Barium Study Ultrasound And Endoscopy
Often, X-rays do not diagnose the problem , but they help determine if further abdominal studies are needed. These other studies could include a barium study, which will help determine if there are foreign objects in the intestines or if there are motility issues with the intestines. Another study could be an ultrasound to look at the architecture of different organs ultrasound can be used as a means to sample different organs to get a definitive diagnosis.
In addition, an endoscopy may be recommended by your vet. Endoscopy is a way to look for foreign objects in the stomach that do not show up on X-rays, and it can be used to retrieve foreign objects. This procedure also allows viewing of the lining of the stomach and upper intestines to look for abnormalities, and can be used to collect samples of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Treating Your Cat For Throwing Up
If your cat is vomiting because of hairballs, try switching their food to one with a hairball formula. Cat food with hairball formula helps prevent hairballs from forming by breaking them down with specific enzymes.
If your cat is throwing up because they are overeating, you may need to monitor and change how much food youre giving them. You can buy a bowl that makes your cat work for their food and eat slower. You can also try giving your cat smaller portions more frequently through the day.
However, if your cat is throwing up several times a day or multiple days in a row, they may have another health issue that needs to be treated by a vet. Your vet will run tests to identify the underlying condition and may prescribe medication to treat it.
What Causes Cats To Vomit Clear Liquid
Clear liquid vomit is a sign that the cat is bringing up fluid from the digestive tract, which is often stomach juice. Occasionally, if the kitty is vomiting right after drinking a large amount of water, she will also vomit clear liquidnamely, the water they just drank. Most of the time, however, what we are seeing when we look at that sticky puddle of clear liquid on the paper towel is stomach fluid mixed with some mucus from the esophagus . There are many causes of vomiting in cats, and manyif not most of themcan result in puddles of clear liquid. Some of the most common include:
- Parasites
- Indigestion with nausea
- Hairball passing through the digestive tract irritated it and triggered some vomiting
Sometimes, however, the causes can be more serious:
- An obstruction of foreign material in the intestinal tract
- Metabolic problems
- Cancer
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Causes Of Your Cat Vomiting Up Brown Liquid
Bleeding in the Gastrointestinal Track: Brown vomit can be indicative of bleeding. If your cat has been vomiting chronically for some time, there may be inflammation in the mouth and/or esophagus that could be oozing blood. If your cat hasn’t been chronically vomiting, brown liquid vomit may be indicative of internal bleeding further down the gastrointestinal track. This could be the result of something like a foreign body ingestion or a large hairball impaction that is blocking the intestines and creating inflammation and trauma.
Brown Bile: Sometimes brown liquid vomit can be bile from your cat’s liver. Vomited bile is usually yellow in color, though, so if it is determined that the brown liquid your cat is vomiting is bile, that could be a sign of a problem with your cat’s internal organs.
Food: Of course, most cat food, whether dry kibble or canned, is some shade of brown in color. If you cat is a habitual ‘scarf and barf’ cat or if they have intestinal sensitivities, that may be causing them vomit up partially digested or undigested food. If your vet has ruled out other medical issues and thinks that what your cat is vomiting up is actually food, they may want you to try a commercial, sensitive systems food with your cat. If your cat is still struggling with vomiting food on this special diet, they may then want to put your cat on a strict, hydrolyzed protein diet.
What Are The Main Causes Of A Cat Being Sick
While cats dont have the same reputation as dogs for scavenging, some do habitually eat things they shouldnt.
Common causes of cats being sick include swallowing foreign objects such as pieces of string, rubber bands and ribbons, dangerous human foods such as onions and chocolate, and poisonous substances such as antifreeze, plants and human medications.
Internal parasites and serious diseases such as cancer or diabetes are also reasons for cats throwing up. If your cat is being sick regularly, there may be an underlying problem that will need to be diagnosed by your veterinarian.
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A Word Of Warning When It Comes To Cat Vomiting
Cat vomiting can also be caused by poisoning or by very serious diseases. If you suspect your cat has eaten something toxic, call your vet right away for first-aid instructions. If your cats vomit is bloody or black like coffee grounds, get to the vet immediately. If your cat is vomiting every day, refusing to eat or drink, acting weird or isnt grooming properly, call the vet and get him in for an appointment as soon as possible.
Tell us: Do you have a cat who frequently vomits? How do you handle cat vomiting? Please share your experiences in the comments!
Thumbnail: Photography by Valery Kudryavtsev/Thinkstock.
This piece was originally published in 2013.
When Is Vomiting An Emergency
If your cat is experiencing sudden and severe bouts of vomiting, this is a medical emergency and you need to seek immediate veterinary care. Cats with sudden vomiting may have ingested toxins and/or foreign material. They may be severely ill with conditions like kidney disease, intestinal blockage, diabetes mellitus, and other serious medical disorders. Sudden, severe vomiting can progress rapidly and no time should be lost seeking veterinary help.
