Why Do Dogs Eat Their Vomit? And How To Stop This Nasty Habit

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As if dog vomit isn’t already enough to turn an owner’s stomach, what about those precious pooches who consider their vomit as another chance at a second meal? Just the sounds alone (retch… spew… slurp) can cause some pup owners to dry heave without even witnessing the repulsive event.

Fortunately, my pup isn’t one to partake in his throw-up as an exciting new meal, but many dogs do. Of course, this begs the question, why do dogs eat their vomit? Perhaps less revolting, why do dogs eat the vomit of their furry siblings? And ultimately, is it harmful for our furry friend to eat throw-up? If so, how can you stop this behavior?

Vomiting vs Regurgitation In Dogs

First, it may help to understand the difference between vomiting and regurgitation. While often used interchangeably, these two terms involve distinct bodily processes. Vomiting and regurgitating have different causes, so it could be important for you to identify which is occurring. Learn more about the common causes of vomiting in dogs.

Vomiting is the stomach or upper intestine ejecting its contents, while regurgitation is the ejection of contents in the esophagus. The act of vomiting involves retching and heaving as a dog’s abdominal muscles contract to expel the stomach contents. Because the food (or non-food) items in vomiting originate in the stomach, there’s more fluid mixed in (often a bright yellow-colored bile). Vomit can also appear to be partly or mostly digested food. Vomiting can occur within a few minutes or several hours after eating.

On the other hand, regurgitation typically occurs immediately after eating. Therefore, the food will appear much like it did before your dog eats their meal. It may be in a tubular shape and covered in clear, slimy mucus. Regurgitation is passive, involving no heaving or retching. The food merely comes out quickly. One of the primary causes of regurgitation is a dog gobbling up their meal too fast. If this happens with your canine guzzler, you may want to consider a slow-feeder bowl.

Why Do Dogs Eat Their Own Vomit Or Regurgitation?

Dogs are more likely to eat their regurgitation versus vomit, but some eat both. In many cases, it’s just our furry friend being, well… a dog. For canines, eating throw-up is often a natural instinct. Why? Although it’s not a well-researched area of dog behavior, veterinarians and dog behavioral experts have several theories about the instincts. However, other experts say some of the reasons could be a behavioral problem. In no certain order, here are the most noteworthy theories behind dogs eating their own barf.

1. It Smells Tasty

While we’re repulsed by the odor of vomit, dogs are not, or so the thinking goes. Remember that dogs have a much stronger (10,000X-100,000X) and more refined sense of smell than humans. Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that they can still pick up the scent of yummy food morsels, even in partially digested vomit. This scent factor helps explain why dogs are more likely to eat regurgitated food rather than vomit. It’s another tasty-smelling meal right at their feet!

2. It’s What Mom Gave Them As Puppies

When puppies are being weaned off of their mother’s milk, sometimes the mom dog will regurgitate her food for her puppies to eat. Why? For a puppy’s developing digestive system, this form of solid food can be easier to digest. Many animal species, such as wolves, birds, and bats, use regurgitation to feed their young. If your dog learned to eat vomit as a baby, it could be a behavior that’s simply carried over from puppyhood.

3. It Lets Them Chill Out

Some dogs can develop anxiety without enough mental and physical stimulation or from being left alone in the house for long periods of time. Stress can lead to undesirable behaviors, such as chewing on furniture or ingesting foreign objects. It’s possible that eating their own vomit has become a habit born from a dog relieving boredom or anxiety. It’s always important to ensure that your dog is getting the stimulation they need. Plenty of exercise and providing interactive dog toys can help.

4. They’re Guarding Their “Food”

Another possible motivation for some pups could be food aggression or resource guarding. Territorial dogs have an innate drive to protect what’s theirs — food bowls, beds, crates, toys, and yes, perhaps even their own puke. While any breed can resource guard, some have a pre-disposition for this behavior, including Beagles, Cocker Spaniels, Retrievers, German Shepherds, and more.

5. Their Ancestors Were Scavengers

This theory originates from the time when wild dogs and their ancestors needed to search for food, often resorting to scavenging their own vomit or the regurgitated meals of other members in their pack. However, this behavior isn’t just about survival; it’s also practical. In the wild, food was scarce, and wasting calories wasn’t an option, so eating vomit ensured no nutrients went to waste. Even today, domestic dogs may instinctively do the same, despite having full bowls of kibble at their disposal. One of our team members shares her experience with this theory (see below).

6. They’re Leaving No Evidence Behind

Another evolutionary reason why dogs might eat their vomit is to conceal their presence from potential predators. In nature, predators are adept at detecting sick animals, such as those that have vomited. While your dog is safe from predators at home, their instincts trigger a response that suggests if they leave the vomit behind, they could attract unwanted attention.

Is It Bad If A Dog Eats Its Own Vomit?

In most cases, it’s not harmful for dogs to occasionally eat dog food they’ve just regurgitated. After all, it’s the same thing they just ate the first go around. However, if they’ve vomited, their puke could contain something spoiled or toxic that made them vomit in the first place. So that scenario could be dangerous.

