Dogs are inquisitive beings, and manage to get into all sorts of things, often eating things they shouldn’t. Dietary indiscretion is the most common cause of vomiting or diarrhoea in dogs. Other causes include:

• Infection
• Worms
• Foreign bodies (something they’ve swallowed that has got stuck)
• Other organ disease

In adult dogs one vomit or a bout of diarrhoea may not be concerning, and may resolve itself.

However, in older or younger patients this can lead quickly to dehydration and serious illness. If your dog is lethargic, has lost appetite, or if vomiting/diarrhoea is severe, they will need to be seen by the vet.

Some dogs only require conservative management – with probiotics, a bland diet, or perhaps antibiotics if necessary.

However others may need more involved investigation and treatment to determine the cause and restore to full health.