My Dogs’ Vomit Smells Like Poop?

Dogs can become ill for a variety of reasons, some of which are serious and others that are not so serious. Vomit, as disgusting as it is, can be extremely unpleasant. 

In some cases, it can even have a poop-like odor to it. 

This isn’t always a terrible thing, but it can be in some situations. Keeping a close eye on a dog who is vomiting is extremely important. 

There is a possibility that this condition is indicative of more serious issues that should not be dismissed as a simple illness. 

The majority of the time, however, it is simply an acute illness. 

With so many possible causes for a dog’s vomit to smell like poop, I’m going to go over five of them, along with recommendations for what should be done if certain criteria are met. 

It’s critical not to simply “wait it out,” but rather to treat the situation as if it were a serious illness, just in case.

Contents

5 Reasons Your Dog’s Vomit Smells Like Poop

1: Its Natural Smell

It should come as no surprise that vomit is extremely unpleasant to the nose. It can also have a poop-like smell if you haven’t had the pleasure of smelling vomit in the recent past. 

For starters, the contents of dog vomit are very similar to those of human vomit. This can cause the two scents to be somewhat similar, at least in part. 

If your dog’s vomit isn’t brown and doesn’t appear to be regular vomit, it’s most likely just smelling like it normally does. 

It can also mimic the smell of poop, depending on the type of food your dog has eaten recently, or how much they have eaten because more food is not as easily digested.

2: Constipation

Constipation can cause severe discomfort in the intestines, as well as other symptoms. It can even result in nausea and, in some cases, vomiting as a side effect. 

Constipation can become so severe that feces can back up to the stomach and cause vomiting. 

Not only can this be extremely irritating to the stomach, but it can also be extremely dangerous to one’s health. 

It is possible that when the poop comes back up, it will begin to fill the stomach, causing your dog to vomit poop. 

It can also make it difficult for your dog to keep food down, as there is simply not enough room in the stomach for any food to enter without causing severe discomfort. 

A diet change may be just what your dog needs.

3: Bowel Infections

Bowel infections in humans are rare, but they become more common after antibiotics are administered, resulting in infections such as C-Diff. 

Dogs can also be affected by this problem, which causes their bowels to expel their contents irregularly. 

Because of this, the bowels may not become constipated, and they may even start expelling their contents backward in an attempt to empty themselves. 

Blood infections, also known as sepsis — a potentially life-threatening blood infection — can result from bowel infections, which can be extremely dangerous. 

If you have any reason to believe your dog is suffering from this condition, you must act quickly and take your dog to the veterinarian.

4: Stomach Bleeding

Ulcers are frequently the cause of gastric bleeding, which can cause the stomach to empty its contents. 

Additionally, because ulcers cause blood to be excreted in the vomit, the odor may be similar to that of poop. Vomit-containing blood may appear dark brown, red, or even grey. 

Ulcers are treatable, but it’s critical to get your dog on the right medication as soon as possible before the situation worsens further. 

Ulcers can result in blood loss, nausea, vomiting, and iron deficiency, among other symptoms. Those are grave consequences that should not be ignored. 

Keep a close eye on things, and if in doubt, consult a veterinarian.

5: Other Problems

In addition to these factors, there are a few others that can cause a dog’s vomit to smell like feces. 

A poopy-smelling vomit can result from eating certain foods such as beans, raw beef, and other heavy foods. Your dog should refrain from consuming these foods. 

The smell of poop can be caused by a variety of factors such as a dog getting into things they shouldn’t be getting into such as medicine, trash, and other items. 

In some cases, the smell of cat feces may attract the attention of a dog. If you have a cat litter box, keep an eye out for signs that your dog has gotten into the litter box and eaten the poop.

Steps You Should Take

1: Recall The Previous 3 Days

The contents of a dog’s stomach can be retained for up to three days. Consider what your dog could have been doing during this time. 

What if you left the trash in a place where your dog could easily access it? It’s possible that there was raw, rotting meat in the garbage. 

Consult with your children and look around the house to see if your dog could have gotten into the pantry, as well.

2: Keep The Vomit

Keeping a small amount of vomit in case your dog’s condition worsens may be a good idea if your dog’s condition deteriorates. 

The vomit of your dog may be subjected to testing by your veterinarian to determine whether or not your dog has ingested any toxic substances. 

Examples of things that are forbidden include medicines and household chemicals. 

Vomit could also be an indication that your dog is suffering from a digestive ulcer, especially if there is blood present.

3: Call Your Vet

Finally, contact your veterinarian. If your dog vomits more than twice or three times in a row, it could be a sign of something more serious than a simple stomach upset. 

When there is a possibility of something serious happening, it’s important to get to the root of the problem as soon as possible. 

A veterinarian will be able to determine whether it is necessary to bring your dog in for treatment or whether it’s preferable to allow your dog to rest at home.

Takeaway

One thing is for certain: when our dog becomes ill and begins to vomit, it can be a frightening experience. 

Without the presence of a veterinarian, it is impossible to determine what has caused this in a dog. 

Examine your dogs eating habits over the previous day, and particularly over the previous 24 hours, to see what you can recall. 

If all else fails, take your dog to the veterinarian for a thorough evaluation to ensure that your dog is receiving the best possible care. 

If your dog’s vomit contains blood, consider it an emergency and take them to the nearest veterinarian as soon as possible; the sooner the better.



Written by Brian Rucker

Brian Rucker has been a dog lover since childhood. He has had his Lab Mix with Hound for over 10+ years now! They enjoy playing outdoors together. Brian loves sharing his knowledge about all things dog on this website. Read more of Brian's articles.