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Pet Vomiting & Diarrhea Treatment

Veterinarian gently examining a dog's belly

One episode of vomiting with a bright, hungry pet afterward is different from vomiting that keeps going. Petfolk Johns Creek, at Medley in Johns Creek Town Center, sees dogs and cats the same day for vomiting and diarrhea, with lab work, X-ray, and ultrasound on-site when the exam calls for them.

Start by looking at the whole pet, not just the mess. Book a same-day visit at our Johns Creek clinic.

Call (470) 964-6691 or book online. Open 8am–6pm, seven days a week.

When to go to a 24-hour emergency hospital

Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital now for a puppy with vomiting or bloody diarrhea, especially if not fully vaccinated (parvo is a medical emergency and highly contagious, so call ahead); repeated retching that brings nothing up, especially in a deep-chested dog; a swollen or painful belly; vomiting blood or black, tarry stool; pale gums, collapse, or weakness; or a known toxin or swallowed object.

Petfolk Johns Creek is open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. We don't provide overnight care, so anything that can't wait until morning belongs at a 24-hour emergency hospital.

When a Mild Episode Can Be Watched

Dogs eat grass. Cats bring up hairballs. A single episode followed by normal energy, drinking, and interest in food often settles on its own. What matters is the next few hours:

  • Is your pet bright, curious, and following you around?

  • Can they drink water and keep it down?

  • Has it stayed at one or two episodes?

If yes, keep watching. Repeat episodes, vomiting and diarrhea together, or any sign from the emergency list change the answer.

Team member drawing a blood sample from a cat's leg

Signs That Call for a Same-Day Visit

  • Several episodes over a few hours

  • Diarrhea lasting more than a day, or diarrhea with mucus

  • Not eating, or turning down favorite treats

  • A puppy, kitten, senior pet, or pet with kidney, liver, heart, or diabetes issues

  • Any chance they ate trash, a toy piece, a bone, a plant, or medication

Young pets have little reserve and dehydrate quickly. The American Kennel Club notes that puppies between six weeks and six months are the most susceptible to parvo, which is why vomiting or bloody diarrhea in a young puppy goes straight to the emergency list.

“I made an appointment easily online same day for my daughter's kitten who wasn't feeling well. All the Vet techs and Vet were so sweet and did a thorough exam.”

— Vivian J., Petfolk client

Beagle eating from a bowl after an upset stomach

River Water at Medlock Bridge

Plenty of Johns Creek dogs wade and drink at the Chattahoochee. The river's BacteriALERT program, run by USGS, the National Park Service, and Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, monitors E. coli at Medlock Bridge. A health advisory goes up when counts exceed 235 per 100 mL, usually after heavy rain washes runoff into the river.

  • Check the latest result online, or call the BacteriALERT line at 678-538-1201, before a river outing.

  • On advisory days, keep your dog out of the water and bring fresh water to drink.

  • If your dog develops vomiting or diarrhea after a river day, mention it at the visit.

Sewage releases can close the river too. In 2023 the Park Service closed sections after a release from Fulton County's Big Creek Water Reclamation Facility.

Owner measuring a liquid medication for a black Labrador puppy at home

What Happens at a GI Visit

  1. The vet takes the history: when it started, how often, what came up, and what your pet may have eaten. Photos help.

  2. A hands-on exam of gums, temperature, hydration, and the belly. Our Gentle Handling team lets your pet set the pace, because a tense belly gives a poor exam.

  3. Tests only if the exam points there: a fecal test, lab work, or X-rays or ultrasound if a blockage is possible.

  4. You hear the options and get an estimate before anything runs, then leave with a home-care plan and a visit summary in the Petfolk app.

What a GI Visit Costs Depends On

  • How long signs have lasted, and whether your pet is dehydrated

  • Whether a fecal test or lab work is needed

  • Whether imaging is needed for a possible blockage

  • Fluids or medication given in the clinic, and medication to take home

You'll get an estimate before each step. PetfolkCare members get exams covered up to $99 per visit and 10% off lab work and X-rays.

Look at the Whole Pet

If the next few hours don't look better, book a same-day visit at Petfolk Johns Creek or call (470) 964-6691.

Frequently Asked Questions