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Why Is My Cat Throwing Up Its Food
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Vomiting is not normal in cats, and when your cat vomits undigested food, it can be a sign of a serious illness. Vomiting itself is what is considered to be a nonspecific symptom. It could be associated with an array of health concerns. Some of these can include things like hairballs, internal obstructions, pancreatitis, eating too quickly, constipation, indigestion, parasitic infections, poisoning, stress, depression, or even anxiety. But what could be causing your cat to vomit undigested food specifically?
Why Is My Cat Throwing Up Clear Liquid
*SPLAT* Ugh. There it is again. You step out of bed and right into itanother puddle of clear kitty puke. And always on the carpet, too. Why cant she vomit on the easy-to-clean linoleum?
After you clean up the mess and sit down to your morning coffee, you start to wonder: Is it normal for cats to vomit this often? It seems like Im forever finding piles around the house lately. What causes this? Should I be concerned? Do we need to see the vet?
After mulling it over a bit, you decide to call and make an appointment for Ms. Midnight to be examined, just to be on the safe side. At the appointment, the veterinary nurse asks a large number of questions about the episodes: How often does it happen? What comes up? Does it look fluidy, or solid like a tube? Do you notice any patterns to the episodes? What is Ms. Midnight eating? How is her appetite? What do her stools look like? Have you noticed anything else that seems different, or not right lately?
You get the feeling that your veterinary office sees a lot of vomiting cats. Well, the reality is, they do. Vomiting cats are quite commonly presented to the veterinary hospital for examination. Sometimes the answer to the problem is quite simple and obvious, but other times, much more detective work is required to obtain a diagnosis.
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Causes Of Chronic Cat Vomiting
We want to make sure our readers understand that no kind of vomiting is considered to be normal, despite what you may have heard. Some reasons behind the vomiting are less severe than others, but no vomiting should be overlooked entirely.
In cases of chronic vomiting, pet owners should be on high alert, as continued vomiting can signal an unresolved medical condition.
Dietary Causes
Food intolerance and food allergies can cause chronic vomiting. Pet owners may not realize that their beloved cats and dogs can develop allergies just like people.
In fact, food allergies are often the underlying cause of cat vomiting that occurs intermittently over a long period of time.
If your cat has normal energy levels, is a healthy weight, and doesnt appear ill but throws up from time to time, you may want to look into whether they have developed a food allergy.
Over time, a cats digestive system can become sensitive to an ingredient and actually mount an immune response against that ingredient. This response can inflame the digestive tract and possibly lead to the development of food allergies.
Removing the offending protein from the diet is the best way to prevent vomiting due to food allergies. A food elimination trial, which is a lengthy and sometimes expensive process, will help your veterinarian determine which protein is causing your cats food allergies.
Eating Too Much Too Quickly
If your cat eats too much, too quickly vomiting will likely result soon after they eat. A number of fun cat bowls are available to help slow your cat’s eating, if your cat eats too quickly. That said, throwing up right after eating can be an indication of a more serious problem such as hairballs, dehydration, esophageal issues, or a digestive tract obstruction. If your cat frequently vomits right after eating, a trip to the vet is required.
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How Do I Know If I Should Take My Cat To The Vet
If your cat is vomiting periodically or infrequently, avoid giving your cat any food for about 12 hours. Provide kitty with a couple of tablespoons of water every 30 minutes or provide them with ice cubes during this brief fasting period. After 12 hours begin providing your cat with small amounts of bland food and gradually return to normal feeding if vomiting has stopped.
If your cat is experiencing repeated bouts of vomiting, you should contact your vet immediately. Continuous or severe vomiting could be a sign that your cat is seriously ill and requires immediate treatment. Contact your vet if your cat displays any of the symptoms below:
- Repeated vomiting
Causes Treatment And Prevention
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If your cat is vomiting frequently, it could be from a simple issue such as hairballs. Many conditions and circumstances cause cats to vomit repeatedly. It could be a passing thing or a sign of a serious health concern. It could indicate your cat has eaten a toxic substance or has a serious illness. Whatever reason you suspect, see your vet as soon as possible. The key to correcting the issue is to identify the cause. A thorough exam can give an accurate diagnosis and provide treatment options.
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How To Stop Your Cat From Eating Too Fast
Your vet may also suggest food puzzles for your cat. Food puzzles are a great source of both play and enrichment for your cat. There are more and more manufactured food puzzles available on the market that stimulate both your cat’s predatory and foraging instincts. The added benefit of food puzzles for a cat that chronically vomits their food, though, is that it slows down the chow time so that a cat can’t eat too quickly and then get sick from it. If your cat routinely eats out of puzzle feeders and is still vomiting up their food, talk to your vet about a change in diet. It may be that your cat has a food allergy that is the main culprit of their food vomiting and a change in diet may be what is needed to calm their GI system down.