The same is true for vomiting an ingested foreign object, which is a common occurrence in dogs. If a pup has the chance to scarf that object up again, it could cause a serious intestinal blockage. Also, consuming vomit is hard on a dog’s teeth because it contains a lot of stomach acid. Eating vomit regularly could contribute to dental disease.

Why Do Dogs Eat Throw-Up From Other Dogs?

You might identify with Canine Journal’s Co-Owner Michelle Schenker in her experience with her furry family members. “While my two dogs have never returned to eat their own vomit, if Lily is sick, our younger and hungrier dog, Barley, is happy to follow behind her to ‘clean up’ the mess,” she shares.

There’s not much scientific research into why dogs eat other dogs’ vomit. It’s likely that the reason is because you have one dog who’s determined to eat everything within scent that seems like a tasty treasure. After all, some pups are majorly food-driven, and they may think vomit or regurgitated food are any chance for another meal.

How Do I Stop My Dog From Eating Vomit?

Training your dog not to eat their vomit or regurgitation can take time and dedication, depending on the route you want to take. Here are a few strategies to help curb this habit. Some methods focus on quick changes in their environment, while others may require more extensive training efforts. You may also want to discuss this with your veterinarian.

• Quick cleanup: One of the easiest ways to stop your dog from eating their vomit is to clean it up right away. By removing it quickly, you take away the chance for your dog to indulge in it.
• Supervised feedings: Keeping an eye on your dog during mealtime and providing smaller, more frequent meals can lower the chances of vomiting. This approach also allows you to keep track of their eating behavior and step in if they vomit.
• Redirecting focus: If you see your dog trying to eat their vomit, quickly shift their focus to a more suitable toy or activity. This strategy can help them break the habit by offering a fun alternative.
• Consistent commands: Teaching your dog commands like “leave it” or “drop it” can be effective in stopping them from eating vomit. Regularly using these commands when you observe the behavior can guide your dog to avoid it in the future.
• Positive reinforcement: Rewarding your dog with praise and treats when they refrain from eating their vomit can be a powerful approach. This positive reinforcement helps them associate not eating vomit with good outcomes.

Our Personal Experience

I adopted a street dog, Tom, when he was about 7 years old. Tom had a rough history before I adopted him, which caused him to exhibit some problem behaviors. One of these was being incredibly food motivated, to the point of scavenging. Tom’s scavenging crossed a very gross line when I realized he would eat his own vomit. I made this horrible discovery after Tom had been living with me for about a week. He always gobbled his food up very quickly, as if he were afraid he would not have any more food. One morning, he ate too quickly and vomited. Before I could even grab the broom and dustpan, Tom had started eating his own puke. I was, of course, horrified. I was even more horrified when the behavior was repeated the next day.

It was clear I had an issue on my hands. It took quite a lot of effort to get Tom to turn this behavior around. I started feeding him smaller meals throughout the day to keep his belly full and used a slow feeder bowl so he would not gobble everything down at once. I also had to carefully watch him if he did throw up and get him physically away from it as soon as possible. I would remove him from the room or yard first and then clean it up so he would not be tempted to eat it.

– Danielle DeGroot, Rescue Dog Mom, Researcher & Writer for Canine Journal

Frequently Asked Questions

Naturally, owners have so many questions related to dogs eating vomit. Here are just a few to shed more light on this subject. If you don’t see your question here, please hit me up in our comments or head over to our forums.

Is Recurring Regurgitation In Dogs Bad?

If your pup regurgitates more than once every two or three weeks, it’s time to check in with your veterinarian. Recurring regurgitation could be caused by an underlying medical condition, such as acid reflux, an inflamed esophagus (esophagitis), enlargement of the esophagus (megaesophagus), Addison’s disease, hypothyroidism, pancreatitis, and other disorders.

What Causes Chronic Vomiting In Dogs?

Chronic vomiting is defined as vomiting that occurs continuously or intermittently for a minimum of 7 days. Many problems can cause chronic vomiting, including gastrointestinal sensitivity, food allergies, parasites, repeated dietary indiscretion, liver or kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and more. If your pup is suffering from chronic vomiting, it’s crucial to see your veterinarian to determine the underlying cause.

What Other Nasty Or Harmful Things Do Dogs Eat?

If your furry friend is a puke connoisseur, that may not be the only inappropriate thing they get into. After all, dogs are notorious for consuming grass, sticks, dirt, plants, garbage, poop, socks, toys, crayons, and almost anything else their delicate noses and insatiable curiosity find appealing. Find out which plants and human foods are dangerous to dogs.

When Pet Insurance Makes Sense

If you suspect that your dog has a penchant for consuming items they shouldn’t, you may want to consider getting pet insurance to help cover a considerable portion of vet bills. Treating a dog for toxicity can cost up to $3,000 in severe cases. Ingesting something as simple as a sock can cause a severe bowel obstruction that could require surgery, which could run you as much as $8,000. See my colleague’s expert article on the best pet insurance providers to learn more and find out which insurers she recommends.

Why Trust Canine Journal?

Sally has over 20 years of experience in human health sciences communications, including 10 years as an expert on pet health conditions and treatment. She’s also spent over a decade researching pet insurance as part of an expert team at Canine Journal. As dedicated canine professionals and long-time dog owners, we test and research the best pet products, not only for our own pups but for all of our readers.