My Dog Ate Human Vomit Will He Get Sick?

Dogs will eat the most horrible things. We’ve researched articles about dogs eating roadkill, the poop from other animals, and more. However, this one really takes the cake. We really need to warn anyone with a sensitive stomach that this article will be pretty gross.

What happens if a dog eats human vomit? That’s a common question on the Internet. It was as a surprise when working on this article! But it probably shouldn’t surprise us too much because dogs sometimes eat some very strange, awful things sometimes.

When Does a Dog Eat Human Vomit?

How does it happen that a dog will eat something like this? Well, if a pet parent has been out partying too much, they may come home, get sick and go to bed without cleaning up the mess. Their dog finds the vomit and cleans it up.

In another scenario, it can happen that a pregnant woman is pretty sick and needs a bucket by her side of the bed at night. She may wake up and get sick, then go back to sleep. As she sleeps, her dog may find the bucket and its contents, and you know the rest of the story.

Why Do Dogs Eat Vomit?

One reason is that mother dogs will sometimes eat some food and then regurgitate it for their puppies to eat. This makes the food easier for the puppies to eat when they’re still needing their mother’s milk but are beginning to need some solid food.

In addition, dogs are able to smell food in vomit. Yes, while that’s gross, it’s true. This is because their noses are so much more sensitive than our own.

Will Human Vomit Make My Dog Sick?

In most cases, dogs that eat human vomit will not get sick. However, eating something like this can cause digestive issues, such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc. It’s possible that a dog could even develop pancreatitis from eating human vomit.

Even so, if your dog has eaten human vomit and becomes ill, then it’s probably a good idea to call the vet. It’s possible your dog has an upset stomach; however, it could also be pancreatitis. This is a condition that needs to be treated by the vet.

So, in most cases, your canine companion should be OK. If your dog shows any concerning symptoms, such as repeat vomiting, etc. then be sure to contact the vet right away. Your veterinarian will be the best source of information on how to proceed.