Dog Vomiting: Intestinal Obstruction or Medication Side Effect?
Help—my dog swallowed an avocado pit!
Our Dog Swallowed an Avocado Pit
"Dolche, our male rescue mutt from Mexico, ate half of an avocado, including the pit, around three weeks ago. On the day it happened, we called our vet, and they told us to induce vomiting by giving him hydrogen peroxide, which we did.
Dolche did, in fact, vomit but did not expel the pit. He showed no signs of discomfort. We brought him to our vet an hour later for a physical exam and X-rays. The scans were inconclusive. He explained that he could not see a blatant shape of the pit in Dolche's stomach. He did explain that in order to see it, he would need to do a bariatric scan with dye. He suggested at this time not to do that and to keep an eye on him for obvious symptoms like continued vomiting, diarrhea, whining, and discomfort.
None of this happened. He has eaten, has been drinking, and has regular pee and poops. It has been 3 weeks now since this happened, and just the past 2 days, he has been vomiting once or twice during the night (mostly liquid). This morning, I found only one spot of liquid, but it had blood in it (pink). Apparently, he went back to sleep after he threw up.
Is the pit still in his intestines and the blood-tinged vomit from dislodging it? Should we give him hydrogen peroxide to induce vomiting or take him to the emergency clinic?
Please also note that Dolce is in the final stages of heartworm treatment. He has had all the necessary injections, antibiotics, and prednisone (it has been a month since his last injection). He just finished his last dose of prednisone two days ago. We are still continuing to keep him relatively quiet and allow him outdoors on-leash only.
Symptoms of a Swallowed Obstruction
Yes, it is possible that the avocado pit is still in there. The problem with organic material (like a pit or a wooden ball) is that it does not cause a shadow on the X-ray, or the shadow is so light that it is almost impossible to see.
The symptoms you should be concerned about include:
- Vomiting
- Obstipation: If there is a full obstruction, no feces will be passed, but if it is partial, feces will be passed but in lesser amounts, and you will probably notice straining.
- Not eating
- Painful abdomen
- Dehydration, weight loss
Based on your question, the only thing you have noticed from that list is vomiting. There are many causes of vomiting, however, and if he has only vomited a few times, I would not want to assume that the pit is causing any problems. You mentioned that he has eaten, but is this an everyday occurrence or just once? You said that he is pooping, but is it coming out loose, with a lot of straining, or is it normal for him, like before the avocado. If he is still eating and defecating normally, he does not have a full obstruction.
Heartworm Treatment May Cause Vomiting
I am glad you told me about his heartworm treatment. It is possible that those bouts of vomiting had nothing to do with the avocado pit at all. The amount of time it takes to have a severe reaction to the heartworm treatment medication varies from dog to dog, but about 52% of dogs in one study had side effects, including vomiting. (1)
Much more likely, however, since 16 percent of all dogs on prednisone also have vomiting as a side effect, is that his stomach is upset because of that medication. (2) Even if the heartworm therapy went well, the prednisone given later could have caused the problem.
Do Not Induce Vomiting
You should NOT give him hydrogen peroxide in an attempt to provoke vomiting. There is almost no chance of the pit still being in the stomach, and that is the only place the hydrogen peroxide will be effective. The medication will cause inflammation in the stomach, and if it is already irritated because of prednisone's side effects, it can worsen.
It is possible that the vomiting has dehydrated him and upset his acid-base balance. You mentioned that he urinated normally, but have you noticed any personality changes?
Another Exam May Be Necessary
He does need to be examined by your regular vet, but based on your description, I do not think he needs to see an emergency veterinarian. The main reason to take him back to your veterinarian is for an examination and another X-ray of his abdomen. The vet will need to evaluate the plain film before giving any contrast like barium, as it may be obvious, just from the gas pattern in the X-ray, that a blockage is present.
The only way to tell for sure if the vomiting is secondary to the prednisone and if he is having a more serious reaction is for Dolce to have another examination, basic bloodwork (including a CBC to evaluate for dehydration), and possibly an X-ray to look for signs of the obstruction. Call for an appointment and recheck right away.
Sources
- Maxwell E, Ryan K, Reynolds C, Pariaut R. Outcome of a heartworm treatment protocol in dogs presenting to Louisiana State University from 2008 to 2011: 50 cases. Vet Parasitol. 2014 Nov 15;206(1-2):71-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.05.033. Epub 2014 May 27. PMID: 24953753. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24953753/
- Elkholly DA, Brodbelt DC, Church DB, Pelligand L, Mwacalimba K, Wright AK, O'Neill DG. Side Effects to Systemic Glucocorticoid Therapy in Dogs Under Primary Veterinary Care in the UK. Front Vet Sci. 2020 Aug 14;7:515. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00515. PMID: 32923470; PMCID: PMC7457010. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7457010/
This article is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized advice from your veterinarian. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.
© 2024 Mark dos Anjos, DVM
