It’s understandably quite alarming to see your Husky vomit just after he drinks his water, especially if it happens too many times in a row. You might even start asking questions like, “Why does my Husky throw up after drinking water?” “Are they sick?” “Should I bring them to the vet?”
Of course, it can always be just a simple gag reflex from drinking too much too quickly. But as a pet parent, we always want to be sure that our precious furbabies are always well and healthy.
In this article, we’ll find out what causes Huskies to throw up and when it is time for you to visit your friendly veterinarian.
Why does my Husky throw up after drinking water?
Before discussing why your Husky throws up after drinking water, it’s important to first differentiate what regurgitation versus vomiting means. Doing so can help determine the underlying reason why your dog is throwing up.
Regurgitation means ejecting content from the esophagus. This happens passively as no abdominal effort is required. It primarily happens because of undigested food or water that was not swallowed properly. If your Husky is the type to quickly lap up their food and water, you’re going to observe this more often.
On the other hand, vomiting means ejecting content from their stomach. This is an active process involving obvious contractions of the abdominal wall. It’s often described as heaving and is usually preceded by signs of nausea such as drooling, licking lips, and excessive swallowing. There are many reasons why this could happen, and we’ll discuss the most common ones below.
5 reasons why your Husky throws up after drinking water
Water Intoxication
When Huskies drink a lot of water in a short period of time, they can get water intoxication. This can happen when they drink water too excitedly or when they consume too much water while swimming.
Some signs of water intoxication include vomiting, nausea, bloating, lethargy, and lack of balance. If you notice these signs, make sure to get your Husky to the vet as soon as possible, as water intoxication can cause organ failure and even death.
Digestive Issues
If your dog throws up a green-yellow liquid after drinking water, it’s probably bile. The main job of bile is to help break down food and separate nutrients from waste matter. However, the digestive tract may not always work at its best, so your Husky may end up vomiting the bile instead.
When this happens, take away the water for a few hours and replace your Husky’s regular food with a bland variety, like skinless chicken breast, boiled potatoes, or rice. Their upset stomach will eventually settle down.
Parasites
Dogs love to roam and sniff around. Husky breeds like Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes are especially guilty of this since their sled dog ancestors were used to roaming during long travels. But while roaming isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it could lead to them picking up parasites from contaminated water or animal excrement.
Giardia and cryptosporidium are two kinds of protozoans that can cause Huskies to throw up after drinking water. If you think they’re infected, watch for diarrhea or green-colored stools, as those are sure signs of parasitic infection. Make sure to bring your Husky to the vet so that they can get the proper treatment.
Thyroid Problems
When your Husky throws up what looks like a clear liquid, it may be because of a thyroid problem. The thyroid is what regulates your dog’s metabolism. If it’s not active enough, as in the case of hypothyroidism, it can cause your Husky to throw up after drinking water.
Other common symptoms include a balding coat, excessive shedding, a substantially reduced heart rate, and lethargy. They may also have thickened facial skin, deposits of fat in the corneas, and an odd head tilt. Get your Husky checked out by the vet if you notice these symptoms.
Kidney Failure
The kidneys act as a filter that removes waste and extra fluid from your Husky’s body. If you notice a significant increase in your dog’s water consumption and urination, then there is a possibility of a kidney issue. Aside from your dog throwing up water, or clear liquid, other symptoms include depression, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and a foul-smelling breath.
Unfortunately, if your dog has already reached kidney failure, that means they’ve already had the disease for months or even years. Check with your vet to see if there’s any supportive treatment that can still be done.
What can you do if your Husky is throwing up water?
Any furparent can get flustered if they see their furbaby start throwing up. Here’s what you should do:
Inspect the vomit
Inspecting your Husky’s vomit can help you determine the cause. Look out for food bits, blood, bile, or anything else that seems out of place.
Take away their food and water
While it seems tempting to give your Husky water to prevent them from getting dehydrated, water can trigger the gag reflex and cause more vomiting.
It’s recommended to take away all sources of food and water for at least 6 hours. If your Husky doesn’t vomit during that time, offer a small amount of water and, if your dog can hold it down, gradually reintroduce larger amounts.
Move harmful items out of reach
Dog-proofing your home includes moving items like household cleaners and medicines away from the reach of your precious pooches. These can cause adverse effects like kidney damage on your Husky so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Final thoughts
Throwing up after drinking water does not always mean trouble for your Husky, but it could be a sign of something more serious.
In this article, we learned that:
● Most of the time, Huskies throw up water simply because they drank it too quickly
● Vomiting is different from regurgitation; the latter is what normally happens when dogs drink water too quickly
● Aside from water intoxication, other possible reasons why Huskies throw up may include parasites, digestive issues, thyroid problems, and kidney failure
● Lastly, as much as we want to give our dogs water in fear of dehydration after they vomit, it’s best to wait 6 hours first
Did this article solve your problem? If you want to know more about Huskies, feel free to visit our blog at Husky Habits!