Getting brain freeze after eating ice is commonplace, but has your dog ever thrown up after eating ice?
So, why would a dog throw up after eating ice? A dog may vomit to relieve itself if the ice causes stomach discomfort. In addition, your dog may vomit to dislodge a piece of ice it is choking on. In rare cases, it may even be a sign of pancreatitis.
Keep reading to learn the possible reasons why your dog may vomit after consuming ice and some helpful tips on relieving the fido.
Why Do Dogs Eat Ice?
Dogs may eat ice to:
Cool Themselves
Dogs take ice to cool and hydrate themselves. Dogs don’t have sweat glands and might enjoy eating ice to cool themselves during summer.
Relieve Themselves From Teething Discomfort
Some puppies chew ice cubes to scratch and cool their itchy and almost burning gums during teething. That’s why you would see most pup owners offering ice to their pets.
What Causes a Dog to Vomit After Taking Ice
All dog lovers are concerned about our pets when they are feeling unwell. So why would our dogs vomit after eating ice, of all things?
Unbearably Cold Ice
The ice might be too cold for the dog’s stomach to hold and process. As a result, the dog may experience stomach spasms—causing it to throw up.
Ingestion of Contaminants
If your dog has eaten from outside, there might be some contaminants in the ice, nauseating your dog.
Outdoor ice may contain toxins from pesticides, herbicides, soot, mercury, drain leakages, etc., which may sicken your furry friend and lead to vomiting.
You can avoid the problem by feeding your dog ice from the fridge.
Choking Piece of Ice
If your dog loves chewing ice, it may accidentally swallow a big piece, which lodges in its throat. Consequently, the animal may react by pawing, drooling, dry heaving, or even throwing up to ease the discomfort.
Note: Choking can interfere with your dog’s breathing—you should help the animal as soon as possible to avoid losing it.
Avoid letting your dog eat outdoor ice to avoid possible contaminants. Your best bet is to ensure you feed the animal with ice from the fridge broken into small particles and then serve it in water so that the dog benefits from the cold water, not the ice.
Bloated Stomach
Your dog may experience a bloated stomach if it gulps the ice/ice water so fast that some air gets trapped in its stomach. Like humans, the dog’s stomach feels full and swollen when bloated, and the animal is likely to feel nauseous. In such an instance, the dog may vomit and pass a lot of air.
Health Issues
Another reason a dog may vomit after eating ice is an underlying health problem. For instance, your dog may throw up after eating ice and other food if it suffers from pancreatitis.
You can suspect a pancreatic attack if the vomiting accompanies diarrhea, abdominal pain, lethargy, and reduced appetite. Also, a dog with pancreatic problems will mostly stay in a praying position — laying its front legs and head on the floor while maintaining its rear end in the air.
Ice Melt Poisoning
Suppose your dog starts vomiting after eating up ice and its melt-water from outdoor puddles. In that case, the chances are that it might have consumed sodium chloride, potassium chloride, or any other ice melt compound/s that may be hazardous to the animal. You should discourage your dog from ice melt and other outdoor items.
How to Help Your Vomiting Dog
Here are some helpful tips to help you out:
Identify the Cause
What triggers your dog to throw up? If the dog vomits every time it ingests ice, then the ice could be too cold for its digestive system to process. On the other hand, the dog may be subject to bloating if it throws up for the first time, its stomach seems full, and it’s passing a lot of air.
Replacing the ice with cold water in both scenarios could work well for the animal.
Massage Its Stomach
In some cases, your dog may vomit due to a stomach ache. Gently rubbing its stomach can help relieve the pain. Also, giving the animal gentle presses in the abdominal area can help initiate bowel movements inside its colon, easing the tightness, pressure, and cramping that may result from a bloated stomach.
Need additional info? Watch this video for more information on how to care for your vomiting dog.
Take the Animal to a Vet
If everything else has failed and your canine doesn’t cease throwing up, you should take it to a vet for thorough examination and testing. If the animal has an underlying health issue, your vet may diagnose the animal depending on its symptoms or test its blood and stool samples to identify the trigger.
Conclusion
There are various reasons why a dog would throw up after eating ice. For instance, dogs would vomit if the ice was too cold or contaminated.
The other reasons a dog may vomit include a choking piece of ice, a bloated stomach, ice melt poisoning, or an underlying health problem. It is always advisable to take the animal to a vet if the dog vomits more than three times within eight hours.
