Dry Heaves is a sign for a potentially serious condition in dogs and cats. Signs of dry heaves are gagging or attempting to vomit without discharge. The reasons for dry heaves indicate that your animals has an internal infection, a food allergy, bloat, liver problems, internal parasites or that it has swallowed a poisonous substance. One of the most common is bone meal fertilizer. This fertilizer contains finely ground bones that are mixed with about 30% phosphate and some nitrogen. Bone meal is fed to farm animals but should not be eaten by dogs. The high bone content though makes it rather attractive for them to see it as a food source.

Dry heaves can also occur if the animal experienced a head injury or concussion or had a fall from a high surface, such as loft, etc.

Dry heaves can also occur in combination with bloat, see out article >> Bloating.

Dry heaves is usually an emergency and the animals should be brought to a veterinarian immediately. To determine the reason, blood test, x-rays, ultrasound studies and urine tests might be required.