What Can Make a Puppy Vomit & Have Diarrhea?

Seeing your new puppy vomit and have diarrhea can be frightening. In some cases, diarrhea and vomiting are the result of changes in the dog's daily routine, such as a change in feeding habits. In any case, you should watch for signs of dehydration any time your dog has vomiting and diarrhea. These signs include tacky skin, lethargy, constantly sticking out its tongue, and pale gums and tongue.

If the vomiting and diarrhea happen immediately after you change the puppy's food or its feeding schedule, that is probably the reason for the intestinal upset. A dog's digestive tract is sensitive to changes. Thus, changes in food should occur gradually instead of all at once. If you are purchasing a puppy, find out what the breeder is feeding it and use that food if possible. You can also get a small bag of that food to mix with the food you want to feed your dog and gradually wean the dog off the breeder's food.

A puppy is susceptible to contracting parvovirus. This condition is characterized by frequent, extremely foul smelling diarrhea, sometimes vomiting, a sudden spike in temperature (often over 104 degrees), listlessness, lack of appetite and dehydration. If you observe these symptoms in your puppy, get it to a veterinarian immediately. This is a lethal condition that can kill a puppy in a matter of hours.

E. Coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter bacteria cause intestinal upset. All of these bacteria are found in every dog's digestive tract. However, if there is a sudden increase in the amount of bacteria in the dog's system, vomiting and diarrhea can occur. Other signs to look for include tremors, fever, lack of appetite and lethargy. A dog with these conditions may shake and try to paw at her mouth or nose. Medications are available to treat these conditions. However, leaving it untreated is often fatal.

Stress can cause a puppy to have bouts of diarrhea and vomiting. Moving to a new home, separation anxiety and loud noises are the most common causes of stress for puppies. A puppy may suffer from separation anxiety for a few days after coming to your home. This is because it is now away from its mother and littermates, which is a new and frightening situation. If the puppy has frequent diarrhea, you take it to a vet for a checkup.

For 48 hours after being vaccinated, a puppy may suffer from these intestinal troubles. However, if the vomiting and diarrhea last longer than 48 hours, contact your vet. Medications such as antibiotics can cause these troubles. If you notice them, contact the vet to find out if a change in medication is in order or if there is something you can give the puppy to help alleviate the diarrhea and vomiting.