They ate something they should not have

What this tends to look like

• Came on within hours of raiding a trash can, a counter, a compost heap or a rich meal
• Vomiting, loose stool, or both
• Still alert, still responsive, still interested in what you are doing
• Belly is soft, not tight or distended
• Often improving rather than worsening after the first few hours

What is usually going on

A gut that has been given something it cannot handle empties itself, from one end or both. In an otherwise healthy adult animal who is still bright, this is the most common and most benign version of a stomach upset, and it usually settles within a day or two with rest and simple support. The two things that turn it into something else are a genuine toxin and a genuine obstruction, which is why the questions above came first.

What people commonly use

Educational information only — not veterinary advice. Check with your vet before starting anything new.

Where to find them

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What you can do at home

• Hold food for eight to twelve hours in a healthy adult, but never in a puppy, kitten, or a cat that has already stopped eating
• Keep water available. Small amounts often is easier to keep down than a full bowl at once
• Reintroduce with small, bland, low-fat meals, then move back to normal food over two or three days
• Add a pet-specific probiotic, which is one of the better-supported supplements for shortening acute diarrhea
• Track the times. If you end up at the vet, 'four times since 6am' is far more useful than 'a lot'

When to stop and call your vet

• Anything from the emergency list above appears, including blood or a hard swollen belly
• No clear improvement within 24 hours
• They become flat, weak, or stop drinking
• You now think what they ate might have been toxic, or included a bone, corn cob, peach stone or a toy