An upset stomach can be minor or urgent, and it is hard to tell which at home. Clear notes help your vet decide quickly. Keep this sheet on the fridge.
Call your vet or an emergency hospital now
- Retching with nothing coming up, especially with a swollen or tight belly, drooling or restlessness. These can be signs of a life-threatening stomach emergency that mainly affects large and giant-breed dogs and needs care right away2.
- You know or think your pet swallowed something harmful. Call your vet, an emergency hospital, or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). Keep the package. Do not make your pet vomit unless a vet or poison center tells you to3.
Call your vet today
- Dogs: the Merck Veterinary Manual says vomiting more than once or twice a day, vomiting that goes on and on, or vomiting with blood, belly pain, dullness, weakness, fever or weight loss needs a closer look1.
- Cats: a cat that stops eating should see a vet promptly. Going a few days without food can lead to a serious liver problem, and overweight cats are at higher risk4.
- Seniors: the AVMA lists ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, a smaller appetite and weight loss among the signs to look out for in older pets5.
Vomiting or regurgitation?
Tell your vet which one you saw. Vomiting takes effort: the belly heaves. Regurgitation is passive. The food comes up undigested and may be shaped like a tube1.
The log
| Date & time | What happened (vomit, regurgitation, diarrhea, soft stool) | What it looked like (color, food, blood, objects) | Ate? Drank? | Energy (normal / low) | Anything new? (food, treats, trash, plants, toys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- Take a photo of anything unusual to show your vet.
- Write down any new food, treats or chews from the past few days.
- Bring this sheet, and any packaging if your pet got into something.
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Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Pet Owner Version. Vomiting in Dogs. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/dog-owners/digestive-disorders-of-dogs/vomiting-in-dogs
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Professional Version. Gastric Dilation and Volvulus in Small Animals. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/digestive-system/surgical-problems-of-the-gastrointestinal-tract-in-small-animals/gastric-dilation-and-volvulus-in-small-animals
- American Veterinary Medical Association. Pet First Aid (client brochure, 2025). https://ebusiness.avma.org/files/ProductDownloads/mcm-client-brochures-pet-first-aid-2025.pdf
- University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. Hepatic Lipidosis: A Serious Problem When Cats Stop Eating. https://vetmed.illinois.edu/pet-health-columns/hepatic-lipidosis-when-cats-dont-eat/
- American Veterinary Medical Association. Senior Pets (client brochure, 2023). https://ebusiness.avma.org/files/ProductDownloads/mcm-client-brochures-senior-pets-2023.pdf
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