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My dog is vomiting and sleeping a lot. Why is she so sick?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

My dog is vomiting and is sleeping all day. What could be wrong with her?

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on July 5th, 2016

There are many causes for [vomiting](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/vomiting-1/) and lethargy in dogs. Your dog could have a severe GI illness, [pancreatitis](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-pancreatitis), a foreign body causing an [obstruction](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/bowel-obstruction-in-dogs), or may have eaten something rotten. I recommend withhold food for 12-24 hours, and then feeding her a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken and white rice in small amounts for several times a day. After a couple of days of the bland diet, you can slowly add back in her normal diet. If she continues to vomit in the absence of food, vomits the bland diet, stops drinking water and vomiting water, has diarrhea, and/or becomes very lethargic, you need to take her into your vet immediately.

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42Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

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    Answered By Dr. Leigh, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    There are many things, some serious and some not so serious, that can cause [vomiting](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/vomiting-1/) and lethargy in dogs. "Simple" causes may be eating too much or too fast or even getting into the trash. It could also be secondary to an infection, parasites, [pancreatitis](https://www.petcoach.co/article/pancreatitis-inflammation-in-dogs), metabolic disease (liver, kidney), endocrine disease (thyroid, [Cushing's](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/cushing-s-disease/), [Addison's](https://www.petcoach.co/article/addison-s-disease-hypoadrenocorticism-in-dogs)), [inflammatory bowel disease](https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/inflammatory-bowel-disease/), etc. You could try withholding food for the next 12 hours. Allow small amounts of water or unflavored PediaLyte. Resume feeding a bland diet, typically a mix of boiled boneless and skinless chicken and plain white rice, in small, frequent amounts to see if the vomiting resolves. Start with 1 tablespoon of food every hour and gradually increase the amount if there is no vomiting. If it continues than she needs to be examined by a vet, especially if the lethargy becomes worse or if she develops fever, diarrhea or abdominal pain. Your vet can run lab work and take x-rays to help diagnose and treat the underlying cause(s).

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