Sudden Diarrhea and Vomiting in Dogs – Top 3 Causes

Your dog was fine one moment and acting normal then suddenly having a case of vomiting and diarrhea the next. Here are three common reasons that may explain why your dog is suddenly having these digestive symptoms.

1. Eating something inedible

Dogs are cheeky animals. Their curiosity may lead them to eat things they shouldn’t be touching. This could include indigestible objects like plastic wrappers or ‘toxic’ items such as rat poison. The ingestion of these ‘foreign’ objects can lead to sudden diarrhea and vomiting in dogs.

Think back to the past few hours and check if your dog might have eaten anything in the household that isn’t his regular dog food or treats. This is good information to pass on to the vet when you take your dog to the clinic. Sudden diarrhea and vomiting may also happen as a result of sudden changes to a dog’s diet. The dog’s stomach could feel unsettled if it needs to adjust to a type of food it isn’t used to processing.

2. Viruses and infections

Certain types of viral and bacterial infections may lead to the sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhea. Parvovirus is a good example of this. It can lead to digestive symptoms because of the way the virus attacks cells in the dog’s intestines. Other infections and medical conditions worth mentioning include gastroenteritis, salmonella, and tyzzer disease.

3. Stress and anxiety

Dogs may suddenly vomit after experiencing an unhealthy level of stress. Some examples of stressful events include a thunderstorm, firework, or when a lot of strangers gather in the vicinity of the dog’s comfort zone. Unhealthy stress and anxiety levels can lead to an upset stomach which, in turn, can cause diarrhea and vomiting.