Short Answer: This Is The Stage In Life When Vomiting Is More Likely To Reveal Underlying Issues
As weve mentioned in previous sections, vomiting can be a red flag for an underlying illness. In older cats, as the effects of their lifestyle or genetics begin to take their toll, these types of underlying chronic illness become more and more likely.
The most common illnesses that afflict older cats and cause vomiting are:
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How You Can Help A Vomiting Cat
While your cat is vomiting, stay out of her way but be sure shes in a safe location. Re-hydration is important after vomiting, but most vets recommend waiting around two hours after an episode of vomiting to offer your cat any water or bland food.
Dont let your cat eat her expelled vomit, even if she tries. If youre unsure what caused the vomiting, consider keeping a sample of the vomit to give to your vet for testing.
If your cats vomiting is severe or frequent, youll want to talk to your vet. She may recommend fluid therapy or anti-emetic medication until your cat feels better. She might also want to test or evaluate your cat for any underlying causes like disease or infection.
When in doubt about your cats vomiting, talk to your vet!
Short Answer: Usually Eating Too Fast Or Too Much If You Cant Fix It Quickly Its Something Else
Regurgitation vs Vomit
Throwing up directly after eating is called regurgitation, and its different from vomiting. Rergurg doesnt involve the physical contraction of the stomach muscles that we typically associate with vomiting. Oftentimes, especially with dry food, it will come back up looking like a tube, completely undigested and looking like what you put in the bowl.
If regurg doesnt happen immediately after feeding, it may not be regurgitation even though the food looks undigested. The differences can be subtle. Vomiting and regurgitation also have different treatment plans. To be sure which is which, consult your vet.
Causes and Remedies
Its usually caused by eating too fast or too much and can be stopped by feeding less at once. Sometimes an open bowl of food left out while youre away for the day is the culprit. Taking that away can solve the issue. If you have multiple cats, separating them during feeding so that no one scarfs down the others leftovers also helps.
If it doesnt clear up quickly
Regurgitation should stop almost immediately if overeating is the cause. If it doesnt resolve quickly, there is an underlying, potentially serious issue, and you should contact your vet.
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Cat Vomiting: Types Causes And Treatments
If you have cats, youve probably seen one of them throw up at one time or another. It is common for cats to vomit, but its never normal for them to do so. With that said, it is also not always something that has to be treated, nor does the cat need to be rushed to a veterinarian every time she vomits. In this resource, youll get the scoop on when to take a vomiting cat to the vet, why cats vomit and what treatments are available to help felines feel better.
How Pet Health Insurance Can Help
If your feline friend throws up regularly, you and your veterinarian will need to investigate. Your pal could require blood work, fecal analysis, X-rays, ultrasounds, and even biopsies.
Depending on the diagnosis, your kitty could be facing anything from antibiotics to surgery. Help yourself focus on care and not cost during this process by getting a quote for cat health insurance today.
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*Pre-existing conditions are not covered. Waiting periods, annual deductible, co-insurance, benefit limits and exclusions may apply. For all terms and conditions visit www.aspcapetinsurance.com/terms. Preventive and Wellness Care reimbursements are based on a schedule. Complete Coverage reimbursements are based on the invoice. Levels 1-4 reimbursements are based on usual and customary eligible costs. Products, schedules, and rates may vary and are subject to change. Discounts may vary and are subject to change. More information available at checkout.
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Cats Will Vomit If Stressed Out
Cats will vomit for a variety of reasons. One of those just may be stress. If youve recently moved home or have a new furry best friend, your cat may be stressed and anxious. According to astudy, stress may be detrimental to cats. The study adds Regardless of how cats display signs of stress, it has a detrimental effect on their welfare and can also increase the incidence of disease. Minimizing or eliminating stress is thus important, via Science Daily.
How To Prevent Vomiting
You can also take action to help prevent or decrease the frequency of vomiting in your cat:
- When should I be concerned about my cat throwing up?
If your cat is vomiting for more than 24 hours, or you see something concerning in the vomitlike blood or wormsit’s time to call the vet immediately.
- What do you give a cat that is throwing up?
It really depends on why your cat is vomiting. If it’s routine hairballs, eating too fast, or tummy upset that doesn’t last more than 24 hours, take away your cat’s food and give it small bites till nausea has passed. If, after a day, your kitty continues vomiting, it’s time to call the vet.
- How long does an upset stomach last in cats?
Upset stomachs in cats rarely last more than 24 hours. If they do, Please call your vet.
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