Vomiting in dogs - A review

Emesis or vomiting is most common clinical condition reported in dogs. It is an acid-related gastric disorder due to structural or functional defect in mucosa of stomach pertaining to innumerable grounds. Vomiting is a cardinal sign of inflammation of gastric mucosa. Many etiological factors are responsible for gastric disorders such as dietary carelessness, infectious diseases, stress, toxicity, routine management, excessive medications and other systemic diseases. In pathological terms, gastric disorders usually involves gastric mucosal lining. They are instigated due to an imbalance between aggressive factors such as hydrochloric acid (HCl), pepsin, refluxed hue, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and defensive factors, which include the function of mucus-bicarbonate barrier, prostaglandins (PGs), mucosal blood flow, cell renewal and migration, non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants and some growth factors. The acid-related disorders can be prevented by dietary discretion, routine exercise, regular deworming and vaccination as per standard regimen. The major strategies of therapy used against acid disorders are fluid therapy, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H₂ blocker, cytoprotective and antiemetics along with antioxidants.