Jack Russell Terrier: Why Do They Vomit?

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When it comes to vomiting, some dogs have more sensitive stomachs than others, causing them to throw up very often. If you are currently facing this problem with your dog, you might be wondering ‘’why do Jack Russell Terriers vomit?’’.

Jack Russell Terrier: Why Do They Vomit?

There are a lot of reasons why Jack Russells throw up, however, one of the most common reasons is that their stomachs are much more sensitive than those of an average dog. This is not a cause for concern as it can be easily fixed with a good diet.

Graphic image of a Jack Russell vomitting with a text explaining the usual reason why Jack Russell Terriers vomit

Other, less common causes, on the other hand, can indicate problems that demand care. These causes can manifest as symptoms, so keep an eye on your dog’s behavior. The color of their vomit, for example, may suggest what is wrong with them.

Therefore, you should be informed about what the colors and textures of your dog’s vomit mean; this will help you know why they are vomiting. Also, it will help you to treat them much faster and prevent a possible infection from spreading further inside his stomach.

Color of Their Vomit

The color of your Jack Russell’s vomit can vary significantly depending on the cause. For example, if they ate something purple, their vomit will most likely be purple. Therefore, you’ll be able to pinpoint exactly what’s causing their stomachache.

However, if your dog’s vomit is transparent, they might have an upset stomach due to hunger. This is common among dogs with sensitive stomachs; if they spend too much time with an empty belly, they will start vomiting. Since their stomachs are empty, they will just puke foam or water.

You can avoid this by dividing their meals throughout the day. Instead of giving them two cups of food once or twice a day, give them two cups three or four times a day. This way, their stomachs won’t be empty at any point of the day, preventing vomiting.

A close-up image of Jack Russell terrier

Red

If your dog’s vomit is tinted red, this could be a sign that your dog is bleeding and vomiting blood. If this has happened, there are a lot of causes such as inflammations, irritations, or even an unknown object inside your dog’s stomach.

If you suspect that your dog may have eaten something unusual, you need to take them to the vet as soon as possible. On the other hand, you also need to remember if you fed beetroots to your dog. Beetroots can tint your dog’s vomit and poop due to their natural colorants.

Therefore, if your dog recently ate beetroots and puked, it could be an upset stomach. However, you need to be certain of this. If you discover that your dog is vomiting blood, it doesn’t matter the cause, you need to take them to a vet urgently.

Brown

If your Jack’s vomit is tinted brown, it could mean your dog ingested their poo. If this happens, you need to contact your vet and ask for possible solutions. This is called coprophagia, and it could be associated with brain, liver, and stomach problems.

However, if their vomit resembles the texture and color of coffee grounds, it is a sign that they may be bleeding internally. If this happens, they should be taken to a vet as soon as possible. When blood is ingested (due to internal bleeding), it will look like coffee grounds when puked.

An image of Jack Russell terrier eating grass

Don’t get this mixed up with your dog regurgitating brown kibbles. When a dog regurgitates, the food is untouched and covered in slime, yet, it is not classified as vomit. When they vomit, it is usually more liquidy or chunky since it was being digested.

Black

Black vomit could be very similar to brown; if your dog is experiencing internal bleeding, it could puke black vomit. If your dog is bleeding internally and you examine their puke, you could discover that it is a very dark shade of red. If this happens, they need to go urgently to the vet.

However, this could also mean that they’ve eaten something tinted black, such as other dogs’ poo, or dirt. Since Jack Russells are very active, they could accidentally ingest soil when playing for too long. Also, they love digging, so they are prone to eating a lot of dirt.

If you can’t tell whether your dog’s puke is dirt or blood, take them to the vet as soon as possible. Regarding issues like internal bleeding, the sooner you act, the better your dog will recover.

Green

If your dog just puked green vomit, it might have been overeating grass. An upset stomach often causes this. When dogs are feeling sick in their bellies, they might begin eating grass in order to vomit as soon as possible. However, some dogs just enjoy munching grass.

This should not be an urgent issue as long as it doesn’t happen too often. If you see your dog vomiting too often, it is best to take them to the vet. Also, if your dog vomits on an empty stomach, there is a possibility they puke their bile.

Bile is produced in the liver and may be vomited if they go too long without eating. However, if they vomit it on a full stomach, they should be taken to the vet as it could be a symptom of bilious vomiting syndrome or other diseases.

Yellow

Yellow-colored puked could also be related to vomiting bile. Also, it can happen if your dog has been eating yellow plants or any yellow food. This is usually not an urgent issue unless that is bile, and it occurs on a full stomach.

Aside from that, if your dog’s puke is yellow, you should only be aware of how frequently they are vomiting, how they are acting, and if they are eating normally.

An image of JRT digging

Other Causes

There are other causes to why your Jack Russell is vomiting that may not reflect on their vomit. Here you can see the most common causes of vomit.

  • Eating garbage or expired food such as milk, chicken, and eggs
  • Eating little unknown objects such as hairs, rubber balls, coins, toys, and other small objects that could obstruct their stomach
  • Eating cooked chicken bones
  • Motion sickness
  • Over excitement
  • Depression
  • Gastrointestinal problems (pancreatitis, ulcers, and bacterial)
  • Parasites
  • Kidney disease
  • Poisoning. This can happen with household products like chlorine, pesticides, rat poison, and even medicine.

Related Questions

Here are some related questions about dog vomiting.

Should I Feed Dog After Vomiting?

No, if your dog just vomited, you should not let them eat for at least two hours. This will allow you to observe your dog’s behavior and decide whether or not they should keep eating. During the two hours, the dog should be able to drink as much water as they want.

What Can Dogs Eat for Upset Stomach?

If your dog has an upset stomach, you can start feeding them boiled chicken and plain rice. However, all dogs are different. Therefore, you should test if your dog feels better after feeding them chicken. If not, you can try feeding them boiled potatoes or carrots.

Conclusion

When dogs vomit, there is always a specific cause that can be treated. As a result, you should always be aware of any warning signs and treat your dog as soon as possible in an emergency.