The examining veterinarian will need to get a thorough history from the owner and perform a complete physical exam on the animal to determine the severity of the vomiting and how long it has been occurring. Some dogs do not actually vomit; instead they regurgitate. This means the food quickly comes back up the esophagus soon after eating. Thus, food will be undigested and it often may resemble a tube in shape. When dogs have these symptoms, the veterinarian will assess that the disease may be in the esophagus, rather than in the stomach or intestines.
If the vomiting has been occurring for any length of time, baseline laboratory work is needed to help determine if there is any disease affecting the organs such as the liver, kidneys, and pancreas. A fecal flotation examination often is done to detect the presence of intestinal parasites which can cause vomiting. X-rays often are needed to detect problems in the abdomen such as a foreign body in the stomach or intestine, which can occur when a dog swallows something such as a ball or a small toy.
Sometimes a barium contrast study is needed. Barium liquid outlines the gastrointestinal tract on the x-ray film and helps determine if there are any abnormalities. Other diagnostic tools include ultrasound, which uses high frequency sound waves to outline the details of the abdomen. Endoscopy involves placing a tiny camera down the mouth and into the stomach and intestines to look for disease. Tissue samples often are taken and sent to a laboratory to determine if the tissues are normal. In other cases, exploratory surgery is required to diagnose the problem. Referral to a veterinary internal medicine specialist for further diagnostics and treatment may be necessary in some cases.
