Why Do Dogs Eat Their Own Vomit?
Have you ever seen your dog throw up their dinner and then immediately gobble it back up? If you’re a dog owner, this might be a familiar, albeit gross, sight.
“No kisses for you tonight, Fido.”
While it’s pretty disgusting to us, eating vomit is actually normal behavior for dogs. This got me curious—why do dogs eat their own vomit anyway?
Natural Behavior
Most dog owners have probably witnessed their pet eating their own vomit. It may seem weird or gross to us, but to dogs, it’s just another food source. This behavior traces back to when puppies are weaning. Mother dogs often regurgitate food to help their young transition to solid foods.
It Smells Like Food
Our dogs’ sense of smell is incredibly advanced compared to ours. While vomit may just seem like a nasty mix of bile and stomach contents to us, dogs can detect the food particles within it. This makes vomit smell a lot more appealing to them. Humans have about 6 million olfactory receptors, whereas dogs have around 300 million, allowing them to process and recognize many different smells.
Mother Dogs and Regurgitation
Mother dogs naturally feed their pups regurgitated food. There’s a difference between vomiting and regurgitation: vomiting is involuntary, while regurgitation is the voluntary return of undigested food from the esophagus. This regurgitated food helps pups adjust to solid foods. Studies have shown that even domestic dogs continue this practice.
Normal Behavior, Possible Concerns
If you see your dog eating their own vomit, there’s usually nothing to worry about regarding that specific behavior. It’s quite common and natural for them. However, frequent vomiting can indicate other issues, such as eating too quickly or consuming something disagreeable. In some cases, it might signal a more serious health condition.
In summary, while it’s normal for dogs to eat their own vomit due to their strong sense of smell and natural behaviors, frequent vomiting should be monitored as it might be a sign of underlying health issues.
