Toxin or medication exposure
• Kidney, liver, or other organ-related disease
• Inflammatory gastrointestinal conditions
• Abdominal masses or other internal abnormalities

Because many different conditions can cause similar symptoms, our veterinary team will consider your pet’s age, medical history, symptoms, physical examination, and any potential exposures before recommending diagnostic testing.

How We Diagnose Vomiting and Diarrhea

The first step is a physical examination. Our veterinary team may assess your pet’s hydration, temperature, heart rate, gum color, abdominal comfort, and overall condition.

Depending on what we find, additional diagnostics may include:

• In-house bloodwork to evaluate blood cells, hydration, kidney and liver values, electrolytes, and other indicators of illness
• Digital X-rays to look for certain foreign objects, abnormal gas patterns, organ changes, or other abdominal concerns
• Abdominal ultrasound to examine the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder, and other soft tissues more closely
• Urinalysis when symptoms may be related to kidney, urinary, metabolic, or systemic disease

Not every pet needs every test. We recommend diagnostics based on the individual patient and what is most likely to help us determine the cause of the problem.

Treatment Depends on the Cause

Treatment for vomiting and diarrhea varies depending on the underlying problem and how your pet is feeling.

Some pets may need medications to control nausea or gastrointestinal symptoms along with supportive care. Others may require fluids, additional diagnostic testing, dietary changes, or treatment directed at a specific condition.

If our evaluation identifies a condition requiring hospitalization, emergency surgery, or a higher level of care, we will recommend transfer to an appropriate emergency or specialty facility.

When Vomiting or Diarrhea Is an Emergency

Some gastrointestinal symptoms can indicate a potentially life-threatening problem.

Seek emergency veterinary care immediately if your pet is experiencing:

• Collapse or severe weakness
• Very pale, white, blue, or gray gums
• A severely swollen or painful abdomen
• Repeated unproductive retching or attempts to vomit
• Severe or uncontrolled bleeding
• Difficulty breathing
• Known or suspected ingestion of a dangerous toxin
• A rapidly worsening condition

If you are unsure whether your pet needs urgent care or an emergency hospital, contact a veterinary professional for guidance.

Veterinary Urgent Care for Vomiting & Diarrhea in Southern Maine

If your dog or cat is vomiting, experiencing diarrhea, refusing food, or showing other signs of gastrointestinal illness, you do not always have to wait for your regular veterinarian to reopen.

Mainely Veterinary Dentistry & Urgent Care provides weekend care for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries affecting pets throughout Southern Maine.

Visit our Urgent Care Services page to learn more about the conditions we treat, or use our online system to request care.